The Stations of the Cross are a way to remember Jesus’ suffering and crucifixion on Good Friday. We remember God’s love for us and imagine what this day may have been like for Jesus.
FIRST STATION
Jesus prays alone in the garden
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you:
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that 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. [Philippians 2:8-9; Psalm 95:6-7a]
Surely he has borne our griefs:
Congregation Responds: And carried our sorrows. [Isaiah 53:4a RSV]
O God, you know us to be set in the midst of so many and great dangers, that by reason of the frailty of our nature we cannot always stand upright: Grant us such strength and protection as may support us in all dangers, and carry us through all temptations; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
SECOND STATION
Jesus is arrested
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you:
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our sorrows. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have all turned to our own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth. He was stricken for the transgression of my people. [Isaiah 53:4 RSV, 6-7a, 8b]
But as for me, I am a worm and no man:
Scorned by all and despised by the people. [Psalm 22:6]
Almighty and everliving God, in your tender love for the human race you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of his suffering, and also share in his resurrection; who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
Amen.
THIRD STATION
Jesus is tried by Pilate and the Sanhedrin
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you:
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
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. So marred was his appearance, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of mortals. But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed. [Isaiah 53:2b-3, 14b, 4-5]
Restore us, O Lord God of hosts:
Show the light of your countenance,
and we shall be saved. [Psalm 80:19]
O God, who before the passion of your only-begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
FOURTH STATION
Jesus is Condemned to Death
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you:
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus in order to bring about his death. They bound him, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate the governor. They all condemned him and said, “He ought to die.” When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside and sat on the Judge’s bench at a place called The Stone Pavement, or in Hebrew, Gabbatha. Then he handed Jesus over to be crucified. [Matthew 27:1- 2; John 19:7, 13, 16]
God did not withhold his own Son:
But gave him up for all of us. [Romans 8:32]
Grant, we pray you, almighty God, that we who for our evil deeds deserve to be punished, by the comfort of your grace may mercifully be set free; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
FIFTH STATION
The soldiers mock Jesus
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you:
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
And the soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they dressed him in a purple robe. They put a reed in his right hand and knelt before him and mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. After mocking him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him. [John 19:2, Matthew 27:29-31]
Like a lamb that is led to the slaughter:
And like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. [Isaiah 53:7]
O God, you know that we often do not see you. We mock you when we should worship you. We deride as foolishness that which you know to be wise and true Forgive us our foolishness; bring us into your kingdom and show us your ways through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
SIXTH STATION
Jesus takes up his cross
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you:
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
Carrying the cross by himself, Jesus went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. Like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing. [John 9:17; Hebrews 5:8; Isaiah 53:7; Revelation 5:12]
The Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all:
He was stricken for the sins of his people. [Isaiah 53:6, 8]
Almighty God, whose beloved Son willingly endured the agony and shame of the cross for our redemption: Give us courage to take up our cross and follow him; who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
Amen
SEVENTH STATION
Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry the cross
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you:
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus. If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me; for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. [Luke 23:26; 9:23; Matthew 11:29-30]
Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me:
Cannot be my disciple. [Luke 14:27]
Heavenly Father, whose blessed Son came not to be served but to serve: Bless all, who following in his steps, give themselves to the service of others; that with wisdom, patience, and courage, they may minister in his Name to the suffering, the friendless, and the needy; for the love of him who laid down his life for us, your Son our Savior Jesus Christ.
Amen.
EIGHTH STATION
Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you:
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. [Luke 23:27-28]
Those who sowed with tears:
Will reap with songs of joy. [Psalm 126:6]
Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
NINTH STATION
Jesus is stripped of his garments
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you:
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
When they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. And they . . . divided his clothes among themselves by casting lots. This was to fulfill what the scripture says, “They divided my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots.” [Matthew 27:33-35; John 19:24]
They gave me gall to eat:
And when I was thirsty they gave me vinegar to drink. [Psalm 69:23]
Lord God, your blessed Son our Savior gave his body to be whipped and his face to be spit upon: Give us grace to accept joyfully the sufferings of the present time, confident of the glory that shall be revealed; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
TENTH STATION
Jesus is nailed to the cross
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you:
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left, with Jesus between them. And the scripture was fulfilled which says, “He was numbered with the transgressors.” [Luke 23:33; John 19:18; Isaiah 53:12]
They pierce my hands and my feet:
They stare and gloat over me. [Psalm 22:16, 17]
O God, by the passion of your blessed Son you made the instrument of shameful death to be to us the means of life and peace: Grant that we may so glory in the cross of Christ, that we may gladly suffer shame and loss for the sake of your Son our Savior, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
ELEVENTH STATION
Criminals speak to Jesus
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you:
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” [Luke 23:39-43]
The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve,
and to give his life a ransom for many. [Matthew 20:28]
Lord Jesus Christ, despite your suffering and your agony, you tended to the needs of others less worthy than you; help me to tend to the needs of others without regard to their worthiness, even in times of personal stress and adversity. I pray in your name, O Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.
TWELFTH STATION
Jesus dies on the cross
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you:
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” When Jesus had received the wine, he said, “It is finished.” Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
[John 19:26-27, 30a; Luke 23:46; John 19:30b]
Christ for us became obedient unto death:
Even death on a cross. [see Philippians 2:8]
O God, who for our redemption gave your only-begotten Son to the death of the cross, and by his glorious resurrection delivered us from the power of our enemy: Grant us so to die daily to sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his resurrection; who lives and reigns now and for ever.
Amen.
THIRTEENTH STATION
The body of Jesus is placed in the arms of his mother
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you:
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
I am one who has seen affliction under the rod of God’s wrath; he has driven and brought me into darkness without any light. He has besieged and enveloped me with bitterness and tribulation; he has made me sit 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 my affliction and bitterness, the wormwood and the gall! [Lamentations 3:1-2, 5-6, 8, 16; 19 RSV]
Her tears run down her cheeks:
And she has no one to comfort her. [see Lamentations 1:2]
Keep your Church, we pray you, O Lord, with your perpetual mercy; and, because the weakness of our nature cannot but fall, keep us ever by your help from all things that may hurt us, and lead us to all things profitable to our salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
FOURTEENTH STATION
Jesus is laid in the tomb
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you:
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. So Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock. He then rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb and went away.
[Matthew 27:57-60]
You will not abandon me to the grave:
Nor let your holy One see corruption. [Psalm 16:10]
Grant, O Lord, that as we are baptized into the death of your blessed Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, so by continual crucifying our degrading passions we may be buried with him; and through the grave and gate of death, we may pass to our joyful resurrection; for his merits, who died, and was buried, and rose again for us, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you:
Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
This concludes our worship service for this evening.
I adopted these stations from various sources:
- First English Evangelical Lutheran Church, Pittsburgh, has liturgy for the stations of the cross that I used heavily.
- Many of my stations (which were not the traditional Catholic stations) were suggested by this article.
- A few prayers that I used were written by the Rev. Ken Collins.
- All images are photos of paintings by Pastor Alina Kanaski, except for the dark square, which is a photo from here.