Since this is Passion Week, the week leading up to Easter Sunday, I thought I would post some devotional thoughts to help direct your attention to what Jesus would do for us on Good Friday when He gave His life for us on the cross. My prayer is that they will help encourage, comfort, and challenge you as you are striving to follow Jesus, especially now in these crazy times.

Nine years ago, I went to Israel with some ministers and other church planters. A couple of days before we finished our two-week trip, we walked through the Stations of the Cross in Old Jerusalem. As we walked the Via Dolorosa, which is believed to be the actual path that Jesus walked on the way to Calvary, we stopped and read these and spent time in reflection and prayer. Each day this week, I’ll be posting three of the stations, except for Friday, which will have only two. Those two will be specific for Good Friday.

Take some time reading and praying through these short devotions and prayers. May they will help us focus on what we will celebrate this coming Sunday morning separately together.

IT’S GOING TO BE AN AWESOME DAY!

First Station: Jesus Condemned to Death

Psalm 2:2, 7-8

The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and his anointed, saying, I will tell of the decree of the Lord: He said to me, “You are my son; today I have begotten you.  Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.”

Mark 14:61-64

But he was silent and did not answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”  Jesus said, “I am; and ‘you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power,’ and ‘coming with the clouds of heaven.’” Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “Why do we still need witnesses? You have heard his blasphemy! What is your decision?” All of them condemned him as deserving death.

 Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, our Teacher on the Way, we are all condemned to death.  Sometimes we bring death on ourselves; sometimes it is at the hands of others.  Always, death is an inevitability of the human situation.  Even though we try to avoid it, the Paschal rhythm of death, burial, and resurrection teaches us that the only path way to new life leads through the dark and narrow passageway of death.  Lord Jesus Christ, friend and brother, you faced your accusers with quiet dignity.  You walked into your death with honesty and grace.  Show me those places in my own life where I must die to self in order to be born to new life.  As we walk this way together, teach me how to meet my own deaths–large and small–with courage and grace.

Lord, in your mercy...hear our prayer.

Second Station: Jesus Carries His Cross

Isaiah 53:1-3

Who has believed what we have heard?  And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.  He was despised and rejected by others; a man of suffering and acquainted with infirmity; and as one from whom others hide their faces he was despised, and we held him of no account. 

 John 19:14-17

Now it was the day of Preparation for the Passover; and it was about noon. He said to the Jews, “Here is your King!” They cried out, “Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!”

Pilate asked them, “Shall I crucify your King?”  The chief priests answered, “We have no king but the emperor.” Then he handed him over to them to be crucified.  So they took Jesus; and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called in Hebrew Golgotha.

Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, our Teacher on the Way, sometimes your call upon our life seems like more than we can bear.  We are tempted to shrink from the challenges and hardships of our path.  We wonder if we can make it all the way up the hill.  Lord Jesus Christ, you carried your own cross with strength and perseverance and were undeterred by those who demeaned you along the way.  As we walk this way together, show me what is my cross to carry, my burden to bear, and teach me how to shoulder it well.  Today is the day for me to learn more of what it means for me to take up my cross and follow you.  Silence.

Lord, in your mercy...hear our prayer.

Third Station: Jesus Falls beneath Cross

Isaiah 63:2-5

Why are your robes red, and your garments like theirs who tread the wine press?  I have trodden the wine press alone, and from the peoples no one was with me; I trod them in my anger and trampled them in my wrath; their juice spattered on my garments, and stained all my robes.  For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and the year for my redeeming work had come.  I looked, but there was no helper;  I stared, but there was no one to sustain me; so my own arm brought me victory, and my wrath sustained me. 

John 15:18-20

If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you. If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. Because you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world–therefore the world hates you.  Remember the word that I said to you, Servants are not greater than their master.  If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also.

Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, our Teacher on the Way, we are afraid of falling. Afraid of failing.  Afraid of not being seen as strong and able to manage everything that has been given to us to do.  Somehow the expectations have gotten so high that there is no place for weakness, for vulnerability, for needing help.  We try to pretend that we can live far beyond human limitations and ruin ourselves in the process.  Lord Jesus Christ, our friend and brother, on the day that you accomplished God’s greatest purpose for your life, you fell.  You, the Creator of the Universe, the Word that spoke all things into being and holds them all together, stumbled under the weight of a man-made cross.  As we walk this way together, teach me how to let myself be human.  When I fall, help me not to be paralyzed with shame or waste energy with excuses; rather help me to get up and keep walking the path that is marked out for me.  Silence.

Lord, in your mercy...hear our prayer.