Welcome to Stations of the Cross @HLCE 2015

 

This will be a time and space for us to meditate and pray on the Passion of the Christ. There will be 14 stations. There is no time limit for you to spend at each station. You can stay at one station as long as you want or you can move on to the next station as fast as you want to. This is a self-guided meditation so pray and mediate as the Holy Spirit leads you. You can either stand or sit around the stations but please give way to others who wants to overtake.

I will suggest the following format:

1.    Calm and quiet yourself before you begin the meditation. Invite the Holy Spirit to be with you.

2.    At each station, stop and be still for a while.

3.    Look at the picture at the station carefully and slowly. Let the picture ‘speak’ to you. What does the picture reveal about Jesus Christ?

4.    Note the number of the station. Read Bible passage about the station in this file.

5.    Meditate on that passage. What is happening? What is Jesus doing?

6.    Read the short meditation.

7.    Spend some time in meditation and prayer.

a.     What has God done for us?

b.    What is happening in your life?

c.     What are your needs?

d.    What is God saying to you?

 

May this be a blessed encounter this Holy Saturday.

 

Dr Alex Tang

Advent 2015

 

Stations:

1.   Jesus on the Mount of Olives (Luke 22:39-46)         

Luke 22:39–46 (NIV84)

39 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40 On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” 41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

45 When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. 46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”

 

Jesus saw a journey ahead and it was not pleasant,

pain, suffering, humiliating,

abandonment, as Jesus looked around,

saw his beloved disciples sleeping.

Jesus had to make a choice;

to commit is to suffer and die,

or walk away and maybe, live in peace.

Not My will, Father, but Yours.

 

You had to leave the security

of Godhead to be a man with us,

born to die for us.

You had to pray to Your Father:

My God, I trust in You.

My God, I trust in You.

 

When we struggle to follow Your will,

help us to know that You have been there, too;

but is more than blessed in the end.

Help us to pray:

My God, I trust in You.

My God, I trust in You.

 

When Your cross pierces

our own desires, and makes us call out,

let our cry be, through our pain:

My God, I trust in You.

My God, I trust in You.

 

2.   Jesus, betrayed by Judas, is arrested (Luke 22:47-48)

Luke 22:47–48 (NIV84)

47 While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

 

Jesus received the kiss from one of His disciples,

one whom He had personally chosen.

With this man and the others, He  had journeyed far together,

a good many times, of joy,  laughter.

Now with a kiss, Jesus was betrayed.

Jesus felt the pain at Judas’ choice,

Judas  had not chosen Him.

 

 

When You were misunderstood,

You silently forgave;

but we so often respond in anger.

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

 

You gave us opportunity to choose Jesus,

but for so long we have chosen rebellion

that demanded Your death.

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

 

3.   Jesus is condemned by the Sanhedrin (Luke 22:66-71)

Luke 22:66–71 (NIV84)

66 At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them. 67 “If you are the Christ,” they said, “tell us.”

Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe me, 68 and if I asked you, you would not answer. 69 But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.”

70 They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?”

He replied, “You are right in saying I am.”

71 Then they said, “Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips.”

 

His accusers brought many false charges against Jesus,

but He spoke not a word in His own defense,

'Crucify him!' they shouted.

Jesus’ own religious leaders and theologians accuse Him,

He told them who He is;

So they condemned Him to death.

 

You have always given us the truth,

Yourself is the revelation of the Father;

but we so often prefer lies,

more tempting are the lies of idolatry

Lord, forgive us.

Lord, forgive us.

 

Your Bible is always open before us,

Your Spirit ready to teach us.

Yet we prefer  to be  blind and deaf.

Lord, forgive us.

Lord, forgive us.

4.   Peter denies Jesus (Luke 22:54-62)

Luke 22:54–62 (NIV84)

54 Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. 55 But when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. 56 A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.”

57 But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said.

58 A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.”

“Man, I am not!” Peter replied.

59 About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.”

60 Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” 62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.

 

Jesus told Simon Peter that he will fail,

But like us, Peter trusted in his own strength,

and failed horribly.

Denying the One who has the Words of Life.

Preferring security.

Denying Jesus again and again and again.

 

We are so easily tempted,

To lie, to betray for our own ends,

Denying You,

Lord, lead us in the way everlasting.

Lord, lead us in the way everlasting.

 

You had asked us to follow you.

and we did,

but on our own terms and at our convenience.

