Via Crucis :: Immersion

Fourteenth Station:  Jesus is Placed in the Tomb (Matthew 27: 57-60)

The Tomb

 ^57-61 Late in the afternoon a wealthy man from Arimathea, a disciple of Jesus, arrived. His name was Joseph. He went to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. Pilate granted his request. Joseph took the body and wrapped it in clean linens, put it in his own tomb, a new tomb only recently cut into the rock, and rolled a large stone across the entrance. Then he went off. But Mary Magdalene and the other Mary stayed, sitting in plain view of the tomb.

Jesus impacted the lives of many Many individuals. He impacted groups of people. He impacted those whom He walked among, people from before and future people. Jesus made an impression and an imprint upon all of humanity for all of eternity. Jesus was, is, and ever shall be THAT person - THE person who touches the lives of all who hear about Him. Thus it was so even as He died upon that cross. And moved, the Arimathean asked to place the body of Jesus Christ into a tomb that he owned. Impact; then, now and forever. Thank God!


Father God, Your son, a simple unassuming man is known of by millions and millions of people - loved, hated, praised, jeered, cared for, tortured. There is no in between. And Jesus Himself stated that it would be so - none could straddle the fence, you are either for Him or against Him. None can be "lukewarm". Father God, may I always be "on fire" for You through Your sacrificial son Jesus Christ. May I NEVER "stay upon the fence". May I always be with You Father God, now and forever, through Your son, Jesus Christ.

Via Crucis :: Immersion

Thirteenth Station:  Jesus Dies on the Cross (Luke 23: 44-46)

 ^44-46 By now it was noon. The whole earth became dark, the darkness lasting three hours—a total blackout. The Temple curtain split right down the middle. Jesus called loudly, "Father, I place my life in your hands!" Then he breathed his last.

Into Your hands. What absolute obedience, what absolute trust and confidence, what absolute love. Jesus Christ died for ALL of us, for ME, and He placed His spirit assuredly into His Father's loving hands. 


Father God, may I always have the confidence and assured response that Jesus has upon the cross. May I ALWAYS know that I am Yours.

Via Crucis :: Immersion

Twelfth Station:  Jesus Speaks to His Mother and the Disciple (John 19: 25-27)

^{24-2 7}While the soldiers were looking after themselves, Jesus' mother, his aunt, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene stood at the foot of the cross. Jesus saw his mother and the disciple he loved standing near her. He said to his mother, "Woman, here is your son." Then to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that moment the disciple accepted her as his own mother.

This is the humanity of Jesus ... the love of his mother who has given birth to him, raised him, cared for him. He assures that she is taken care of at his death not by his siblings but rather by the apostle whom he loved the best. He asks that John care for her and likewise that she looks after John. Those whom Jesus loved the most in the world. It is as if his heart would be broken had he not been assured that those He loved the most in the world were cared for. Who better to care for them than they who cared so much for Him? Jesus' love seems boundless, even at his death bed. Jesus cares not for himself but for those He loves.


Father God, I am ever as loved by Jesus Christ. Thank you Father God.

Via Crucis :: Immersion

Eleventh Station:  Jesus Promises His Kingdom to the Good Thief (Luke 23: 39-43)

³⁹ One of the criminals hanging alongside cursed him: "Some Messiah you are! Save yourself! Save us!"

 ^40-41 But the other one made him shut up: "Have you no fear of God? You're getting the same as him. We deserve this, but not him—he did nothing to deserve this."

 ⁴² Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you enter your kingdom."

 ⁴³ He said, "Don't worry, I will. Today you will join me in paradise."

"Remember me." It is so ridiculously hard to believe that it could be that simple. "Remember me." But that was the point, the purpose, justified by His death on the cross. We are, ALL of humanity, to live eternally with God in paradise because God justifies each of us to Himself through Jesus Christ. It IS that simple. We need only say, "Jesus, remember me."


Father God, and so I ask of Jesus Christ, Your son, and of You, "Remember me."

