Stations of the Cross

The Stations of the Cross is a religious service that traces the steps of Jesus Christ from his trial to his death on the cross and burial in the tomb. This is traditionally a Roman Catholic service, but many Protestant denominations are using it as well. The following is a dramatic script that I wrote for this service as part of a college project. Permission is granted to use this service and adapt it for your own congregation. I hope that you are moved by this service!

Stations of the Cross 

Introduction

Guide: This is a devotion that walks with Jesus from his trial until his burial. It centers on the last hours of Jesus’ life, but does not forget the life and words and actions that caused the Roman occupiers of the nation to have Jesus executed. Marking these stations, we touch the anger and anguish that we feel before all suffering, our own and that of all creatures. These stations share moments from Jesus’ walk down the road to the cross. Each station will conclude with a prayer, after which we should respond with, “Thank you Jesus for suffering for me.” Let us pray: Lord Jesus Christ, take us along that holy way you once took to your death. Take our minds, our memory, and above all our reluctant hearts, and let us see what you once did for love of us and the entire world. May we never forget the love that you have shown us during these dark hours.[i]

            Thank you Jesus for suffering for me.

Station One – Jesus Is Judged (Chapel Steps)

(Table with cloth, chair, bowl, gavel, scales costume)

Guide: Jesus stands in the most human of places. He has already experienced profound solidarity with so many on this earth, by being beaten and tortured. Now he is wrongfully condemned to punishment by death. His commitment to entering our lives completely begins its final steps. He has said “yes” to God and placed his life in God’s hands. We follow him in this final surrender, and contemplate with reverence each place along the way, as he is broken and given for us. [ii]

Pilate: You yell for this man’s death, yet I find nothing wrong with him! Are you sure you want me to crucify your king?

Person in crowd: We have no king but Caesar! Release to us Barrabas! Crucify this so-called king of the Jews!

Pilate: Fine. Have it your way. I wash my hands of this matter. I am innocent of this man’s blood.

Guide: Let us pray: Dearest Jesus, you stand all alone before Pilate. Nobody speaks up for you. Nobody helps defend you. You devoted your entire life to helping others, listening to the smallest ones, caring for those who were ignored by others. They don't seem to remember that as they prepare to put you to death. As a child, sometimes we feel alone. Sometimes we feel that others don't stand up for us and defend us when we are afraid. Sometimes we don't feel like we are treated fairly, especially if we are scolded or corrected. As an adult, sometimes we feel abandoned and afraid as well. Sometimes we too, feel like we are treated unfairly or blamed for things unfairly. We have a hard time when people criticize us at home or at work. Help us be grateful for what you did for us. Help us to accept criticism and unfairness as you did, and not complain. Help us pray for those who have hurt us. Jesus, often we have signed the death warrant by our sins; save us by your death from that eternal death which we have so often deserved.[iii]

            Thank you Jesus for suffering for me. (proceed in silence to station 2)

Station Two – Jesus Receives His Cross (Cross Crest in Vestibule)

(crown of thorns, purple cloth, tea candles)

Guide: After being arrested, tried, wrongly convicted, beaten, and mocked, Jesus is now made to carry the cross on which he will die. It represents the weight of all our crosses. What he must have felt as he first took it upon his shoulders! With each step he enters more deeply into our human experience. He walks in the path of human misery and suffering, and experiences its crushing weight. Upon his head is the crown of thorns shoved onto his sacred head, no doubt by an eager guard who took pleasure in watching people suffer. Sweating, bleeding, and half-naked, Jesus struggles forward down the Via Dolorosa, the road to Calvary. Let us have a moment of silence as we contemplate this moment. ²

(Silence for about 30 seconds)

Let us pray: Jesus, as you accepted your cross, you knew you would carry it to your death on Calvary. You knew it wouldn't be easy, but you accepted it and carried it just the same. As a child, sometimes we don't like the problems that come our way. Sometimes we try to get others to take care of them or solve them for us. Sometimes we become upset and crabby when we’re asked to do even the smallest thing to help others. As an adult we sometimes feel like we’re not appreciated. Sometimes we feel as if we accept more responsibility than we need to. We can feel sorry for ourselves, even though the crosses others carry are much larger than our own. In our self-pity, we don't reach out to help. Jesus, you chose to carry the most heavy cross we made for you by our sins, oh, make us feel their heavy weight, and weep for them ever while we live. ³

            Thank you Jesus for suffering for me. (proceed in silence to station 3)

Station Three – JesusFalls for the First Time (Traveling up the left staircase)

(Rocks with blood, and lay cross on steps)

Guide: The weight of the cross is unbearable. Jesus falls under it. How could he enter our lives completely without surrendering to the crushing weight of the life of so many on this earth! He lays on the ground and knows the experience of weakness beneath unfair burdens. He feels the powerlessness of wondering if he will ever be able to continue. He is pulled up by the guards and made to continue. ² Let us join in singing the first verse “Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone?” number 424, on the handout.