Forgive our denial, O Lord.

Lord, lead us in the way everlasting.

Lord, lead us in the way everlasting.

 

5.   Jesus is judged by Pilate (Luke 23:13-25)

Luke 23:13–25 (NIV84)

13 Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, 14 and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. 15 Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16 Therefore, I will punish him and then release him.”

18 With one voice they cried out, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!” 19 (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)

20 Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. 21 But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

22 For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.”

23 But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. 24 So Pilate decided to grant their demand. 25 He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.

 

Pilate washed his hands, to show the decision was not his own,

but he did not dare to side publicly with Jesus;

instead, he was willing to content the people.

The people of the Law turned against Jesus,

Preferring a sinner, one of their own.

So Jesus was condemned to death.

 

Too often have we washed our hands thinking them clean,

when we are condemning You again,

when we fail to help the poor, oppressed and blind,

joining the mob to call for Your death!

Lord, open our eyes to Your truth.

Lord, open our eyes to Your truth.

 

We condemn you by our commissions and omissions,

Refusing to listen to Your small still voice,

chasing instead the lust of flesh and of the eyes,

the pride of life, crucifying You again and again.

Lord, open our eyes to Your truth.

Lord, open our eyes to Your truth.

 

6.   Jesus is scourged and crowned with thorns (Luke 22:63-65; John 19:2-3)

Luke 22:63–65 (NIV84)

63 The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. 64 They blindfolded him and demanded, “Prophesy! Who hit you?” 65 And they said many other insulting things to him.

John 19:2–3 (NIV84)

2 The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe 3 and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they struck him in the face.

 

Jesus was scourged.

The whips cut His back until it was shredded

and bathed in His blood.

A crown of thorns was set on His head in mockery.

Then they returned His robe to Him, and brought Him

to the cross on which He was to die.

Jesus embraced the cross,

resting it painfully

on the smarting wounds on His back.

 

You were scourged and wounded;

You deserved no punishment,

but were punished in our place.

Thank you, Jesus.

Thank you, Jesus.

 

You were already hurting,

You embraced the cross.

Thank you, Jesus.

Thank you, Jesus.

7.   Jesus takes up the cross (Mark 15:20)

Mark 15:20 (NIV84)

20 And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.

 

Jesus  had willingly embraced the cross,

but His physical body was weak from lack of sleep,

from the pressures of arrest and trial,

and from torture and beating.

 

The spirit is willing,

but the flesh is weak.

Jesus said , Yes,

but His holy body hesitated

and He fell to His knees,

determining to rise again even in His weakness.

 

You embraced and shouldered Your cross,

but Your body was weak.

Your Body is still weak:

Your people shrink from the weight of suffering.

In our weakness, Lord, let us pray:

Your will be done.

Your will be done.

 

Jesus, You were first a carpenter:

build us into what You desire,

and secure every joint tightly,

that we may hold together.

Plane the rough surfaces of our relationships.

We are Your workmanship-

Your will be done.

Your will be done.

 

Jesus, You said 'YES' to the Father's will;

and only Your body hesitated.

May we, Your Body, no longer hesitate,

but follow You in Your obedience, saying:

Your will be done.

Your will be done.

 

8.   Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to carry his cross (Luke 23:26)

Luke 23:26 (NIV84)

26 As they led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.

 

Simon carried the cross of Christ,

he was forced to, by the soldiers;

only later did he recognise his privilege

in shouldering the burden of the One

who made the worlds.

 

He was compelled to carry the cross

part of the way for Jesus,

and felt the gratitude of this Man above all men;

and amid the pity Simon felt for Him,

he felt a burning compassion flowing back to him from Jesus,

 a burning, life-changing love.

Simon carried the cross of Christ.

 

As Simon took the weight of the cross from Jesus,

You have taught us that we must bear one another's

burdens, and so fulfil the law of Love.

May we carry Your cross.

May we carry Your cross.

 

Simon was one just passing by,

but suddenly he was compelled to change direction,

and, with all his strength given

to the carrying of the cross,

pressed through the crowds

to the place of the Skull.

Golgotha, Calvary,

Sweet Jesus, like Simon,

May we carry Your cross.

May we carry Your cross.

 

 

9.   Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem (Luke 23:27-31)

Luke 23:27–31 (NIV84)

27 A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. 28 Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ 30 Then “ ‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!” ’ 31 For if men do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

 

As Jesus continued,

painfully stumbling along the road to Calvary,

a group of women joined themselves to the procession,

wailing in the manner normally considered

appropriate for a funeral procession.