Via Crucis :: Immersion

Tenth Station:  Jesus is Crucified (Luke 23: 33-34)

^{3 3}When they got to the place called Skull Hill, they crucified him, along with the criminals, one on his right, the other on his left.

 ^34-35 Jesus prayed, "Father, forgive them; they don't know what they're doing."

   Dividing up his clothes, they threw dice for them. The people stood there staring at Jesus, and the ringleaders made faces, taunting, "He saved others. Let's see him save himself! The Messiah of God—ha! The Chosen—ha!"

Everything leads up to this moment, the crucifixion. From birth, through ministry, to arrest and trial culminating in this moment. "They nailed him to a wooden cross to die a crim'nal's death. They scorned him in his final hours as he labored for each breath. (...) Truly this was God's only son, convicted, condemned and now crucified." Innocent save for us, humanity. He died because of us, he died for us. We died with him. I died with him.


Father God, I have said this before but there really isn't enough thank yous that can be lifted up to you for your sacrifice. Because of His death, I have life. Thank you.

Via Crucis :: Immersion

Ninth Station:  Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem (Luke 23: 27-31)

Skull Hill

 ^27-31 A huge crowd of people followed, along with women weeping and carrying on. At one point Jesus turned to the women and said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, don't cry for me. Cry for yourselves and for your children. The time is coming when they'll say, 'Lucky the women who never conceived! Lucky the wombs that never gave birth! Lucky the breasts that never gave milk!' Then they'll start calling to the mountains, 'Fall down on us!' calling to the hills, 'Cover us up!' If people do these things to a live, green tree, can you imagine what they'll do with deadwood?"

What difficult words Jesus spoke to the women who wailed and wept and moaned. What do they mean, these words that feel so harsh? Were they prophetic words? According to one commentary, Jesus is allowed to pause to speak to the women and he gives a warning to the total destruction of the Temple under the Roman Occupation. Isn't it odd that as Jesus is being marched off to death, surrounded by Roman soldiers so that none of his disciples who follow could attempt rescue, that He pauses to give warning to those near him? He thinks of others above himself even yet.


Father God, may I think of others before self even up to my dying day. May I always offer words of comfort to all people in my life. May I encourage and uplift, give warning and advice until I am no longer to speak.

Via Crucis :: Immersion

Eighth Station:  Jesus is Helped by Simon the Cyrenian to Carry the Cross (Mark 15: 21)

The Crucifixion

 ²¹ There was a man walking by, coming from work, Simon from Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus. They made him carry Jesus' cross.

It is immensely relieving to know that there are those who still offered aide to Jesus, especially in His darkest hours. I know from my own personal experience what a comfort it is to have the kindness of others, even strangers, at times when I am in the depths of despair. That Christ was left utterly alone by those closest to him, that the kindness of this stranger was a beacon of light, the love of his Father, well...I can only imagine. Did you feel the love? Did you know at that moment that your heavenly Father had not forsaken you? Did you understand that Simon the Cyrenian was the comforting hand that you so needed at that time?


Father God, may I always recognize your presence in my life, in whatever form you send it; be it through the smile of a stranger, the embrace of a loved one, or the kiss of family.

Via Crucis :: Immersion

Seventh Station:  Jesus Bears the Cross (John 19: 6, 15-17)

⁶ When the high priests and police saw him, they shouted in a frenzy, "Crucify! Crucify!"

   Pilate told them, "You take him. You crucify him. I find nothing wrong with him."

¹⁵ They shouted back, "Kill him! Kill him! Crucify him!"   Pilate said, "I am to crucify your king?"   The high priests answered, "We have no king except Caesar." ^16-19 Pilate caved in to their demand. He turned him over to be crucified.The Crucifixion   They took Jesus away. Carrying his cross, Jesus went out to the place called Skull Hill (the name in Hebrew is Golgotha), where they crucified him, and with him two others, one on each side, Jesus in the middle. Pilate wrote a sign and had it placed on the cross. It read: 
   Jesus the Nazarene the King of the Jews.

