HARVEST PRESENTS
Stations of the Cross
Station 1: Jesus Prays in the Garden of Gethsemane
Instructions:
For each station, you’ll follow the instructions and read the Bible verses. For this first station, begin by reading the following verses:
Read Matthew 26:36-39:
Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.” He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed. He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”
Instructions:
Use the pens and blank cards at the back of the auditorium to write down personal fears or anxieties. Think of things that you might be worried about now or that tend to cause you concern. You won’t be asked to share these with anyone else!
Once you’ve written them down, take the card with you to Station #2, located in the Chapel. Follow the candles in the hallway to the left of the Auditorium into the Chapel.
Station 2: Jesus Is Betrayed by Judas and Arrested
Read Matthew 26:40-41:
Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”
Instructions:
Read the first reading (above) then place your card in a basket in the Chapel. As you do, remember the agonizing of Jesus as he prayed, contemplating what would soon take place. You may choose pray about your own concerns, trusting them to your Father (God), who cares for you.
Read Matthew 26:47-50:
And even as Jesus said this, Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived with a crowd of men armed with swords and clubs. They had been sent by the leading priests and elders of the people.
The traitor, Judas, had given them a prearranged signal: “You will know which one to arrest when I greet him with a kiss.” So Judas came straight to Jesus. “Greetings, Rabbi!” he exclaimed and gave him the kiss. Jesus said, “My friend, go ahead and do what you have come for.”
Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him.
Instructions:
Next, proceed out the door of the Chapel to the outside sidewalk. Follow the sidewalk to Station 3, marked out by the closest tiki torches.
Station 3: Jesus Is Denied by Peter
Read Luke 22:54-62:
So they arrested him and led him to the high priest’s home. And Peter followed at a distance. The guards lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat around it, and Peter joined them there. A servant girl noticed him in the firelight and began staring at him. Finally she said, “This man was one of Jesus’ followers!”
But Peter denied it. “Woman,” he said, “I don’t even know him!”
After a while someone else looked at him and said, “You must be one of them!” “No, man, I’m not!” Peter retorted.
About an hour later someone else insisted, “This must be one of them, because he is a Galilean, too.”
But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.
At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Suddenly, the Lord’s words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.”
And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly.
Instructions:
Think about moments you have denied Jesus or distanced yourself from your faith. I think we’ve all been there. You might also remember a time when a friend let you down or walked away from you in a time of need. Take a moment to remember that Jesus experienced great disappointment. He understands.
Station 4: Jesus Is Judged by Pontius Pilate
Reading the following passages:
Mark 15:1-5
Very early in the morning the leading priests, the elders, and the teachers of religious law—the entire high council —met to discuss their next step. They bound Jesus, led him away, and took him to Pilate, the Roman governor. Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus replied, “You have said it.” Then the leading priests kept accusing him of many crimes, and Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer them? What about all these charges they are bringing against you?” But Jesus said nothing, much to Pilate’s surprise.
Matthew 27:24-26
Pilate saw that he wasn’t getting anywhere and that a riot was developing. So he sent for a bowl of water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. The responsibility is yours!” And all the people yelled back, “We will take responsibility for his death—we and our children!” So Pilate released Barabbas to them. He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip, then turned him over to the Roman soldiers to be crucified.
Instructions:
Before heading to the next station, rinse your hands as Pilate did. Allow the Station host to pour water out for you to rinse your hands with.
When was the last time you avoided making a difficult decision to do what is right?
Station 5: Jesus Is Scourged and Crowned with Thorns
Instructions:
This station has two replica crowns of thorns made from the Euphorbia Milli plant, native to the region around Jerusalem. Take time to hold a crown and read the passage below.
John 19:1-3
Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands.
Instructions:
Think about the ridicule, scorn, and shame that Jesus endured for us. He was the true King! And yet he was mocked and beaten. Jesus submitted himself willingly to this and the pain that would follow. Take a moment to let that sink in before proceeding to the next station.
Station 6: Jesus Crucified.
Instructions:
At this station you’ll see a wooden cross. Near the cross you’ll find large 6” iron nails. These were likely similar to those used to nail Jesus to the Roman cross. Hold a nail as you read the passages below.
Read Matthew 27:33-38:
And they went out to a place called Golgotha (which means “Place of the Skull”). The soldiers gave Jesus wine mixed with bitter gall, but when he had tasted it, he refused to drink it. After they had nailed him to the cross, the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice. Then they sat around and kept guard as he hung there. A sign was fastened above Jesus’ head, announcing the charge against him. It read: “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” Two revolutionaries were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.nstructions:
This station has two replica crowns of thorns made from the Euphorbia Milli plant, native to the region around Jerusalem. Take time to hold a crown and read the passage below.
John 19:1-3
Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands.
Instructions:
Think about the ridicule, scorn, and shame that Jesus endured for us. He was the true King! And yet he was mocked and beaten. Jesus submitted himself willingly to this and the pain that would follow. Take a moment to let that sink in before proceeding to the next station.
Station 7: Jesus Dies.
Read John 19:25-27
Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home.
Instructions:
You’ll see a large, lit candle and and smaller unlit candles. Take one of the smaller unlit candles from the basket and light it with the flame of the larger candle. Hold it, thinking about the loving hand off Jesus made as he asked his disciple John to take care of his mother.
What tremendous love Jesus shows to care for his mom in the middle of his own crucifixion! Knowing in Jesus, we see who God is, what does this teach you about the love of God?
Read John 19:28-30:
Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Instructions:
Think about those words, “It is finished.” Jesus himself said that he, “came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). He knew. Jesus knew that his mission was always this. That he would die for our sins.
As you reflect on his death and the moment Jesus said these words, blow out your candle and place it in a basket.
Return to the auditorium.
Next, use the door next to the playground to re-enter the building. Follow the hallway to re-enter the auditorium. Your final station is a celebration of Communion.
Read 1 Corinthians 11:23-26:
For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
INSTRUCTIONS:
Take time to reflect on Christ’s sacrifice for you. Take communion on your own as an individual, couple, or family. You are welcome to stay as long in prayer as you wish and depart when you are ready.