(Verse 1, “Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone?”)

Guide: Let us pray: Jesus, the cross you have been carrying is very heavy. You are becoming weak and almost ready to faint, and you fall down. Nobody seems to want to help you. The soldiers are interested in getting home, so they yell at you and try to get you up and moving again. As a child, sometimes we start to do something, but then get tired of it. We hurry to get finished and sometimes don't do our work well. Sometimes we don't pay attention to what we should be doing. When things get hard for us, sometimes we give up. As an adult, we sometimes put things off. We give up too easily, and sometimes don't do our work as well as we know we can. Jesus, the heavy burden of our sins is on you, and bears you down beneath the cross. We hate them, we detest them; we call on you to forgive us for our sins. Give us grace that we may never sin again.³

            Thank you Jesus for suffering for me. (proceed in silence to station 4)

Station Four – Jesus Meets His Mother (top landing of staircase)

(costume, candle for Mary, candelabra, water bottle-behind the scenes),

Guide: Jesus’ path takes him to a powerful source of his strength to continue. All his life, his mother had taught him the meaning of the words, “Behold, the handmaiden of the Lord.” Now they look into each other’s eyes. How pierced-through her heart must be! How pained he must be to see her tears! Now, her grace-filled smile blesses his mission and stirs his heart to its depth. Love and trust in God bind them together.²

Mary: Oh God! What is this terrible curse that you have laid upon our son? Have all these years just been a waste? When you sent the angel to me many years ago, I was told that he would be great, the Son of the most High; the Messiah. He said that he would rule by your side in heaven for all eternity! Is this what Simeon meant when he said that a sword would enter my heart also? Oh God! Why does he have to die! (starts sobbing uncontrollably as she exits)

Guide: Let us pray: Jesus, you feel so alone with all those people yelling and screaming at you. You don't like the words they are saying about you, and you look for a friendly face in the crowd. You see your mother. She can't make the hurting stop, but it helps to see that she is on your side, that she is suffering with you. She does understand and care.
As a child, sometimes we feel like too many things are going on. Sometimes other kids pick on us and call us names. We need to look around us for a friendly face, and for the help we need. We need to share our troubles with those who truly care about us. As an adult we sometimes feel overwhelmed by many things. Life is so competitive, and we worry so much about the future and those who have some control over it. We need to remember that being an adult does not mean having to solve every problem all by ourselves. We need to look around us for a friendly face, for the help we need. Jesus most suffering, Mary Mother most sorrowful, if, by our sins, we caused you pain and anguish in the past, with God’s help, we will hurt you no more; instead we will love you forever more. ³

            Thank you Jesus for suffering for me. (proceed in silence to station 5)

Station Five – Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus Carry the Cross (left balcony)

(costume, candle at each window with  holder)

Guide: Jesus even experiences our struggle to receive help. He is made to experience the poverty of not being able to carry his burden alone. He enters into the experience of all who must depend upon others to survive. He is deprived of the satisfaction of carrying this burden alone. ²

Simon: The burden of all the sins of the world are much more heavy than this old wooden cross. No wonder Jesus collapsed under its weight! (struggles to lift the cross to his shoulders, make-believing that its heavy, and silently walks across the balcony as the guide prays)

Guide: Let us pray: Jesus, the soldiers are becoming impatient. This is taking longer than they wanted it to. They are afraid you won't make it to the hill where you will be crucified. As you grow weaker, they grab a man out of the crowd and make him help carry your cross. He was just watching what was happening, but all of a sudden he is helping you carry your cross. As a child, sometimes we see people who need our help. Sometimes we pretend not to hear when our parents call us. We disappear when we know others could use our help. As an adult, sometimes we try to do as little as we can and still get by. Others might need our help, but we ignore their needs. Even when we’re asked to help, we sometimes claim to be too busy. Jesus, bless this young man, Simon as he carries your cross. Bless us as well as we also help you bear your cross by surrendering to the crosses in our own lives. Jesus, give us grace to do so.³

            Thank you Jesus for suffering for me. (pace walk so you arrive at station 6 as the prayer is finished)

