Stations of the Cross

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Forty days and forty nights, Jesus was in the wilderness tempted by Satan:  tempted by power, tempted by popularity, tempted to abandon faith.  Even in the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was tempted to avoid the trial ahead of him.

He was able to sympathize with our weaknesses.  He was tempted every way we are. Yet did not sin.

Let us pray: O Lord, we thank you for your Son Jesus Christ; for the truth of his Word and the example of his life; for his steadfast obedience, by which he overcame temptation; for his dying, through which he overcame death; and for his rising to life again, in which we are raised to the life of your kingdom. Grant us the gift of your Spirit, that we may know him and make him known; and through him, at all times and in all places, may give thanks to you in all things. Amen.

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

With a kiss, God’s only begotten Son is betrayed and given into the hands of sinners.  The One who embodies truth, justice, compassion, and love is deceived by those who claim fidelity to His life and mission.

The one I kiss is the man. Going at once to Jesus, he said, “Greetings, Rabbi.” And kissed him.

Let us pray: Almighty God, we pray you graciously to behold this your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed, and given into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon the cross; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you: because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By a perversion of justice, he was taken away, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.

God did not spare his own Son: But delivered him up for us all.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, though you were condemned to suffer and die, all judgment has been placed in your hand. Grant that we may be saved from all false judgments against our neighbor, and at the last may stand before you, forgiven by your great mercy, for the sake of your love. Amen. Through her soul, of joy bereaved, bowed with anguish, deeply grieved, now at length the sword hath passed.

Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy immortal One. Have mercy upon us.

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

They will mock Him and spit on Him, and scourge Him and kill Him, and three days later He will rise again. After twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand; and they knelt down before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”  After they had mocked Him, they took the purple robe off Him and put His own garments on Him. And they led Him out to crucify Him.

He saved others. But will not save Himself.

Let us pray: Almighty God, who give your servants boldness to confess the Name of our Savior Jesus Christ before the rulers of this world, and courage to die for this faith: Grant that we may always be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in us, and to suffer gladly for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy upon us.

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Jesus went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called the place of a skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. Like a lamb he was led to the slaughter; and like a sheep that before its shearers is mute, so he opened not his mouth. Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.

The Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all:
For the transgressions of my people he was stricken.

Let us pray: Almighty God, whose beloved Son willingly endured the agony and shame of the cross for our redemption: Give us courage to take up our cross and follow him; who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy upon us.

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped; but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, and was born in human likeness. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore, God has highly exalted him, and bestowed on him the name which is above every name. Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, and kneel before the Lord our Maker, for he is the Lord our God.

Surely, he has borne our griefs: And carried our sorrows.

Let us pray: O God, you know us to be set in the midst of so many and great dangers, that by reason of the frailty of our nature we cannot always stand upright: Grant us such strength and protection as may support us in all dangers and carry us through all temptations; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

As they led Jesus away, they came upon a man of Cyrene, Simon by name, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross to carry behind Jesus. “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me; for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me: cannot be my disciple.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, whose blessed Son came not to be served by but to serve: Bless all who, following in his steps, give themselves to the service of others; that with wisdom, patience, and courage, they may minister in his Name to the suffering, the friendless, and the needy; for the love of him who laid down his life for us, your Son our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy upon us.

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

When they came to a place called Golgotha (which means the place of the skull), they offered him wine to drink, mingled with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. And they divided his garments among them by casting lots. This was to fulfill the scripture which says, “They divided my garments among them; they cast lots for my clothing.”

They gave me gall to eat: And when I was thirsty, they gave me vinegar to drink.

Let us pray: Lord God, whose blessed Son our Savior gave his body to be whipped and his face to be spit upon: Give us grace to accept joyfully the sufferings of the present time, confident of the glory that shall be revealed; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy upon us.  

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

When they came to the place which is called The Skull, there they crucified him; and with him they crucified two criminals, one on the right, the other on the left, and Jesus between them. And the scripture was fulfilled which says, “He was numbered with the transgressors.”

They pierce my hands and my feet: They stare and gloat over me.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen.

Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy upon us.

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And when Jesus had received the vinegar, he said “It is finished!” And then, crying with a loud voice, he said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” And he bowed his head and handed over his spirit.

Christ for us became obedient unto death: Even death on a cross.

Let us pray: O God, who for our redemption gave your only-begotten Son to the death of the cross, and by his glorious resurrection delivered us from the power of our enemy: Grant us so to die daily to sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his resurrection; who lives and reigns now and forever. Amen.

Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy upon us.  

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. And Joseph took the body, and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock; and he rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb.

You will not abandon me to the grave: Nor let your holy One see corruption.

Let us pray: O God, your blessed Son was laid in a tomb in a garden and rested on the Sabbath day: Grant that we who have been buried with him in the waters of baptism may find our perfect rest in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.

Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy upon us.

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Do not be afraid; I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here in the tomb for he has been raised as he said.  We trust that God raised the Lord Jesus to life. And just as God raised Jesus, he will raise us to life.

Jesus said, “I am resurrection and I am life. Everyone who has faith in me will live, even if they die.”

Let us pray: O God, who by the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light: Grant that we, who have been raised with him, may abide in his presence and rejoice in the hope of eternal glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be dominion and praise for ever and ever. Amen.

Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy upon us.