The Way of the Cross consists of fifteen stations designed to help us follow Jesus journey to the cross and his resurrection. They can be used together or individually and more information can be found in the first Way of the Cross podcast or separate introduction. There is an opening greeting, reading, prayer, and final response.

Fourteenth Station: Jesus laid in the tomb 

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you,

All because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Reading

A reading from the Gospel according to Mark.

Then Joseph bought a linen cloth, and taking down the body, wrapped it in the linen cloth, and laid it in a tomb that had been hewn out of the rock. He then rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. Mark 15.46

Reflection / Meditation

Please pause if you would like some time to meditate or reflect on the reading

Prayer

Lord Jesus, Lord of life, you became as nothing for us: be with those who feel worthless and as nothing in the world’s eyes. You were laid in a cold, dark tomb and hidden from sight: be with all who suffer and die in secret,

hidden from the eyes of the world. To you, Jesus, your rigid body imprisoned in a tomb, be honour and glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever.

All Amen.

All Holy God, holy and strong, holy and immortal, have mercy upon us.

The image is from The Christ we Share P29 Pieta of Kwangju

The Way of the Cross consists of fifteen stations designed to help us follow Jesus journey to the cross and his resurrection. They can be used together or individually and more information can be found in the first Way of the Cross podcast or separate introduction. There is an opening greeting, reading, reflection, prayer, and final response.

Thirteenth Station: Jesus dies on the cross

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you,

All because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Reading Padre Mike Goodison

A reading from the Gospel according to Mark.

At three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, ‘Listen, he is calling for Elijah.’ And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, ‘Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.’ Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. Mark 15.34-37

Reflection / Meditation

Reflection or meditation may follow.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, you died on the cross and entered the bleakest of all circumstances: give courage to those who die at the hands of others.

In death you entered into the darkest place of all: illumine our darkness with your glorious presence. To you, Jesus, your lifeless body hanging on the tree of shame, be honour and glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever.

All Amen.

All Holy God, holy and strong, holy and immortal, have mercy upon us.

Photo taken at the cross in Catterick Village during the 2018 Good Friday Walk of Witness by Rev'd Lindsay Southern 

The Way of the Cross consists of fifteen stations designed to help us follow Jesus journey to the cross and his resurrection. They can be used together or individually and more information can be found in the first Way of the Cross podcast or separate introduction. There is an opening greeting, reading, ( you are welcome to pause here for your own private reflection) prayer, and final response.

The Way of the Cross

GOOD FRIDAY

Twelfth Station: Jesus on the cross; his mother and his friend

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you,

All because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Reading

A reading from the Gospel according to John.

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.’ And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home. John 19.26,27

Reflection / Meditation

Prayer

Lord Jesus, your mother and your dearest friend stayed with you to the bitter end, yet even while racked with pain you ministered to them:

be with all broken families today and care for those who long for companionship. You cared for your loved ones even in your death-throes:

give us a love for one another that is stronger even than the fear of death. To you, Jesus, loving in the face of death, be honour and glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever.

All Amen.

All Holy God, holy and strong, holy and immortal, have mercy upon us.

The Way of the Cross consists of fifteen stations designed to help us follow Jesus journey to the cross and his resurrection. They can be used together or individually and more information can be found in the first Way of the Cross podcast or separate introduction. There is an opening greeting, reading, ( you are welcome to pause here for your own private reflection) prayer, and final response.

Eleventh Station: Jesus promises the kingdom to the penitent thief

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you,

All because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Reading The Tucker Family

A reading from the Gospel according to Luke.

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

Reflection / Meditation

Reflection or meditation may follow.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, even in your deepest agony you listened to the crucified thief: hear us as we unburden to you our deepest fears. You spoke words of love in your hour of death: help us to speak words of life to a dying world.

To you, Jesus, who offer hope to the hopeless, be honour and glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever.

All Amen.

All Holy God, holy and strong, holy and immortal, have mercy upon us.

Image The Christ we Share : Peruvian Crucifix Eldiberto Merida.jpg

The Way of the Cross involves 15 stations taking us on a journey through the last days of Jesus' life, from the Garden of Gethsemane where he is arrested to his death on the cross and ultimately his resurrection. These stations may be used as a focus for personal prayer throughout Holy Week or altogether on Good Friday.

Each station has an opening, a reading, a prayer and a final response led by people from the local community. The first station also includes an introduction to The Way of the Cross.

The words for this episode are included below:

The Way of the Cross

Tenth Station: Jesus is crucified

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you,

All because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Reading

A reading from the Gospel according to Mark.