Station Six – Veronica Wipes Jesus’ Brow (opposite staircase top landing)

(tablecloth, recording of water, tall candle, bowl with towel, stool or table, costume)

Guide: Jesus’ journey is at times brutal. He has entered into the terrible experiences of rejection and injustice. He has been whipped and beaten. His face shows the signs of his solidarity with all who have ever suffered injustice and vile, abusive treatment. He encounters a compassionate, loving disciple who wipes the vulgar spit and mocking blood from his face. On her veil, she discovers the image of his face – his gift to her, and for us to contemplate forever. ²

Veronica: I first heard Jesus a while ago when he spoke to us on top of the Mount of Olives. I have followed him ever since. When I saw him struggling down the road, I felt that I had to do something, anything, to make him feel better. So I took my towel and wiped his brow to make him feel a little better. He smiled sweetly at me, and I knew that I did the right thing.

Guide: Let us pray: Jesus, suddenly a woman comes out of the crowd. Her name is Veronica. You can see how she cares for you as she takes a cloth and begins to wipe the blood and sweat from your face. She can't do much, but she offers what little help she can. As a child, sometimes we know someone could use a little help and understanding. They may be picked on or teased by others, or just sad or lonely. Sometimes we feel bad that others don't step in to help, but we don't help either. As an adult, we notice the needs around us. Sometimes our own family members crave our attention, and we don't even seem to notice. Sometimes a co-worker, friend, or family member could use help or understanding, but we don't reach out to help lest we be criticized, or that they demand more of us than we'd like to give. Tender Jesus; imprint your image upon our hearts so that we may know your love. ³

            Thank you Jesus for suffering for me. (proceed in silence to station 7)

Station Seven – Jesus Falls the Second Time (step immediately outside MRC)

(Brown sackcloth for road sprinkled with blood, scattered flower petals, songsheets)

Guide: Even with help, Jesus stumbles and falls to the ground. In deep exhaustion he stares at the earth beneath him. “Remember, you are dust and to dust you will return.” He has seen death before. Now he can feel the profound weakness of disability and disease and aging itself, there on his knees, under the weight of the earth’s many sins. ² Let us now sing the second verse of “Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone?”

(sing verse 2 “Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone?”)

Guide: Let us pray: Dearest Jesus, this is the second time you have fallen on the road. As the cross grows heavier and heavier it becomes more difficult to get up. But you continue to struggle and try until you're up and walking again. You don't give up. As a child, sometimes things get us down. Others seem to find things easier to do or to learn. Each time we fail, we find it harder to keep trying. As an adult, sometimes we think we should know more than we do. We become impatient with ourselves and find it hard to believe in ourselves when we fail. It is easy to despair over small things, and sometimes we do. Help us when things seem difficult for us. Even when it's hard, help us get up and keep trying as you did. Help us do our best without comparing ourselves with others. My Jesus, we have sinned often and by sin, we have beaten you to the ground under the staggering weight. Help us to use the wonderful means of grace that we may never fall again. ³

            Thank you Jesus for suffering for me. (proceed in silence to station 8)

Station Eight – Jesus Talks to the Weeping Women (Meditation Chapel)

(2 or 3 women in costume, tea candles)

Guide: The women of Jerusalem, and their children, come out to comfort and thank him. They had seen his compassion and welcomed his words of healing and freedom. He had broken all kinds of social and religious conventions to connect with them. Now they are here to support him. He feels their grief. He suffers, knowing he can’t remain to help them more in this life. He knows the mystery of facing the separation of death. ²

Woman:  (silence interrupted by sounds of weeping from the women)

Guide:  Let us pray: Jesus, as you carry your cross you see a group of women along the road. As you pass by you see they are sad. You stop to spend a moment with them, to offer them some encouragement. Although you are have been abandoned by your friends and are in pain, you stop and try to help them. As a child, sometimes we think a lot about ourselves. We think about what we want and would like people to spend their lives pleasing us. As an adult, sometimes we act like children. We become so absorbed in our own interests that we forget about the needs of others. We take them for granted, and often ignore their needs. Help us think more about others. Help us remember that others have problems, too. Help us respond to them even when we're busy or preoccupied with our own problems. My Jesus, who comforted these poor women of Jerusalem who cried when they saw your suffering, comfort our souls with your tender pity, for in your pity lies our trust. May our hearts ever answer your call. ³

            Thank you Jesus for suffering for me. (proceed in silence to station 9)

Station Nine – Jesus Falls a Third Time (outside chapel along side Med. chapel)

(rocks with blood)

Guide: This last fall is devastating. Jesus can barely proceed to the end. Summoning all this remaining strength, supported by his inner trust in God, Jesus collapses under the weight of the cross and our sins. His executioners look at him as a broken man, pathetic yet paying the price he deserves. They help him up so he can make it up the hill of crucifixion. ² Let us sing verse three of “Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone?”

