Praying through the Stations of the Cross
We invite you to explore an alternative way of experiencing the Stations of the Cross. These stations offer a unique way of reflecting on the Scriptural accounts of Christ’s passion, sacrifice, and resurrection from the dead.
As we walk in the way of Jesus and pray through the Scriptural stations, we may do so alone or in the community with others. If in a group setting, a pastor or layperson may announce the stations and offer the opening and concluding prayer at each station. During the reflections, one or more readers may read the Scriptural accounts.
A period of silence should be observed between the reading and the concluding prayer. May this sacred practice deepen our understanding of the Way of Jesus and draw us closer to Him. Amen.
Leader
God of power and mercy,
in love you sent your Son
that we might be cleansed of sin
and live with you forever.
Bless us as we gather to reflect
on the suffering and death of Jesus
that we may learn from his example
and walk in His way.
We ask this through Christ, our Lord.
All
Amen.
Opening Prayer
First Station: Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane
Leader
We love you, Jesus Christ, and we bless you.
All
By giving Your life on the cross, You have redeemed the world.
Reading
Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee and began to feel sorrow and distress. Then he said to them, “My soul is sorrowful even to death. Remain here and keep watch with me.” He advanced a little and fell prostrate in prayer, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will.” When he returned to his disciples, he found them asleep. He said to Peter, “So you could not keep watch with me for one hour? Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
(Matthew 26:36-41)
Leader
Lord, grant us your strength and wisdom,
that we may seek to follow your will in all things
All
Lord Jesus Christ, help us walk in your way.
Second Station: Jesus, Betrayed by Judas, is Arrested
Leader
We love you, Jesus Christ, and we bless you.
All
By giving Your life on the cross, You have redeemed the world.
Reading
Then, while [Jesus] was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived, accompanied by a crowd with swords and clubs, who had come from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. His betrayer had arranged a signal with them, saying, “the man I shall kiss is the one; arrest him and lead him away securely.” He came and immediately went over to him and said, “Rabbi.” And he kissed him. At this they laid hands on him and arrested him. (Mark 14: 43-46)
Leader
Lord, grant us your strength and wisdom,
that we may seek to follow your will in all things
All
Lord Jesus Christ, help us walk in your way.
Third Station: Jesus is Condemned by the Sanhedrin
Leader:
We love you, Jesus Christ, and we bless you.
All:
By giving Your life on the cross, You have redeemed the world.
Reading:
When day came the council of elders of the people met, both chief priests and scribes, and they brought him before their Sanhedrin. They said, “If you are the Messiah, tell us,” but he replied to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, and if I question, you will not respond. But from this time on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?” He replied to them, “You say that I am.” Then they said, “What further need have we for testimony? We have heard it from his own mouth.” (Luke 22: 66-71)
Leader
Lord, grant us your sense of righteousness
that we may never cease to work
to bring about the justice of the kingdom that you promised.
All
Lord Jesus Christ, help us walk in your way.
Fourth Station: Jesus is Denied by Peter
Leader:
We love you, Jesus Christ, and we bless you.
All:
By giving Your life on the cross, You have redeemed the world.
Reading:
Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. One of the maids came over to him and said, “You too were with Jesus the Galilean.” But he denied it in front of everyone, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about!” As he went out to the gate, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This man was with Jesus the Nazorean.” Again he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man!” A little later the bystanders came over and said to Peter, “Surely you too are one of them; even your speech gives you away.” At that he began to curse and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately a cock crowed. Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had spoken: “Before the cock crows you will deny me three times.” He went out and began to weep bitterly. (Matthew 26: 69-75)
Leader:
Lord, grant us the gift of honesty that we may not fear to speak the truth even when difficult.
All: Lord Jesus Christ, help us walk in your way.
Fifth Station: Jesus is Judged by Pilate
Leader:
We love you, Jesus Christ, and we bless you.
All:
By giving Your life on the cross, You have redeemed the world.
Reading:
The chief priests with the elders and the scribes, that is, the whole Sanhedrin, held a council. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. Pilate questioned him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He said to him in reply, “You say so.” The chief priests accused him of many things. Again Pilate questioned him, “Have you no answer? See how many things they accuse you of.” Jesus gave him no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed.... Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barrabas... [and] handed [Jesus] over to be crucified. (Mark 15: 1-5, 15)
Leader:
Lord, grant us discernment that we may see as you see, not as the world sees.
All:
Lord Jesus Christ, help us walk in your way.
Sixth Station: Jesus is Scourged and Crowned with Thorns
Leader:
We love you, Jesus Christ, and we bless you.
All:
By giving Your life on the cross, You have redeemed the world.
Reading:
Then Pilate took Jesus and had him scourged. And the soldiers wove a crown out of thorns and placed it on his head, and clothed him in a purple cloak, and they came to him and said,”Hail, King of the Jews!” And they struck him repeatedly. (John 19: 1-3)
Leader:
Lord, grant us patience in times of suffering
that we may offer our lives as a sacrifice of praise.
