The Stations of the Cross - Teen/Young Adult edition

This version of the Stations of the Cross was written in March 2006 and dedicated to Happening! New York. My intention was to give this one a graphic edge that youth might relate to. I suggest using the simple Taize chant "Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom". If you use this piece, kindly include the attribution below.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS

Intro: The Stations of the Cross is a 'occasional' service which is used - especially during Lent - to get in touch with the sacrificial love of Jesus. The Stations represent different scenes of the passion of Christ - about the last five hours of His life. It’s shocking and incredible to think that in the last 36 hours of His life Jesus packed in more action and emotion than we might accomplish in a lifetime. He: instituted Holy Communion during the Last Supper, ate and drank only once, was disrespected and sold out by one of His closest friends, was abandoned by all the rest of his friends and students, was arrested in public by a mob, was kicked, pushed and pulled all through the night walking back and forth between rival power players, was spit on, beaten to the point of shreaded skin and muscle, felt burning heat, sweat and pain, was ridiculed, was put down and disrespected by Jew and Roman alike.

ALL OF THIS TOOK PLACE BEFORE

his last mortal steps which we commemorate in the Stations of the Cross.

As we walk these Stations, let's keep our attention focused: He gave His life- we can give his final walk respect. We’ll walk slowly in between each Station, stopping for the annoucement of each Station and the short reading that follows. In between each station we can sing the dedication: Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One have mercy on us.

1. Jesus is condemned to death

He was arrested in the garden by a mob - all his friends deserted him. He was pushed from one power player to another, messing with His will and His mind. Finally Pilate gave in and allowed Jesus to continue to be tortured and finally killed - in public.

God, there are times when I am being punished for things that I have done against my parents or friends or neighbors. Jesus did nothing wrong and will be killed in a slow and painful way - nothing and no one can save Him.

2. Jesus takes up His cross

A cross - made up of two heavy planks from a tree - full of splinters is lifted by three
soldiers and dropped on His shoulders. He can barely stand up under the weight.

He has been through so much already - the beating, the spitting, being mocked, being abandoned by his closest friends. How can He stand under the weight of it all?

3. Jesus falls for the first time

The weight is too much. He’s wiped out, thirsty, boiling hot. The cross seems heavier
with each step.
You know what you must do and you just keep on - you see a different goal before you.

4. Jesus meets His mother

He is caked with blood, sweat and dirt. The flies buzz around, landing on his cuts, in his ears. He finds it hard to been seen by His mom and to look into her eyes.
Some of us have a harder time getting along with our parents for many different reasons. Even 'though we may have a tough relationship we don’t want them to be embarassed by who we are, what we are and what we do.

5. The cross is laid on Simon of Cyrene

The soldiers are getting impatient because Jesus isn’t moving fast enough for them. They
just want this criminal to get up the hill so that they can nail him to the cross and go off duty.
Sometimes we are volunteered for things - we don’t want to help, we don’t care. It's only after we've done it that we recognize that helping someone else helps us.

6. A woman wipes the face of Jesus

A woman from Jerusalem steps out from the crowd, unseen by the guards, and wipes the face of Jesus. After he gets up and passes by she looks down at her veil and sees that His face
has left a perfect imprint!
Oh, Jesus - I can't even imagine the pain you are in - so much sweat and blood in your eyes that you can’t see the pavement in front o you. Because of Veronica’s kindness some of your pain is lifted and you could go on.

7. Jesus falls a second time

His knees are giving way; he keeps falling down on one knee or the other - and finally the cross slams down next to him.
How can you go on? How much pain can you stand? How can I be worth this much to You?

8. Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem

Here were women He had preached to, had taught. Now they walked along with Him
behind the baracades, trying not to make the guards angry.
Can I walk beside you? Can I risk being known as your disciple?

9. Jesus falls a third time

He can’t continue to go on. His body is failing Him. The weight of the cross is too much to bear and he is flattened as it falls on top of Him.

Holy God there are times when we are so blown away by the pain of rejection and self doubt that we can’t take another step. Help us to remember You’ve been there too....

10. Jesus is stripped

There are no more masks left, there is nothing to hide. Even his personal dignity is being
denied. Jesus’ battered, torn, bloody, bruised body is fully exposed to the elements and to us.
All of my protection against exposure - of being completely known - is stripped in your presence, loving God. You see me for the person you made, not the person I can pretend to be. Yet even here - completely vulnerable - you love me your own: precious and beautiful.

11. Jesus is nailed to the cross

The pain is so unbearable, His death is very near.
Despite the agony, despite the shame, despite the loss You surrender Your life for my soul. It is so hard to comprehend this kind of unconditional love.

12. Jesus dies on the cross

He has done everything that was required of Him. He loved the world and the people in
it; He blesses God, forgives those who betrayed, arrested and executed Him. He takes one final breath..... and then lets all of what He is....... go.
Mortal death - darkness - comes to the Man who said 'I Am the Light, I Am the Life'. This is radical love, Jesus. You give it all and blame no one,You follow Your Father's instructions to the very end. Your faithfulness conquers evil for all time.

13. Jesus’ body is given to Mary

His lifeless body is lowered into his mother's arms for the last time, appearing to be a
casualty in the war of Good vs. Evil.

Mary can see moments of the life she shared with Him flash before her eyes and can only cry in grief beyond words over the loss of her eldest son.

14. Jesus is laid in the tomb

It looks like the story is over. It looks like the enemy has won..... but looks can be deceiving.
No matter what it looks like on the outside, help me to see and do Your will. You will make the old new and the dead come to life again - whether it is my bruised feelings or my outlook on life or any temporary setbacks I have. Be my example and let my fears and my faith rest with You.

Copyright © 2006 K.L.Joanna Depue and DJ on www.geraniumfarm.org