We now enter the final week of Lent, Holy Week. In order to make this an especially meaningful and devoted time in our prayer life, I am inviting us to travel with Jesus, in our hearts and imagination, through his passion and crucifixion. We will accomplish this through a very abbreviated practice of praying the Stations of the Cross, also known as the Way of the Cross, which has been in use since the Middle Ages. Almost every Catholic church contains the Stations of the Cross in the form of paintings or sculpture that depicts Jesus' condemnation, journey to the cross, crucifixion, and death. It really isn't that much different than St. John's own Easter totem. The biggest difference is that the Way of the Cross ends with Jesus being placed in the tomb. The joy of the resurrection is celebrated separately.
I will be using prayers for the Way of the Cross from the beautiful website b. That wasn't a typo. That is the name of the website and ministry, simply "b". They have graciously given us permission to use their prayers for this Holy Week. I am very grateful. You can find much more information about the Way of the Cross at their website by clicking here. You can also view all the stations by clicking the link at the bottom of that page. You will find that the format the authors used for their prayer is very similar to the one that we have been using for these 40 days so it should seem familiar to us.
Many, many blessings as we journey together to the foot of the cross in these next 6 days. It is my deep prayer that you will keep your eyes on Jesus' humanity this week, remembering that he was a person not so different from us. What a savior! May we walk in the steps of Jesus.
Jesus Condemned by Pilate
#1 Jesus is Condemned to Death
Lord Jesus Christ,
take me along that holy way
you once took to your death.
Take my mind, my memory,
above all, my reluctant heart,
and let me see what once you did
for love of me and all the world.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).
When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor. “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify him!” “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!” He (Pilate) had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified (Matthew 27:11-26).
Jesus stands alone, falsely accused by the very ones with whom he walked, who witnessed his miracles, and heard his teachings. These individuals now cry out and demand his death, death on a cross – Jesus is not recognized, not accepted, not understood (John 1:10, 11) but despised and rejected (Isaiah 53:3) by the very ones to whom he came. Yet, Jesus continues to say yes to God, trusting God (1 Peter 4:19).
Ponder what it might have been like for Jesus to stand alone, falsely accused and condemned to a horrific and humiliating death on a cross, while also knowing that at any time, he had the power to stop this craziness.
After you are done pondering, spend some time thanking Jesus for his willingness to suffer, recalling to mind that “by His wounds you have been healed” (1 Peter 1:24).
Closing:
I adore You, O Jesus Christ, and bless You, for by Your holy cross You have redeemed the world and you have redeemed me.
Jesus Christ Crucified. Have mercy on me.
**You might consider praying this prayer through several times as you stay present with Jesus in his condemnation.
Record any thoughts or reactions that you have in your journal. Is there anything that you would like to say to Jesus?
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