Jesus bears the cross, the burdens of all of humanity, the sins of all humanity. Jesus takes the weight of the entire world upon his shoulders and walks through the town to place of his crucifixion. "Truly He has born our sorrows; truly He has born our griefs. He was chosen for us; alone He stands there for us. The sin of all of us was placed on Him."


Father God, how can I thank you for sending YOUR son, your one and only son to carry the weight of my burden, my sorrows, my griefs, my guilt, my sin? What can I do in return? What of me is of worth for such a sacrifice?

 

Via Crucis :: Immersion

Sixth Station:  Jesus is Scourged and Crowned with Thorns (John 19: 1-3)

The Thorn Crown of the King

 ^1-3 So Pilate took Jesus and had him whipped. The soldiers, having braided a crown from thorns, set it on his head, threw a purple robe over him, and approached him with, "Hail, King of the Jews!" Then they greeted him with slaps in the face.

The pain that Christ went through as the whip drug across his back, as the thorns dug into his flesh, as he was mocked and scorned and ridiculed. In The Passion of the Christ, this was the most brutally intense scene - the image of the whip, similar to a cat-o-nine-tails with barbs, ripping and rending the flesh from the back of Jesus still haunts me to this day. I cringed and closed my eyes, but not soon enough. Not soon enough. It is a miracle that you survived the scourging. Or is it? Because you did, you died instead upon a cross. Would your sacrifice have led to the redemption of the world had you died at the hands of a Roman whip?


Father God, for His pain I am able to be reconciled to You. Through His suffering I am made whole. By His blood I am white as snow in You. May I never forget his agony. May I always remember that it was for me and all as I, all of humanity, that He was made to suffer so.

Via Crucis :: Immersion

Via Crucis :: Immersion

Fourth Station:  Jesus is Denied by Peter (Matthew 26: 69-75)

Denial in the Courtyard

 ⁶⁹ All this time, Peter was sitting out in the courtyard. One servant girl came up to him and said, "You were with Jesus the Galilean."

 ⁷⁰ In front of everybody there, he denied it. "I don't know what you're talking about."

 ⁷¹ As he moved over toward the gate, someone else said to the people there, "This man was with Jesus the Nazarene."

 ⁷² Again he denied it, salting his denial with an oath: "I swear, I never laid eyes on the man."

 ⁷³ Shortly after that, some bystanders approached Peter. "You've got to be one of them. Your accent gives you away."

 ^74-75 Then he got really nervous and swore. "I don't know the man!"

   Just then a rooster crowed. Peter remembered what Jesus had said: "Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times." He went out and cried and cried and cried.

How can it be that one of the inmost of disciples, one of those closest to Him, could deny him? Recognized by many and fearful for his own life, Peter denied that he even knew who Jesus was. And Jesus? He knew before that such would happen. Was he surprised when the cock crowed the third time and found that Peter had in fact denied him? Did he speak the words to Peter to give warning of the frail human character, hoping Peter would find a strength to affirm and not deny? Already wounded by the betrayal and the condemnation of the Sanhedrin, was this merely a scratch to the already festering woundedness or was it the knife in the back that trumped all other pain?


Father God, Christ himself states that the only unforgivable sin is the denial of the Holy Spirit. However that may be, keep me ever on guard that I may find strength enough, boldness and courage to never deny who Jesus Christ is to me, for me, and upon me.

Via Crucis :: Immersion

Third Station:  Jesus is Condemned by the Sanhedrin (Luke 22: 66-71)

^66-67 When it was morning, the religious leaders of the people and the high priests and scholars all got together and brought him before their High Council. They said, "Are you the Messiah?"

 ^67-69 He answered, "If I said yes, you wouldn't believe me. If I asked what you meant by your question, you wouldn't answer me. So here's what I have to say: From here on the Son of Man takes his place at God's right hand, the place of power."

