STATION 1
SCRIPTURE
36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane. He said to the disciples, “Stay here while I go and pray over there.” 37 When he took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, he began to feel sad and anxious. 38 Then he said to them, “I’m very sad. It’s as if I’m dying. Stay here and keep alert with me.” 39 Then he went a short distance farther and fell on his face and prayed, “My Father, if it’s possible, take this cup of suffering away from me. However—not what I want but what you want.”
40 He came back to the disciples and found them sleeping. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you stay alert one hour with me? 41 Stay alert and pray so that you won’t give in to temptation. The spirit is eager, but the flesh is weak.” 42 A second time he went away and prayed, “My Father, if it’s not possible that this cup be taken away unless I drink it, then let it be what you want.”
43 Again he came and found them sleeping. Their eyes were heavy with sleep. 44 But he left them and again went and prayed the same words for the third time. 45 Then he came to his disciples and said to them, “Will you sleep and rest all night? Look, the time has come for the Human One to be betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Get up. Let’s go. Look, here comes my betrayer.”
-Matthew 26:36-46, Common English Bible (CEB)
REFLECTION
Jesus is compelled to pray with desperation and absolution. Think of Jesus’ complete honesty in his conversation with God. Jesus calls together his friends in his most desperate time. Prayer is an honest response to God in our desire to know God. What drives you to such an earnest time of prayer?
STATION 2
SCRIPTURE
14 Then one of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, “What will you give me if I turn Jesus over to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver. 16 From that time on he was looking for an opportunity to turn him in.
50 But Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came and grabbed Jesus and arrested him.
31 This was because he was teaching his disciples, “The Human One will be delivered into human hands. They will kill him. Three days after he is killed he will rise up.”
-Matthew 26:14-16, Matthew 26:50, Mark 9:31 (CEB)
REFLECTION
Betrayal is the embodiment of sinful depravity. It invokes pain and loss of a relationship. Jesus was betrayed by all of humanity, but still loved us unconditionally. Have you ever felt betrayed by someone?
STATION 3
SCRIPTURE
66 As morning came, the elders of the people, both chief priests and legal experts, came together, and Jesus was brought before their council.
67 They said, “If you are the Christ, tell us!”
He answered, “If I tell you, you won’t believe. 68 And if I ask you a question, you won’t answer. 69 But from now on, the Human One will be seated on the right side of the power of God.”
70 They all said, “Are you God’s Son, then?”
He replied, “You say that I am.”
71 Then they said, “Why do we need further testimony? We’ve heard it from his own lips.”
15 The Jewish leaders cried out, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!”
Pilate responded, “What? Do you want me to crucify your king?”
“We have no king except the emperor,” the chief priests answered.
11 Jesus replied, “You would have no authority over me if it had not been given to you from above. That’s why the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.”
53 Day after day I was with you in the temple, but you didn’t arrest me. But this is your time, when darkness rules.”
-Luke 22:66-71, John 19:15, John 19:11, Luke 22:53 CEB
REFLECTION
Christ could have called a legion of angels to rescue Him, but He did not. He went quietly and with reverence to His death. He had become the antithesis of the pharisaical domain. Why did they fear Him so?
STATION 4
SCRIPTURE
18 “Look, we are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and legal experts. They will condemn him to death. 19 They will hand him over to the Gentiles to be ridiculed, tortured, and crucified. But he will be raised on the third day.”
28 They stripped him and put a red military coat on him.
23 Jesus replied, “If I speak wrongly, testify about what was wrong. But if I speak correctly, why do you strike me?”
-Matthew 20:18-19, Matthew 27:28, John 18:23 CEB
REFLECTION
Jesus is savagely mocked, beaten and brutalized. What leads us to make mockery of one another? Is it out of fear or disdain?
STATION 5
SCRIPTURE
14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so must the Human One be lifted up 15 so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.
-John 3:14-15 CEB
REFLECTION
Christ carried His own instrument of death, the cross, to the place called Golgotha. He would be crucified and was treated like a criminal. Can you imagine how scared and alone Christ must have felt?
STATION 6
SCRIPTURE
24 I assure you that unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it can only be a single seed. But if it dies, it bears much fruit.
-John 12:24 CEB
REFLECTION
Exhaustion, unimaginable exhaustion, as we see Christ’s strength diminishing with each passing breath. He is weak beyond comprehension and His journey is not over yet.It will not be over for twelve more hours. Can you think of a time you have felt exhausted? What did that feel like?