All:
Lord Jesus Christ, help us walk in your way.
Seventh Station: Jesus Bears the Cross
Leader:
We love you, Jesus Christ, and we bless you.
All:
By giving Your life on the cross, You have redeemed the world.
Reading:
When the chief priests and the guards saw [Jesus] they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him. I find no guilt in him.” ... They cried out, “Take him away, take him away! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your king?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, and carrying the cross himself, he went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, in Hebrew, Golgotha. (John 19: 6, 15-17)
Leader:
Lord, grant us strength of purpose that we may faithfully bear our crosses each day.
All:
Lord Jesus Christ, help us walk in your way.
Eighth Station: Jesus is Helped by Simon the Cyrenian to Carry the Cross
Leader:
We love you, Jesus Christ, and we bless you.
All:
By giving Your life on the cross, You have redeemed the world.
Reading:
They pressed into service a passer-by, Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross. (Mark 15: 21)
Leader:
Lord, grant us willing spirits that we may be your instruments on earth.
All:
Lord Jesus Christ, help us walk in your way.
Ninth Station: Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem
Leader:
We love you, Jesus Christ, and we bless you.
All:
By giving Your life on the cross, You have redeemed the world.
Reading:
A large crowd of people followed Jesus, including many women who mourned and lamented him. Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep instead for yourselves and for your children, for indeed, the days are coming when people will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed.’ At that time, people will say to the mountains, ‘Fall upon us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’ for if these things are done when the wood is green what will happen when it is dry?” (Luke 23: 27-31)
Leader:
Lord, grant us gentle spirits that we may comfort those who mourn.
All:
Lord Jesus Christ, help us walk in your way.
Tenth Station: Jesus is Crucified
Leader:
We love you, Jesus Christ, and we bless you.
All:
By giving Your life on the cross, You have redeemed the world.
Reading:
When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him and the criminals there, one on his right, the other on his left. [Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.”] (Luke 23: 33-34)
Leader:
Lord, grant us merciful hearts that we may bring your reconciliation and forgiveness to all.
All:
Lord Jesus Christ, help us walk in your way.
Eleventh Station: Jesus Promises His Kingdom to the Good Thief
Leader:
We love you, Jesus Christ, and we bless you.
All:
By giving Your life on the cross, You have redeemed the world.
Reading:
Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us.” The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, “Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied to him, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23: 39-43)
Leader:
Lord, grant us perseverance that we may never stop seeking you.
All:
Lord Jesus Christ, help us walk in your way.
Twelfth Station: Jesus Speaks to His Mother and the Disciple
Leader:
We love you, Jesus Christ, and we bless you.
All:
By giving Your life on the cross, You have redeemed the world.
Reading:
Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. John 19: 25-27
Leader:
Lord, grant us constancy that we may be willing to stand by those in need.
All:
Lord Jesus Christ, help us walk in your way.
Thirteenth Station: Jesus Dies on the Cross
Leader:
We love you, Jesus Christ, and we bless you.
All:
By giving Your life on the cross, You have redeemed the world.
Reading:
It was now about noon and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon because of an eclipse of the sun. Then the veil of the temple was torn down the middle. Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit”; and when he had said this he breathed his last. (Luke 23: 44-46)
Leader:
Lord, grant us trust in you that when our time on earth in ended our spirits may come to you without delay.
All:
Lord Jesus Christ, help us walk in your way.
Fourteenth Station: Jesus is Placed in the Tomb
Leader:
We love you, Jesus Christ, and we bless you.
All:
By giving Your life on the cross, You have redeemed the world.
Reading:
When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, who was himself a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be handed over. Taking the body, Joseph wrapped it [in] clean linen and laid it in his new tomb that he had hewn in the rock. Then he rolled a huge stone across the entrance to the tomb and departed. (Matthew 27: 57-60)
Leader:
Lord, grant us your compassion that we may always provide for those in need.
All:
Lord Jesus Christ, help us walk in your way.
Fifteenth Station: Jesus Rises From Death
Leader:
We love you, Jesus Christ, and we bless you.
All:
By giving Your life on the cross, You have redeemed the world.
Readings:
“On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark and saw the stone removed from the tomb” (John 20:1)
Jesus said…”I am the resurrection and the life.” “Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live.” (John 11:25)
Leader:
Lord, we look to tomorrow with hope in your resurrection. The tomb is empty. We do not grieve as those who have no hope. Worthy are you to receive honor and glory.
All:
Lord Jesus Christ, help us walk in your way.
Leader
Lord Jesus Christ,
Your passion, death, and resurrection
Is the sacrifice that unites earth and heaven
And reconciles all people to you.
As we have faithfully reflected on who You are,
And what You have done for us,
May we faithfully follow in your way, Jesus,
Until you come again in Your glory,
And wipe away every tear,
And make all things new,
And bring us into Your glory in heaven,
Where You live and reign,
With the Father and the Holy Spirit,
One God, with us Your people,
Forever and ever.
All
Amen.