Way Of The Cross: Good Friday’s Fourteen Stations

 (Easter Procession from The Dee Why Combined Churches In NSW Australia.)

We come together to celebrate our Lord’s Passion. As we cross the way of cross let us pray that all people may be reconciled, healed, and forgiven. Let us walk with Christ together as one.

Lord, by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. We adore you, Christ, and we bless you.
(Combined Dee Why Churches’ clergy carry the cross to the First Station)

First Station: “Jesus has his last supper with his friends”

A man came among us. He was gentle. He encouraged us and gave us hope. He did not condemn but reached out to the outcast. He brought peace where there had been strife and fear. He healed our bodies and souls. He taught us to care for each other. He called us friends and showed us all that we were all brothers and sisters of a loving father. He invited us to walk with him.

Jesus was with us for such a short while. When the time was drawing near for him to leave us he gave us a great gift. He taught us how to be aware of his presence and to realise for all time the hope, peace and freedom we had experienced when he walked together with us. For this great gift we have given thanks through the ages. Whenever we share in the communion of his body and blood we proclaim his death until he comes again.

Lord, by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. We adore you, Christ, and we bless you.

(Combined Dee Why Churches’ clergy carry the cross to the Second Station)

Second Station: “Jesus prays in the garden”

Then Jesus came with them to a small estate called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Stay here while I go over there to pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with him. And sadness came over him, and great distress. Then he said to them, “My soul is sorrowful to the point of death. Wait here and keep awake with me.” And going a little further he fell on his face and prayed. “My Father”, he said, “If it is possible, let this cup pass me by. Nevertheless, let it be as you, not I, would have it.”

Lord, by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. We adore you, Christ, and we bless you.

(Members of the Dee Why Uniting Church carry the cross to the Third Station)

Third Station: “Jesus is betrayed and arrested”

He was still speaking when Judas, one of the twelve, appeared, and with him a large number of men armed with swords, sent by the chief priests and elders of the people. Now the traitor had arranged a sign with them. “The one I kiss”, he said, “He is the man. Take him in charge.” So he went straight up to Jesus and said. “Greetings Rabbi” and kissed him. Jesus said to him, “My friend, do what you are here for.” Then they came forward, seized Jesus and took him in charge. The all the disciples deserted him and ran away.

Lord, by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. We adore you, Christ, and we bless you.
(Members of the Dee Why Uniting Church carry the cross to the Fourth Station)

Fourth Station: “Jesus is condemned to death”

In the morning the chief priests and the whole council, binding Jesus, led him away and delivered him to Pilate. And they all condemned him and said, “He is guilty unto death”. And Pilate sat in the place of judgement and delivered him to them to be crucified.

Lord, by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. We adore you, Christ, and we bless you.

(Members of the Dee Why St. John Anglican Church carry the cross to the Fifth Station)

Fifth Station: “Jesus is tortured”

Pilate released Barabbas for the people. He ordered Jesus to be first scourged, and then handed over to be crucified. The governor’s soldiers took Jesus with them into the praetorium and collected the whole cohort around him. Then they stripped him and made him wear a scarlet cloak, and having twisted some thorns into a crown they put this on his head and placed a reed in his right hand. To make fun of him they knelt to him saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they spat on him and took the reed and struck him on the head with it. And when they had finished making fun of him, they took off the cloak and dressed him in his own clothes and led him away to crucify him.

Lord, by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. We adore you, Christ, and we bless you.

(Members of the Dee Why St. John Anglican Church carry the cross to the Sixth Station)

Sixth Station: “Jesus receives the cross”

They took charge of Jesus, and carrying his own cross he went out of the city to the place of the skull or, as it was called in Hebrew, Golgotha. There is no way we can enter the mind of Christ at this point of his agony. We do know that he had once said, “Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after one, cannot be my disciple.” He now receives the cross, out of love for his father, and the world. Through the cross he draws all people to himself.

Lord, by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. We adore you, Christ, and we bless you.

(Members of the Dee Why Baptist Church carry the cross to the Seventh Station)

Seventh Station: “Jesus carries his cross”

Without beauty, without majesty (we saw him), no looks to attract our eyes; a thing despised and rejected by people, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering, a man to make people screen their faces; he was despised and we took no account of him. And yet ours were the sufferings he bore, ours the sorrows he carried. He was pierced through for our faults, crushed for our sins. On him lies a punishment that brings peace, and through his wounds we are healed.

Lord, by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. We adore you, Christ, and we bless you.

(Members of the Dee Why Baptist Church carry the cross to the Eighth Station)

Eighth Station: “Jesus is helped by Simon”

They led him out to crucify him. They enlisted a passer-by, Simon of Cyrene, father of Alexander and Rufus, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross. They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha, which means the place of the skull. 

Lord, by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. We adore you, Christ, and we bless you. (Members of the Dee Why Salvation Army carry the cross to the Ninth Station)

Ninth Station: “Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem”

Large number of people followed him, and of women who mourned and lamented for him. But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep rather for yourselves and for your children.”

Lord, by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. We adore you, Christ, and we bless you.

(Members of the Dee Why Salvation Army carry the cross to the Tenth Station)

Tenth Station: “Jesus is nailed to the cross”

When they had reached the place called Golgotha, that is, the place of the skull, they gave him wine to drink mixed with gall, which he tasted but refused to drink. When nthey had finished crucifying him they shared out his clothing by casting lots, and then sat down and stayed there keeping guard over him. Above his head was placed the charge against him; it read: “This is Jesus, the King of The Jews.”

Lord, by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. We adore you, Christ, and we bless you.

(Members of the Dee Why St. Kevin Catholic Church carry the cross to the Eleventh Station)

Eleventh Station: “Jesus forgives the repentant thief”

One of the two criminals who were hanging on either side of Jesus abused him saying, “Are you the Christ? Save yourself and us as well.” But the other spoke and rebuked him. “Have you no fear of God at all? You got the same sentence as he did, but in our case we deserved it: we are paying for what we did. But this man has done nothing wrong. Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied, “Indeed, I promise you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Lord, by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. We adore you, Christ, and we bless you.

(Members of the Dee Why Uniting Church carry the cross to the Twelfth Station)

Twelfth Station: “Jesus speaks to his mother”

Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary, the wife of Cleopas and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to his disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

Lord, by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. We adore you, Christ, and we bless you.

(Members of the Dee Why Tongan Church carry the cross to the Thirteenth Station)

Thirteenth Station: “Jesus dies on the cross”

It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun’s light failed: and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.

Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, and said, “Certainly this man was innocent!”

Lord, by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. We adore you, Christ, and we bless you.

(Combined Dee Why Churches’ clergy carry the cross to the Fourteenth Station)

Fourteenth Station: “The body of Jesus is buried”

They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with spices in linen cloths, following the Jewish burial custom. At the place where he had been crucified there was a garden, and in this garden a new tomb in which nobody had yet been buried. Since it was the Jewish Day of Preparation and the tomb was near at hand, they laid Jesus there.

Lord, by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. We adore you, Christ, and we bless you.

(The cross was carried back to the Dee Why St. Kevin Church by the devotees)