STATION 7
SCRIPTURE
26 As they led Jesus away, they grabbed Simon, a man from Cyrene, who was coming in from the countryside. They put the cross on his back and made him carry it behind Jesus.
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “All who want to come after me must say no to themselves, take up their cross, and follow me.
-Luke 23:26 CEB, Matthew 16:24 CEB
REFLECTION
Imagine being pulled from the crowd and carrying this man’s device of death. What is it like to walk alongside Jesus in this? Which is the heavier burden to bear – the weight of the cross or the weight of Jesus’ sacrifice?
STATION 8
SCRIPTURE
31 If they do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing.” They drew lots as a way of dividing up his clothing.
– Luke 23:31, Luke 23:34 CEB
REFLECTION
Romans crucified criminals naked. Reflect on the shame of nakedness in the Garden of Eden and the shame of nakedness in this moment.
STATION 9
SCRIPTURE
46 At about three Jesus cried out with a loud shout, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani,” which means, “My God, my God, why have you left me?”
32 When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to me.”
28 So Jesus said to them, “When the Human One is lifted up, then you will know that I Am. Then you will know that I do nothing on my own, but I say just what the Father has taught me.
-Matthew 27:46, John 12:32, John 8:28 CEB
REFLECTION
The long physical pain of crucifixion was excruciating. In fact, the word excruciating is derived from crucifixion. Jesus’ cry to his Father asking why he was forsaken in the midst of this excruciating experience points to his humanity. What points to his divinity in this moment?
STATION 10
SCRIPTURE
7 He was oppressed and tormented,
but didn’t open his mouth.
Like a lamb being brought to slaughter,
like a ewe silent before her shearers,
he didn’t open his mouth.
13 No one has greater love than to give up one’s life for one’s friends.
30 When he had received the sour wine, Jesus said, “It is completed.” Bowing his head, he gave up his life.
46 Crying out in a loud voice, Jesus said, “Father, into your hands I entrust my life.” After he said this, he breathed for the last time.
-Isaiah 53:7, John 15:13, John 19:30, Luke 23:46 CEB
REFLECTION
Jesus died. He died. Our greatest fear is death. And He was not insulated from that fear. Epiphany reminded us of the arrival of the kings’ visit Jesus. They brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Myrrh had pain-alleviating properties and Jesus was offered myrrh coupled with a soured wine to relieve his pain as he was dying. He refused to consume even one drop. Do you think He refused the drink so as not to prolong His impending death? Or, was it that He wanted absolution and freedom of sins for humanity?
STATION 11
SCRIPTURE
50 Now there was a man named Joseph who was a member of the council. He was a good and righteous man. 51 He hadn’t agreed with the plan and actions of the council. He was from the Jewish city of Arimathea and eagerly anticipated God’s kingdom. 52 This man went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. 53 Taking it down, he wrapped it in a linen cloth and laid it in a tomb carved out of the rock, in which no one had ever been buried. 54 It was the Preparation Day for the Sabbath, and the Sabbath was quickly approaching. 55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph. They saw the tomb and how Jesus’ body was laid in it, 56 then they went away and prepared fragrant spices and perfumed oils. They rested on the Sabbath, in keeping with the commandment.
12 By pouring this perfume over my body she’s prepared me to be buried.
-Luke 23:50-56, Matthew 26:12 CEB<
REFLECTION
His friends buried Him. As was customary, they went away and prepared fragrant spices and perfumed oils as aids in his burial. One of the perfumed oils would have been frankincense. What are customs today when we have to bury a loved one? Imagine doing that with the one you believed was going to change the world and bring ultimate justice and healing.
STATION 12
SCRIPTURE
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Don’t tell anybody about the vision until the Human One is raised from the dead.”
18 “Look, we are going up to Jerusalem. The Human One will be handed over to the chief priests and legal experts. They will condemn him to death. 19 They will hand him over to the Gentiles to be ridiculed, tortured, and crucified. But he will be raised on the third day.”
28 “Come to me, all you who are struggling hard and carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest.
24 He carried in his own body on the cross the sins we committed. He did this so that we might live in righteousness, having nothing to do with sin. By his wounds you were healed. 25 Though you were like straying sheep, you have now returned to the shepherd and guardian of your lives.
-John 10:11, Matthew 17:9, Matthew 20:18-19, Matthew 11:28, 1 Peter 2:24-25
REFLECTION
Consider the other side of our greatest fear. Jesus shows us that there is something beyond death. What is Jesus teaching you about what is found on the other side of death? How is that changing how you live on this side?
A special thank you to Apex UMC for the devotional material.