 ⁷⁰ They all said, "So you admit your claim to be the Son of God?"

   "You're the ones who keep saying it," he said.

 ⁷¹ But they had made up their minds, "Why do we need any more evidence? We've all heard him as good as say it himself."

You weren't just condemned, Christ Jesus, were you? You were self-incriminating. You spoke no word in your defense, stood silent before those that would accuse, allowed yourself to be condemned. What is one to think of that? What am I to make of that. You willingly walked toward your demise. Am I, as a follower of you Christ Jesus, meant to do the same? If ever a situation were to arise where I am to stand before accusers, would I be able to be so restrained? 


John Ericson spoke of a tale: In a future Earth where to be (as in verb - action) Christian meant to be condemned to death a man was brought before the judges to be condemned. The prosecutor presented evidence of the crimes - the man attends church every Sunday, he reads the Holy Bible and not only reads it but marks it and highlights the book. The man stood before his accusers and waited on baited breath. The judges deliberated and found the man not guilty. The man was at first thrilled but then shocked. He was not condemned? How could this be? The judge spoke, "he does act as a Christian." 


Father God, when it is that I stand accused, may I be so condemned that I am to be put to death for the deeds that I have done.

Via Crucis :: Immersion

Second Station:  Jesus, Betrayed by Judas, is Arrested (Mark 14: 43-46)

A Gang of Ruffians

 ^43-47 No sooner were the words out of his mouth when Judas, the one out of the Twelve, showed up, and with him a gang of ruffians, sent by the high priests, religion scholars, and leaders, brandishing swords and clubs. The betrayer had worked out a signal with them: "The one I kiss, that's the one—seize him. Make sure he doesn't get away." He went straight to Jesus and said, "Rabbi!" and kissed him. The others then grabbed him and roughed him up. One of the men standing there unsheathed his sword, swung, and came down on the Chief Priest's servant, lopping off the man's ear.

Betrayal ... that's a hard concept, a hard word - harsh. Betrayal denotes a back stab and it implies by a friend. Judas was one of the close, one of the twelve. The treasurer. Trusted. Did Jesus confide in him? Did Jesus seek his counsel? Traveling together for three years together, living together for three years. There must have been a closeness in their relationship. 


I remember watching Jesus Christ Superstar, which portrays Judas as almost the innocent scapegoat. We all, of course have a purpose in bringing the Kingdom of God. Because he was fulfilling a purpose does that make him blameless? And Jesus? Hurt not by the betrayal but by the affection offered prior to the arrest. Betrayed in a very intimate way. 


May I always be aware of my words and actions; may I never intentionally betray another.


Father God, guard my words and my deeds. Keep me ever mindful that what is said and what is done could cause irreparable harm to another.

Via Crucis :: Immersion

First Station:  Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-41)

^36-38 Then Jesus went with them to a garden called Gethsemane and told his disciples, "Stay here while I go over there and pray." Taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he plunged into an agonizing sorrow. Then he said, "This sorrow is crushing my life out. Stay here and keep vigil with me."

 ³⁹ Going a little ahead, he fell on his face, praying, "My Father, if there is any way, get me out of this. But please, not what I want. You, what do you want?"

 ^40-41 When he came back to his disciples, he found them sound asleep. He said to Peter, "Can't you stick it out with me a single hour? Stay alert; be in prayer so you don't wander into temptation without even knowing you're in danger. There is a part of you that is eager, ready for anything in God. But there's another part that's as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire."

 ⁴² He then left them a second time. Again he prayed, "My Father, if there is no other way than this, drinking this cup to the dregs, I'm ready. Do it your way."

 ^43-44 When he came back, he again found them sound asleep. They simply couldn't keep their eyes open. This time he let them sleep on, and went back a third time to pray, going over the same ground one last time.