(sing verse 3, “Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone?”)

Guide: Let us pray: Jesus, your journey has been long. You fall again, beneath your cross. You know your journey is coming to an end. You struggle and struggle. You get up and keep going. As a child, sometimes we fail time and time again. We find it hard to get along with our sisters and brothers, sometimes we're not honest, and sometimes we’re lazy. We’re tempted to stop trying. It's just too hard sometimes. As an adult, we often feel we should have conquered our weaknesses by now. We become discouraged when we’re confronted by the same problems over and over again. Sometimes we get weary. When we have health problems, we can become discouraged and depressed. Help us think of the cross you carried. Help us continue to hope that we can make the changes in our life we need to. You didn't give up. We can have the strength to get up again as well. Jesus, by all the terrible ways you have suffered when for the third time the heavy burden of sin made you fall to the earth, never, let us fall again into sin. We would rather die than to hurt you again. ³

            Thank you Jesus for suffering for me. (proceed in silence to station 10)

Station Ten – Jesus is Stripped of His Garments (Men’s Kresge Bathroom)

(Big fuzzy dice, sticks for casting lots, clothes strewn about)

Guide: Part of the indignity is to be crucified naked. Jesus is completely stripped of any pride. The wounds on his back are torn open again. He experiences the ultimate vulnerability of the defenseless. No shield or security protects him. As they stare at him, his eyes turn to heaven. ² Let us join in singing hymn number 292 from the handout, “What Wondrous Love is This?”

(sing entire hymn)

Guide: Let us pray: Jesus, the soldiers notice you have something of value. They remove your cloak and throw dice for it. Your wounds are torn open once again. Some of the people in the crowd make fun of you. They tease you and challenge you to perform a miracle for them to see. They're not aware that you'll perform the greatest miracle of all! As a child, sometimes we’re tempted to repeat stories we know are unclean and disrespectful. We sometimes try to act grown up by using crude and bad words. As an adult, sometimes we repeat stories that are disrespectful of others. We can entertain thoughts that are not clean. Sometimes we give the young people around us a bad example to follow. Help us to keep ourselves pure and clean. Help us say things that build up the people around us. Help us overcome worldly desires that we may become more like you. Help us set a good example for others to follow. Jesus, stripped of your garments and drenched with blood, strip us of love for things of earth, and make us loathe all that savors of the world and sin. ³

            Thank you Jesus for suffering for me. (proceed in silence to station 11)

Station Eleven – Jesus is Crucified (right Kresge landing)

(bowl of nails with blood, 2 crosses with crucifix in middle, purple cloth, candle in front of crucifix)

Guide: Huge nails are hammered through his hands and feet to fix him on the cross. He is bleeding much more seriously now. As the cross is lifted up, the weight of his life hangs on those nails. Every time he struggles to pull himself up to breathe, his ability to cling to life slips away. Between two criminals, a mocking title above his head, and with Mary and John and Mary Magdalene at his feet, Jesus is crucified. ²

(pauses for a moment of silence interrupted only by the sound of nails being hammered) Let us sing the first verse of “Were You There?” number 288 on your hand-outs.

Let us pray: Jesus, you are stretched out on the cross you have carried so far. The soldiers take big nails and drive them into your hands and feet. You feel abandoned by the people you loved so much. People seem to have gone mad. You have done nothing but good, yet they drive nails through your hands and feet. As a child, sometimes we hurt others. Sometimes we join with friends and decide not to like one another. We gang up against one another and cause them hurt and pain. Sometimes we say or do hurtful things to our brothers and sisters. We can wonder what they'd think about themselves if they believed everything we told them about themselves. As an adult, sometimes we discriminate against others. Even without thinking, we judge others because of their color, intelligence, income level or name. We forget that we are to live as brothers and sisters to all people. Sometimes we use harsh words when we speak to our children and family members. We can find it easy to look for something that isn't very important and make it very important. Help us look again at the people around us. Help us see the hurt and pain we have caused in others. Be with us to help us make amends for the harm we have done. Jesus, by your agony when the cruel nails pierced your tender hands and feet and fixed them to the cross, make us crucify our flesh by Christian penance. ³

