When we think about Easter it’s easy to go straight to the empty tomb where Jesus was resurrected. Of course, there is nothing wrong with this because his resurrection is the center of what Easter is about. But if we are not careful, it is possible to skim past the many steps leading up to the glorious finish.
We must remind ourselves to look at the dark events preceding the victory because it’s the backdrop of those events which spotlight the most miraculous event in the history of the world.
There’s no flowers without rain, no healing without pain and no resurrection without the cross. Join us for the next 14 days as we recount the final painful events leading up to the triumphant celebration of Easter Sunday.
Station 1: The Last Supper
And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me."
- (Luke 22:1—19) (NLT)
Station 2: The Agony in Gethsemane
He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” Then Jesus left them…and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done.”
- Matthew 26:38, 42 (NLT)
Station 3: Jesus is Denied by Peter
Peter swore, “A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know the man!” And immediately the rooster crowed. Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And he went away, weeping bitterly.
- Matthew 22:74-75 (NLT)
Station 4: Jesus goes before Pilate
In our text today, Jesus stands before Pilate, answering the question- “Are you a king?” Jesus responds by sharing the reason he came to earth. “I was born to testify to the truth.”
- John 18:33 (NLT)
Station 5: Jesus is Condemned to Death
Pilate responded, “Then what should I do with Jesus, who is called the Messiah?” They shouted back, “Crucify him!”
- Matthew 27:22 (NLT)
Station 6: He Is Made To Bear His Cross
“When they were finally tired of mocking him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him again. Then they led him away to be crucified.”
– Matthew 27:31 (NLT)
Station 7: Pilate condemns Jesus to Death
“Then Pilate turned Jesus over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus away.”
- John 19:16 (NLT)
Station 8: Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus Carry the Cross
A passerby named Simon, who was from Cyrene, was coming in from the countryside just then, and the soldiers forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. (Simon was the father of Alexander and Rufus.) And they brought Jesus to a place called Golgotha (which means “Place of the Skull”). They offered him wine drugged with myrrh, but he refused it.
- Mark 15:21-23 (NLT)
Station 9: Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem
A large crowd trailed behind, including many grief-stricken women. But Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, don’t weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.
- Luke 23:37-31 (NLT)
Station 10: Jesus is nailed to the Cross
There they nailed him to the cross. Two others were crucified with him, one on either side, with Jesus between them.
- John 19:18 (NLT)
Station 11: The Repentant Thief
And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
- Luke 23:43 (NLT)
Station 12: Jesus dies on the Cross
Then Jesus shouted out again, and he released his spirit.
- Matthew 27:45-56 (NLT)
Station 13: Jesus is laid in His Tomb
Then he took the body down from the cross and wrapped it in a long sheet of linen cloth and laid it in a new tomb that had been carved out of rock. This was done late on Friday afternoon, the day of preparation, as the Sabbath was about to begin. As his body was taken away, the women from Galilee followed and saw the tomb where his body was placed.
- Luke 23:53–55 (NLT)
Station 14: Jesus rises from the Dead
“Don’t cling to me,” Jesus said, “for I haven’t yet ascended to the Father. But go find my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
- John 20:17 (NLT)
