Woodcuts by Arleen Polite
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, we pray you to set your passion, cross and death between your judgment and our souls, now and in the hour of our death. Give mercy and grace to the living, pardon and rest to the dead; |
to your holy church peace and concord; and to us sinners everlasting life and glory; for with the Father and Holy Spirit you live and reign, One God, now and forever. Amen |
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I. Jesus is Condemned to Death
Pilate heard what they were saying, then brought Jesus outside and took a seat on a judge’s bench at the place called the Stone Pavement—Gabbatha in Hebrew…He said to the Jews, “Look at your king!” At this they shouted, “Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!” …In the end, Pilate handed Jesus over to be crucified. John 19:13-16 |
II. Jesus Carries His Cross
Jesus is led away, and carrying the cross by himself, went out to what is called the Place of the Skull (in Hebrew, Golgotha) John 19:16-17 |
III. Jesus Falls the First Time
Though he was in the form of God, he did not deem equality with God something to be grasped at. Rather he emptied himself and took the form of a slave, being born in the likeness of men. He was known to be of human estate, and it was thus that he humbled himself, obediently accepting even death, death on a cross! Philippians 2:6-8 |
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IV. Jesus Meets His Mother
Seeing his mother there with the disciple whom he loved, Jesus said to his mother, “Woman, there is your son.” In turn he said to the disciple, “There is your mother.” From that hour onward, the disciple took her into his care. John 19:26-27 |
V. Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus Carry the Cross
As they led him away, they laid hold of one Simon the Cyrenean who was coming in from the fields. They put a crossbeam on Simon’s shoulder for him to carry along behind Jesus. Luke 23:26 |
VI. Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus
For God, who said: “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts, that we in turn might make known the glory of God shining on the face of Christ. This treasure we possess in earthen vessels to make it clear that its surpassing power comes from God and not from us. 2 Corinthians 4:6-7 |
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VII. Jesus Falls the Second Time
Yet it was our infirmities that he bore, our sufferings that he endured, while we thought of him as stricken, as one smitten by God and afflicted. But he was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins, upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole, by his stripes we were healed. Isaiah 53:4-5 |
VIII. Jesus Meets the Woman of Jerusalem
A great crowd of people followed him, including women who beat their breasts and lamented over him. Jesus turned to them and said: “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me. Weep for yourselves and for your children. The days are coming when they will say, ‘Happy are the sterile, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed.’ Then they will begin saying to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’” Luke 23:27-30 |
IX. Jesus Falls the Third Time
And I have not rebelled, have no turned back, I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; my face I did not shield from buffets and spitting. The Lord God is my help, therefore I am not disgraced. Isaiah 50:5-7 |
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X. Jesus is Stripped of His Clothing
After the soldiers had crucified Jesus they took his garments and divided them four ways, one for each soldier. There was also his tunic, but this tunic was woven in one piece from top to bottom and had no seam. They said to each other, “We should not tear it. Let us throw dice to see who gets it.” John 19:23-24 |
XI. Jesus is Nailed to the Cross
Two others who were criminals were led along with him to be crucified. When they came to Skull Place, as it was called, they crucified him there and the criminals as well, one on his right and the other on his left. Luke 23:32-33 |
XII. Jesus Dies on the Cross
It was now about midday, and darkness came over the whole land until mid afternoon with an eclipse of the sun. The curtain in the sanctuary was torn in two. Jesus uttered a loud cry and said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” After this he expired. The centurion, upon seeing what had happened, gave glory to God by saying, “Surely this was an innocent man.” Luke 23:44-47 |
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XIII. Jesus is Taken Down From the Cross
When evening fell, a wealthy man from Arimathea arrived, Joseph by name. He was another of Jesus’ disciples, and had gone to request the body of Jesus. Thereupon Pilate issued an order for its release. Matthew 27:57-58 |
XIV. Jesus is Placed in the Tomb
Taking the body, Joseph wrapped it in fresh lines and laid it in his own new tomb which had been hewn from a formation of rock. Then he rolled a huge stone across the entrance of the tomb and went away. Matthew 27:59-60 |
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