Sorrow that is crushing the life out of me. I have been there as well ... moved through the spaces of darkness that Jesus encountered in the garden on that fateful night. The amazing thing is that Jesus was there ahead of me, Jesus walked through that darkness and place of deep sorrow ahead of me. Jesus is there to guide me out of that darkness. Jesus not only walks ahead of me, but he lifts and carries me through the deepest of places. He willingly gave up himself for me. ME!


May I be so willing to give up myself for You, Lord Jesus.


Father God, give me the willing spirit to go into the darkest of places if that is where you need me. Equip me to be a guide to those who struggle still in the deepest of sorrows. Help me carry those too weak to walk the path on their own.

Via Crucis :: Immersion

Via Crucis :: Immersion is an experiential Stations of the Cross. Via Crucis is based on the 14 Stations of the Cross … remixed. 


Via Crucis :: Immersion is a pilgrimage. A journey into the heart of God. It is an immersion into the suffering of Jesus and a discovery of our own brokenness. It is Christ’s passion.


The Via Crucis is a pilgrimage. As much as it is a journey of remembrance for what Christ has done; it is also a journey into the heart of God and what the Spirit is doing today. We enter the Way of the Cross in many ways – some in arrogance and self-assurance, some with deep wounds and pain, some with malaise and distraction – but hopefully in the midst of it we all discover our brokenness and our blessedness. We identify our pain with the suffering of Christ and we also realize our place as the beloved of God.


[Once again I will be participating in this blog event and since there are fourteen stations I will have to play catch-up. I should have started on Monday and today is Wednesday. So I hope to post two stations today for Monday-Tuesday and two stations tomorrow for Wednesday-Thursday.]

Journey To the Cross

This is a movie I made of the six-week sermon series of True North. The Stations of the Cross were added to each week.

Enjoy.

The Stations at True North

Station One - Jesus Prays in the Garden of Gethsemane (note the sword used by Peter).
This also include Station Two - Jesus is Betrayed by Judas (but the bag of coins tossed on the ground is barely visible in this photograph).

Station Two - Jesus is Betrayed by Judas Iscariot (note the bag of coins on the ground in the Garden of Gethsemane which is the place of betrayal).

Station Three - Jesus is Accused by the Sanhedrin (which is represented by the clothing behind the rather fancy chair).
This also represents Station Two - Jesus is Betrayed by Judas (represented here by the coins tossed on the chair). 
And this also shows Station Four - Jesus is Denied by Peter (which is the rooster at the edge of the Garden stage piece on the left).

Station Four - Jesus is Denied by Simon Peter (as represented by the rooster where Peter denies Jesus three times before the rooster crows).

This is both Stations Five and Six (the columns represent Rome and Pilate).
Station Five - Jesus is Judged by Pilate (represented by the pitcher and bowl where Pilate washes his hands). 
Station Six - Jesus is Scourged and Crowned with Thorns (the Crown of Thorns hangs on a column on the left, the whip represents the scourging and hangs on a column on the right).

Station Five close-up

Station Six close-up.

Station Six close-up

Station Seven - Jesus Bears (Accepts) His Cross (however, this is a bad shot because it is taken with my cell phone).

Station Eight - Simon the Cyrenian is Made to Carry the Cross (represented by the clothing at the center of the cross). 
This is the same cross used for Station Seven - Jesus Bears His Cross (but a much better image).

This is Stations Ten, Eleven, Twelve and Thirteen.
Station Ten - Jesus is Crucified (the large cross has nails at the arms and feet though not really visible in this picture).
Station Eleven - Jesus Promises the Thief on the Cross the Kingdom of  Heaven (which is the picture on the left cross).
Station Twelve - Jesus Talks to His Mother and the Disciple John (the clothing at the base of the cross and the sandals).
Station Thirteen - Jesus Dies on the Cross (the purple cloth on the cross).

Station Eleven close-up

Station Twelve close-up.

Station Fourteen - Jesus is Laid in the Tomb (the stone with the crossed spears).

Easter Sunday

And so we end our journey through the Stations of the Cross; 40 days after we began this walk through the stations we reach the pinnacle, Easter Sunday.


