Encounter the Cross
“The devotion of the Way of the Cross, or the Stations of the Cross, goes back to the earliest centuries of the church. Many people wanted to walk the land where Jesus lived and trace his path from the Garden of Olives…to the tomb in a garden. Yet many couldn’t get to Jerusalem, or if they could, only once in their lifetime on pilgrimage…This led to the ritual devotion of walking the Way of the Cross based on the Scriptures.”
Through the years, churches began to commission artists to create “a series of pictures or tableaux representing certain scenes in the Passion of Christ, each corresponding to a particular incident, or the special form of devotion connected with such representation…the Stations may be of stone, wood, or metal, sculptured or carved, or they may be merely paintings or engravings. Some stations are valuable works of art, as those, for instance, in Antwerp cathedral, which have been much copied elsewhere. They are usually arranged at intervals around the walls of a church, though sometimes they are to be found in the open air, especially on roads leading to a church or shrine. In monasteries they are often placed in the cloisters. The erection and use of the Stations did not become at all general before the end of the seventeenth century, but they are now to be found in almost every church. Formerly their number varied considerably in different places but fourteen are now prescribed by authority [of the Catholic Church].” “Over time, depending upon who designed the devotion, pieces were added that were not in the Scriptures but they wanted them to be”.
Through the years, churches began to commission artists to create “a series of pictures or tableaux representing certain scenes in the Passion of Christ, each corresponding to a particular incident, or the special form of devotion connected with such representation…the Stations may be of stone, wood, or metal, sculptured or carved, or they may be merely paintings or engravings. Some stations are valuable works of art, as those, for instance, in Antwerp cathedral, which have been much copied elsewhere. They are usually arranged at intervals around the walls of a church, though sometimes they are to be found in the open air, especially on roads leading to a church or shrine. In monasteries they are often placed in the cloisters. The erection and use of the Stations did not become at all general before the end of the seventeenth century, but they are now to be found in almost every church. Formerly their number varied considerably in different places but fourteen are now prescribed by authority [of the Catholic Church].” “Over time, depending upon who designed the devotion, pieces were added that were not in the Scriptures but they wanted them to be”.
For our expression here, we have eight stations which have direct reference to the Scriptures.
- Jesus is Condemned to Death
(Mark 15:1-15)
- Jesus Takes Up His Cross
(John 19:17)
- The Cross is Laid on Simon of Cyrene
(Luke 23:26)
- Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem
(Luke 23:27-28)
- Jesus is Stripped of His Garments
(John 19:23, 24)
- Jesus is Nailed to the Cross
(Mark15:27-30, John 19:17-22)
- Jesus Dies on the Cross
(John 19:26-30)
- Jesus is Buried in the Tomb
(Matthew 27:57-60, John 19:38-42)
Through our expression of Encounter the Cross, we hope you will grow in your relationship with Jesus and desire to follow Him with all your heart and all your life. Grace and Peace to you through Jesus Christ - who truly Encountered the Cross.Reading
The tragedy was left hanging as the body was left in the tomb. It was a dark, dark day – that Saturday. The waiting must have been pierced with deflation, discouragement, and tears. The women who had left Jesus’ body in the tomb were growing itchy to return there. When would this day be over, so they could be free to care for their dead friend?
Very early on Sunday morning the women came to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. They found that the stone covering the entrance had been rolled aside. So they went in, but they couldn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. They were puzzled, trying to think what could have happened to it.
Suddenly, two men appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes. The women were terrified and bowed low before them. Then the men asked, “Why are you looking in a tomb for someone who is alive? He isn’t here! He has risen from the dead! Don’t you remember what he told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be betrayed in the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again the third day?” Then they remembered that he had said this.
So they rushed back to tell his eleven disciples – and everyone else – what had happened. The women who went to the tomb were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and several others. They told the apostles what had happened, but the story sounded like nonsense, so they didn’t believe it.
Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among them. He said, “Peace be with you.” But the whole group was terribly frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost! “Why are you frightened?” he asked. “Why do you doubt who I am? Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do!”
As he spoke, he held out his hands for them to see, and he showed them his feet. Still they stood there doubting, filled with joy and wonder. The he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he ate it as they watched.
Then he said, “When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me by Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must all come true.” Then he opened their minds to understand these many Scriptures.
And he said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah must suffer and die and rise again from the dead on the third day. With my authority, take this message of repentance to all the nations beginning in Jerusalem: “There is forgiveness of sins for all who turn to me.”
The tragedy turns. It turns from a despairing end into a profound love story. That is why so many revere this Jesus. It is why we follow Him. He is greater than death. He came back to life…and will give a deep and meaningful life to those who turn to Him. Have you turned to Him? Will you continue to turn to Him?...How will you finish this story in your life?...
The tragedy was left hanging as the body was left in the tomb. It was a dark, dark day – that Saturday. The waiting must have been pierced with deflation, discouragement, and tears. The women who had left Jesus’ body in the tomb were growing itchy to return there. When would this day be over, so they could be free to care for their dead friend?
Very early on Sunday morning the women came to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. They found that the stone covering the entrance had been rolled aside. So they went in, but they couldn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. They were puzzled, trying to think what could have happened to it.
Suddenly, two men appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes. The women were terrified and bowed low before them. Then the men asked, “Why are you looking in a tomb for someone who is alive? He isn’t here! He has risen from the dead! Don’t you remember what he told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be betrayed in the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again the third day?” Then they remembered that he had said this.
So they rushed back to tell his eleven disciples – and everyone else – what had happened. The women who went to the tomb were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and several others. They told the apostles what had happened, but the story sounded like nonsense, so they didn’t believe it.
Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among them. He said, “Peace be with you.” But the whole group was terribly frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost! “Why are you frightened?” he asked. “Why do you doubt who I am? Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do!”
As he spoke, he held out his hands for them to see, and he showed them his feet. Still they stood there doubting, filled with joy and wonder. The he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he ate it as they watched.
Then he said, “When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me by Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must all come true.” Then he opened their minds to understand these many Scriptures.
And he said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah must suffer and die and rise again from the dead on the third day. With my authority, take this message of repentance to all the nations beginning in Jerusalem: “There is forgiveness of sins for all who turn to me.”
The tragedy turns. It turns from a despairing end into a profound love story. That is why so many revere this Jesus. It is why we follow Him. He is greater than death. He came back to life…and will give a deep and meaningful life to those who turn to Him. Have you turned to Him? Will you continue to turn to Him?...How will you finish this story in your life?...