            Thank you Jesus for suffering for me. (proceed in silence to station 12)

Station Twelve – Jesus Dies on the Cross (Chapel Altar)

(large white candle representing Christ’s life, kneeling pads, cross on altar draped with black, crown of thorns)

Guide: “It is finished. Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” (blows out candle on altar)

(Silent prayers by the entire group. When it appears everyone is finished lead in the response. If no one seems willing to pray, then say :) Jesus, let us take a few moments now to consider your love for us. Help us thank you for your willingness to go to your death for us. Help us express our love for you! Jesus, for three hours you hung in agony, and then died for us; let me us before we sin, and if we live, let us live for your love and faithful service.³

            Thank you Jesus for suffering for me. (proceed in silence to station 13)

Station Thirteen – Jesus’ Body is Taken Down From the Cross (left Kresge landing)

(black robes for Joseph, cross on table with black cloth)

Guide: Gently, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus lower the body of their Lord from the cross. What tender mourning! Jesus’ lifeless body lies in his mother’s arms. He has truly died. The sacrifice of the Lamb of God is complete. ²

Joseph: People often wonder, why were Nicodemus and I so concerned about the body? The answer, I believe, is obvious. We are two men who love Jesus, and could not stand for him to be buried in a common criminal’s grave. So we bought the body from Pilate and allowed our Lord to rest in his mother’s grieving arms before taking him somewhere more appropriate for burial.

Guide: Let us pray: Jesus, how brutally you were put to death. How gently you are taken from the cross. Your suffering and pain are ended, and you are put in the lap of your mother. The dirt and blood are wiped away. You are treated with love. As a child, sometimes we treat others better when they're sad or in pain. When somebody dies, we become very gentle and kind. We notice the good and kind things people say about those who have died. As an adult, we seem to be kinder when someone dies. If only we could learn to see the good things about them while they were alive. If only we would tell those around me how much we love them, while we still have the opportunity to do so. Help us look for the good in those around us, especially those we love the most. Help us live each day as if it were the last. Help us become a more gentle and loving person through our greater appreciation for those around us. ³

            Thank you Jesus for suffering for me. (proceed in silence to station 14)

Station Fourteen – Jesus’ Body is Placed in the Tomb (Dungeon behind Kresge)

(long table with cloth, tape or CD player)

Guide: They take the body of Jesus to its resting place. The huge stone over the tomb is the final sign of the permanence of death. In this final act of surrender, who would have imagined that this tomb would soon be empty of that Jesus would show himself alive to his disciples, or that they would recognize him in the breaking of bread? Oh, that our hearts might burn within us, as we realize how he had to suffer and die so as to enter into his glory, for us. ²

Let us pray: Jesus, your body is prepared for burial. Joseph gave you his own tomb. He laid your body there and rolled a large stone in front of it, then went home. What a sad day it has been for so many people. As a child, sometimes we try to keep everything for ourselves. We find it hard to share our things with our brothers or sisters and with our friends. As an adult, we can be selfish too. We can accumulate things and keep them for ourselves. We try to make sure we have what we want before we share what we have with anybody else. Help us think of Joseph of Arimathea, who risked his own life as he accepted Jesus' body for burial. Help us think of how Joseph loved Jesus so much that he gave him his own tomb. Jesus, beside your body in the tomb we, too, should lie dead; but if we live, let it be for you, so as one day to enjoy with you in heaven the fruits of your passion and your bitter death. ³

            Thank you Jesus for suffering for me. Amen.

(“Beyond the Cross” is now played)

Will you join me in our closing prayer? Lord Jesus, we have walked with you and witnessed these terrible events in the hours leading towards your death. As we stand at the entrance to your tomb, it is so easy to think that this is the end. A tomb is so final, and unfortunately a tomb or grave of our own lies at the end of our own life journey. Help us not to forget that this is not the end of the road. Help us to look with hope and excitement towards that glorious resurrection day when we shall join with you and your entire heavenly host in the celebration of victory over evil. Help us to be your light everywhere in this world, but especially in those places that have grown extremely dark after many years of sin. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

[i] Stations of the Cross: A Journey with Jesus in preparation for Easter, Wesley Chapel, April 18, 2001?

[ii] The Stations of the Cross.  Retrieved March 21, 2003 from the World Wide Web: http://www.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/stations.html

[iii] Catholic Online: Stations of the Cross. Retrieved March 25-30, 2003 from the World Wide Web: http://www.catholic.org/clife/prayers/station.php