JOURNEYWITHJESUS FromtheearliestdaysofChristianity,pilgrimswouldgotoJerusalemtowalkthestepsofChristandberemindedofHissacrificeoflove.Astravelbecameharder,peoplewouldrecreatethe“JourneywithJesus”andrememberthesignificantmomentsalongthewaythatbroughtoursalvation. Thisweek,aswemovetowardsEaster,takesometimeandjointhejourneywithJesus.Youcandothisasasolojourney,withaspouseorafriend,orevenleadyourfamilythroughthis. Downloadthesepagestoamobiledevice,orprintthemout,andgoforawalkinaparkoronatrail.Asyouturneachpage…stopforamomenttoread,reflect,andpray. Duringthisseasonwhenthereissomuchfearanduncertainty,letthegraceandhopeofJesussurroundyouandprepareyourheartforthegreatestmessageofhopeever…HEISRISEN!

nOriginaltextbyDr.BillGaultiere

ArtbyJenNorton

ONE:JesusOnTrial.“Thechiefpriestsaccused[Jesus]ofmanythings.Soagain,Pilateaskedhim,‘Aren’tyougoingtoanswer?Seehowmanythingstheyareaccusingyouof.’ButJesussDllmadenoreply,andPilatewasamazed.”(Mark15:3-5)

Jesusisjudgedbythehighpriest,thenthewholeSanhedrin,thenPilate,thenHerod,andthenbacktoPilateagain.ThereligiousleaderstellliestoPilateandsQrupthecrowdstokeepshouQng,“Crucifyhim!...Crucifyhim!”(Mark15:13-14)Hisdiscipleshaveabandonedhim.Hestandsalone,condemnedasacriminal.

ButJesusdoesn’trespond.Hedoesn’tbecomefearful.Heisn’tdefensive.Jesusstandsinsilencebeforehisaccusers.Forsakenbyeveryone,heremainsquiet,calm,andconfident.Hismissionistosacrificehislifeinloveforallwhowillreceivehim.HowcanJesusbesecurewhenallhisfriendshaveabandonedhimtohisenemies?Howdoesheremainatpeacewhenhe’sbeingcriQcizedandmistreated?Howdoeshekeeplovinghisenemieswhoareabusinghimandthreateningtokillhim?TheBiblesaysthatChristwastemptedandtriedasweare(Ma`hew4:1-11;Hebrews4:15).Hecould’vesinned.Hecould’vefallenapartemoQonally.Hecould’vebeenashamedorreactedwithanger.Howdidhesufferwithsuchstrengthandgrace?InhisFather’sembrace,Jesusisnotforsaken.Thisisforyou.It’sforeveryone.

PrayerThinkofaQmethatyoufeltjudgedbysomeoneandshareyourfeelingswithGod…NowstandwithJesusintheFather’srighteousnessandpeaceandgivethanksthatyou’refreefromcondemnaQon…

ThankyouJesus!Byyourcrossyougaveusyourlifeandshowedushowto

livefreeofcondemnaQon.

TWO:JesusTakesUpHisCross“Carryinghisowncross,[Jesus]wentouttotheplaceoftheSkull...”(John19:17)

“Forthejoysetbeforehim[Jesus]enduredthecross...”(Hebrews12:2)

Jesusisbruisedandbleedingfrombeingbrutallyscourged,almosttothepointofdeath.HestaggersundertheweightofthecrossashestumblesthroughthecitystreetsofJerusalem.Yet,hehasasourceofjoy!Howcouldthisbewhenhe’sknowinglywalkingtothePlaceoftheSkullwherehe’llbetorturedtodeath?Joyismorethanafeeling;likelove,it’sacondiQonofbeingthatgoesbeyondouremoQonstoalsoincludeouractude,will,andrelaQonalconnecQons(Mark12:30-31).WhileJesusissufferingheisdrawingonhisFather’sloveandallthewonderfultreasuresoftheunseenKingdomoftheHeavens(Ma`hew13:44-45,52).Truly,“TheKingdomofGodis...righteousness,peace,andjoyintheHolySpirit.”(Romans14:17)

Jesusinvitesyoutotakeupyourcrossandfollowhim.Thiscrossisnotbadthingsthathappentoyou—it’schoosinganactudeofself-denialanddependenceuponGodinyourdailylife,includingwhenbadthingshappentoyou.Renouncingtheworldopensuptheheavenstous!LosinglifeonourowntermsenablesustogainlifeonGod’sterms:athriving,divinelifeforever!(Luke9:23-27)

PrayerHowcouldyoutakeupyourcrosswithJesusanddenysomethingthatcompeteswithyourloveforGod…PraytoenjoybeingforgivenandmadenewbyChrist.

ThankyouJesus!Byyourcrossyougaveusyourlifeandshowedushowto

denyourselfandliveinGod.