But Jesus told them to cry out to God

for themselves and their own children.

 

Some of us are never far from tears,

and some of us have forced ourselves not to cry.

Bring our tears into Your captivity and direction,

that they respond to Your voice.

Lord, You have the words of eternal life.

Lord, You have the words of eternal life.

 

You are with us in our pain

and suffering. Companion in our loneliness.

You know our needs and desires,

our hunger and passion.

Lord, You have the words of eternal life.

Lord, You have the words of eternal life.

10.         Jesus is crucified (Luke 23:33, 34, 47)

Luke 23:33,34, 47 (NIV84)

33 When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots …47 The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.”

 

The journey was at an end.

Jesus was quickly thrown backward

with his shoulders against the wood.

The soldier felt for the depression at the front of the wrist;

he drove a heavy, square, wrought-iron nail through the wrist and deep into the wood.

Quickly he moved to the other side and repeated the action,

being careful not to pull the arms too tightly.

The left foot was pressed backward against the right foot.

With both feet extended, toes down,

a nail was driven through the arch of each,

leaving the knees moderately flexed.

The victim was now crucified.

 ‘Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews’

He is our peace.

The soldiers hoisted Your cross on high.

You were their prisoner;

but no one took Your life away from You.

You gave it willingly, freely.

It was love that held You there.

It was love that held You there.

 

You were lifted high upon that cross,

even as You had prophesied when You promised;

‘I, if I be lifted up from the earth,

will draw all people to Me.’

It was love that held You there.

It was love that held You there.

 

11.         Jesus promises his Kingdom to the good thief (Luke 23: 39-43)

Luke 23:39-43 (NIV84)

39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!”

40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

43 Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

 

Jesus hanging in severe pain,

each breath an agony on the cross,

yet Jesus did not respond to the mockery,

but freely offered salvation to the other.

 

Do we still mock Your ways and You Yourself?

Yes, we do in our words and deeds daily,

when in our pain we lash out in anger,

and live in constant fear.

Lord, give us eternal life.

Lord, give us eternal life.

 

Do we repent of our evils and sins?

No, we don’t.  But only by Your Word,

Living in obedience to them,

reaching out to others, loving them,

do we repent and received Grace.

Lord, give us eternal life.

Lord, give us eternal life.

12.         Jesus on the cross, his mother and his disciple (John 19:25-27)

John 19:25–27 (NIV84)

25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,” 27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

 

Jesus saw His mother and his disciple,

love filled His heart,

in spite of His pain,

He felt for their pain,

and  was concerned for His mother.

Look after My mother, Jesus told His beloved disciple,

look after one another,

love one another,

as Jesus loves them.

 

In spite of Your pain and suffering,

You still find the place for us in Your Heart,

care for one another,

love one another,

as You have loved us.

Lord, teach us to love as You do.

Lord, teach us to love as You do.

 

Yours is a practical love,

not just words and empty promises,

not full of romantic notions.

Love that involves getting Your hands dirty,

suffering and sacrificial giving,

even laying down Your life for us.

Lord, teach us to love as You do.

Lord, teach us to love as You do.

13.         Jesus dies on the cross (Luke 23:44-46)

Luke 23:44–46 (NIV84)

44 It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.

 

As Jesus slowly sagged down

with more weight on the nails in the wrists,

excruciating, fiery pain shot along the fingers

and up the arms to explode in the brain.

As He pushed Himself upwards

to avoid this stretching torment,

He placed His full weight on the nail through His feet.

Again there was searing agony

as the nail tore through the nerves.

As the arms fatigued,

great waves of cramps swept through the muscles,

knotting them in deep relentless, throbbing pain.

In the words of the psalm foretelling the death of Messiah,

He cried: ‘My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?’

 

Father God, You waited through the long hours of agony,

when He was robbed even of the sense of Your love,

Your presence,

when the sin and disease and hatred and darkness

overwhelmed Him so greatly.

Lord, He was wounded for my transgressions.

Lord, He was wounded for my transgressions.

 

Father, what love is this of His?

What love is this of Yours that His dying love reflects?

Your forgiveness for me,

as we gaze upon His sacrificial death,

 is as  truly an undeserved gift as the pardon,

It is mine if I will only receive:

Lord, He was wounded for my transgressions.

Lord, He was wounded for my transgressions.