Stations Of The Cross
The following pictures are of wood carving of the 14 Stations Of The Cross. They are located on the walls of our Sanctuary. Please follow the story of Jesus through to his crucifixion.
First Station
Jesus is condemned to death
As soon as it was morning, the chief priests, with the elders and scribes, and the whole council, held a consultation: and they bound Jesus and led him away and delivered him to Pilate. And they all condemned him and said: "He deserves to die." When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called the Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. Then he handed Jesus over to them to be crucified.
Second Station
Jesus takes up his cross
Jesus went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called the place of the 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 honour and glory and blessing.
Third Station
Jesus falls for the first time
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 into 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.
Fourth Station
Jesus meets his afflicted mother
To what can I liken you, to what can I compare you, O daughter of Jerusalem? What likeness can I use to comfort you, O virgin daughter of Zion? For vast as the sea is your ruin. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. The Lord will be your everlasting light, and you days of mourning shall be ended.
Fifth Station
The Cross is laid on Simon of Cyrene
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 it 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."
Sixth Station
A woman wipes the face of Jesus
We have seen him without beauty or majesty, with no looks to attract our eyes. He was despised and rejected: a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom others hide their faces. He was despised and we esteemed him not. His appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of mortals. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed.
Seventh Station
Jesus falls for the second time
Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to their own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth. For the transgression of my people was he stricken.
Eighth Station
Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem
There followed after Jesus a great multitude of the people, and among them were women who bewailed and lamented him. But Jesus turning to them said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children."
Ninth Station
Jesus falls a third time
I am the one who has seen affliction under the rod of his wrath; He has driven and brought me into darkness without any light. He has besieged me and enveloped me with bitterness and tribulation; he has made me dwell in darkness like the dead of long ago. Though I call and cry for help, he shuts out my prayer. He has made my teeth grind on gravel, and made me cower in ashes. "Remember, O Lord, my affliction and bitterness, the wormwood and the gall!"
Tenth Station
Jesus is stripped of his garments
When they came to a place called Golgotha (which means the place of a 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."
Eleventh Station
Jesus is nailed to the Cross
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."
Twelfth Station
Jesus dies on the Cross
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 you hands I commend my spirit." And he bowed his head, and handed over his spirit.
Thirteenth Station
The body of Jesus is placed in the arms of his mother
All you who pass by, behold and see if there is any sorrow like my sorrow. My eyes are spent with weeping; my soul is in tumult; my heart is poured out in grief because of the downfall of my people. "Do no call me Naomi (which means Pleasant), call me Mara (which means Bitter); for the Almighty had dealt very bitterly with me."
Fourteenth Station
Jesus is laid in the tomb
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.
(All text from "The Way Of The Cross" Service)