Okay well first let's back up ...
     Good Friday, Hampton Christian Church -


"Why are you here? Why are you here when it is a beautiful spring evening outside?" 
My mind leapt as I pondered the question. Why am I here in this dank small(ish) sanctuary that smelled slightly of moisture and reeked of mold. Well, I thought, I am here to remember the suffering, the crucifixion and the death of Jesus Christ.
"We are here tonight to remember the cross" and Darren lifted a slight(ish) cross off the floor that seemed to materialize out of nowhere, "the suffering, the crucifixion, and the death of Christ." 


Got that ... score one for me.


     Easter Vigil Saturday night, Emmanuel Episcopal Church - 
I truly intended to attend, I drove up to the church where there were many people standing outside the open doors of the sanctuary - a miniature bonfire burning in a metal fire pit. The people gathered were well dressed, to the nines it seemed. I looked at my clothing, jeans and a long sleeved dark shirt to wear under the uniform of the Roman guard costume I was to put on in a little over an hour. I was embarrassed and ashamed to walk up to that group of people. I left.


I heard that Deacon Earl preached and it was all law and weight upon weight pressed upon shoulders being crushed by the absence of grace.


Good for me ... for missing that one.


     Easter Sunday morning, St. Mark's United Methodist Church - 
"Easter People rejoice! He is risen. He is risen indeed." We are the Easter people as we gathered at 7:00 a.m. for the Sun(Son)rise Service to celebrate the empty tomb, the risen resurrected Christ ... a living Savior. Easter People rejoice!


Then Jeff began to "prove" the resurrection of Jesus Christ for both "regular" Easter services. I admit that I only half paid attention. You see I have NEVER doubted that Christ was crucified and that Christ was resurrected and that Christ ascended ... NEVER. What I have doubts about is that Christ suffered and died for me. I used to believe it was my arrogance that kept me from believing Christ could and would die for me - I, after all, had god fully incarnate. Then my thinking morphed into almost self-flagellation - I don't deserve to have Christ in my life and he couldn't possibly be able to enter into relationship with one so horrible as I. Now I think that I am beginning to believe that I was created by God with gifts that only I have and that I am of value - without me my gifts would be lost and the body of Christ (the church of God) would be incomplete. I am worthy and the blood of Christ has covered the sins of the world, even mine. I am made righteous through Christ and I am coming to appreciate this unique relationship with God through Christ. 


And finally True North which is always an experience of grace over law, mercy over justice and the insurmountable love of God for his creation - ALL of his creation. The depth and breath of the lengths that God would go to bring us back to him.


Easter People Rejoice! 
He is Risen ...
He is Risen Indeed!


Thank you for joining me on this journey through the Stations. Until next year. 


Blessing upon you all!

Contemporary Stations - Station Fifteen, Jesus Is Resurrected

He is Risen!
He is risen indeed.
He Is Risen!
He is Risen Indeed!
HE IS RISEN!!
He Is Risen Indeed!!

Amen.

Father God ... on this Easter morning 2010 there is nothing more to say other than thank you! Lord Jesus, you have brought me to the cross - transform me. May I be an empty vessel for you and may I trust that you will fill me continually with your presence through the Holy Spirit.

Good Friday

Today you die Lord.

Stripped, nailed to a cross, and left to die a horrible and agonizing death.

I cannot fathom the love, it is incomprehensible to my puny mind. And yet I have come to realize just how much God does love me, how much of a sacrifice you are willing to bring me into a righteous relationship with your Father God - my Father God.

You are the only you God made... God made you and broke the mold. You weren't an accident. You weren't mass produced. You aren't an assembly-line product. You were deliberately planned, specifically gifted, and lovingly positioned on the earth by the Master Craftsman. He loves each one of us like there is only one of us to love. — Max Lucado 

For loving me so from the moment of conceptualization, through my life, and into my eternity - thank you God.