And they crucified him, and divided his clothes among them, casting lots to decide what each should take. Mark 15.24

Reflection  Rev'd Phil Patterson

Prayer

Lord Jesus, you bled in pain as the nails were driven into your flesh: transform through the mystery of your love the pain of those who suffer. To you, Jesus, our crucified Lord, be honour and glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever.

All Amen.

All Holy God, holy and strong, holy and immortal, have mercy upon us.

Picture from the Christ we Share: P31 Golgotha Ethiopian Artist Gebre Kristos Desta.jpg

Eighth Station: Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to carry the cross

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you,

All because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Reading Martin Greaves

A reading from the Gospel according to Mark.

They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross; it was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus. Mark 15.21

Reflection / Meditation

Reflection or meditation may follow.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, you were worn down by fatigue: be with those from whom life drains all energy. You needed the help of a passing stranger: give us the humility to receive aid from others. To you, Jesus, weighed down with exhaustion and in need of help, be honour and glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever.

All Amen.

All Holy God, holy and strong, holy and immortal, have mercy upon us.

The Picture is from The Christ we Share 3rd edition 2004 Simon of Cyrene helps to carry the cross, unknown artist ( Aboriginal)

The Way of the Cross consists of fifteen stations designed to help us follow Jesus journey to the cross and his resurrection. They can be used together or individually and more information can be found in the first Way of the Cross podcast or separate introduction. There is an opening greeting, reading, ( you are welcome to pause here for your own private reflection) prayer, and final response. 

Ninth Station: Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you,

All because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Reading Sally Ridley

A reading from the Gospel according to Luke.

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. For the days are surely coming when they will say, “Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.” Then they will begin to say to the mountains, “Fall on us”; and to the hills, “Cover us.” For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?’

Luke 23.27-31

Reflection / Meditation

Reflection or meditation may follow.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, the women of Jerusalem wept for you: move us to tears at the plight of the broken in our world. You embraced the pain of Jerusalem, the ‘city of peace’: bless Jerusalem this day and lead it to the path of profound peace. To you, Jesus, the King of peace who wept for the city of peace, be honour and glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit,

now and for ever.

All Amen.

All Holy God, holy and strong, holy and immortal, have mercy upon us.

Artwork This painting depicts the women of Jerusalem and is part of Stations of the Cross created by the congregation of St Patrick's Episcopal church Atlanta, who kindly hosted me for a placement in 2007 whilst I was training. Artist unknown

Sixth Station: Jesus scourged and crowned with thorns

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you,

All because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Reading Reverend Stewart Ridley

A reading from the Gospel according to Mark.

And they clothed him in a purple cloak; and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on him. And they began saluting him, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ They struck his head with a reed, spat upon him, and knelt down in homage to him.

Mark 15.17-19

Reflection / Meditation

Reflection or meditation may follow.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, you faced the torment of barbaric punishment and mocking tongue: be with those who cry out in physical agony and emotional distress. You endured unbearable abuse: be with those who face torture and mockery in our world today. To you, Jesus, the King crowned with thorns, be honour and glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever.

All Amen.

All Holy God, holy and strong, holy and immortal, have mercy upon us.

Fifth Station: Jesus judged by Pilate

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you,

All because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Reading Carol Moffat

A reading from the Gospel according to Mark.

Pilate asked them, ‘Why, what evil has he done?’ But they shouted all the more, ‘Crucify him!’ So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified. Mark 15.14,15

Prayer

Lord Jesus, you were condemned to death for political expediency: be with those who are imprisoned for the convenience of the powerful. You were the victim of unbridled injustice: change the minds and motivations of oppressors and exploiters to your way of peace. To you, Jesus, innocent though condemned, be honour and glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever.

All Amen.

All Holy God, holy and strong, holy and immortal, have mercy upon us.

Sixth Station: Jesus scourged and crowned with thorns

Stewart Ridley

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you,

All because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Fourth Station: Peter denies Jesus

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you,

All because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Reading Lee Finnegan

A reading from the Gospel according to Mark.

At that moment the cock crowed for the second time. Then Peter remembered that Jesus had said to him, ‘Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.’ And he broke down and wept. Mark 14.72

Reflection / Meditation

Reflection or meditation may follow.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, as Peter betrayed you, you experienced the double agony of love rejected and friendship denied: be with those who know no friends and are rejected by society. You understood the fear within Peter: help us to understand the anxieties of those who fear for their future. To you, Jesus, who gazed with sadness at your lost friend, be honour and glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever.

All Amen.

All Holy God, holy and strong, holy and immortal, have mercy upon us.