THREE:JesusFalls“Iamboweddownandbroughtverylow…mystrengthfailsme...”(Psalm38:6,10).

Apparently,asJesusiscarryinghiscrosshefallsundertheweightofitandneedshelptocarryittoGolgotha(Mark15:21-22).TheonewhoisfullyGodisalsofullyman.ThisscenerecallstheGardenofGethsemane.Justbeforetakinguphiscross,Jesusfeels“deeplydistressedandtroubled...overwhelmedwithsorrowtothepointofdeath”(Mark14:33-34).Hefallstothegroundandwrestlesinprayersointenselythathesweatsdropsof

blood(Luke22:44).Hepleadsthat“thismightpassfromhim.”Hecriesout,“Father...Takethiscupfromme.”(Mark14:35-36)

WemightthinkJesusistryingtogetoutofgoingtothecross,butactually,ashesaidrepeatedly,heistryingtomakeittothecross!(Mark8:34;9:31;10:33-34;10:45;12:1-12;14:8;14:22-25.SeealsoJohn12:27-28.)ItseemsthatSatanwastryingtokillJesusinthesecrecyofthegarden.ButHewasabletofulfillhispurposeandbe“linedup”publiclyonthecrossforallpeopletobedrawntohim(John12:32).InthegardenJesusovercomesSatan.Heovercomesfearanddespair.Heovercomeshiscross.Jesusgainsthevictorybeforehe’scrucifiedbywatchingandpraying.He’sshowingushowtowatchandprayaboutourtrialsandtemptaQons.ThreeQmesheprays,“Father...notwhatIwill,butwhatyouwill.”(Mark14:36,39,41)

PrayerIdenQfysomethingthat’sweighingyoudownandtellGodhowthisfeelsforyou…ImagineJesuswithhisarmsopentoyou...LayyourburdendownandletyourSaviorholdyouup...

ThankyouJesus!Byyourcrossyougaveusyourlifeandshowedushowto

fallintoourHeavenlyFather’sarmsoflove.

FOUR:MarycomestoJesus“Simeon…saidtoMary,[Jesus’]mother…‘Aswordwillpierceyourownsoultoo.”(Luke2:34-35)

MostlikelyMaryfollowsalongclosetohersonashecarrieshiscross.Weknowthatshestandsclosebyhissideasheiscrucified(John19:25-27).Weknowthat,asSimeonprophesied,Jesus’crossbecomesaswordthatpierceshersoul,cucngdeeplyintohermother’sheart.

Maryhastoacceptthatshecan’ttakeawayJesus’pain.It’ssohardtoseeyourlovedonesufferingandnotbeabletohelp!ButMarydoeswhatshecanforJesusandit’sbeauQful:shestaysclosetolovehimandshegrowstoworshiphimasherLordandSavior,thesonofGod!

Mary’sfaithinJesusisamodelforusall.Fromhisearliestyearsshetreasuredandponderedhiminherheart(Luke2:19).ItwasinresponsetoherboldrequestthatJesusdidhisfirstpublicmiracleofturningwaterintowine.

NowasJesuscarrieshiscrossthroughthestreetsofJerusalemwecanimaginethathemighthavemadeeyecontactwithMary.Whatmighthehavesaidtohismother?Maybesomethinglike,“Lookmother,Iammakingeverythingnew!“(RevelaQon21:5)

PrayerThankGodforyourmotherandhowheblessedyouthroughher…AskGodtousethecrossofChristtoremovefromyourheartanythingthatdistractsyoufromlovinghimandthosearoundyou…

ThankyouJesus!Byyourcrossyougaveusyourlifeand

showedushowtolovedeeply.

FIVE:SimonhelpsJesus“AcertainmanfromCyrene,Simon,thefatherofAlexanderandRufus,waspassingbyonhiswayinfromthecountry,andtheyforcedhimtocarrythecross”(Mark15:21).

Simonispickedoutofthecrowd,pulledawayfromhissons,andforcedtocarryJesus’heavycross.Nowthecrowdsandsoldiersarejeeringathimtoo!NodoubtSimonisfrustratedbythis!ButhecomestoaccepthisidenQficaQonwithJesusandtoconsideritanhonorto“help”himcarryhiscross.

ItseemsthatwatchingJesussufferanddiewithperfectloveforeveryone,evenhisenemies,drewSimonandhissonstoputtheirtrustinhimastheirLordandSavior(Romans16:13).Soreallyit’sJesuswhohelpsSimon!

Usuallywhenwesufferwefeelaloneandsorryforourselves.ButatthisfinhstaQonwe’reinvitedtorealizethatChristhasgoneaheadofusandsufferedfirstoutofloveforus(Romans5:8).

WhateverinjusQceorpainyou’reexperiencing,prayerfullyconsiderhowJesussufferedsomethingsimilar.Reviewhislifeinthegospelsandyou’llfindthatyou’renotalone.Jesuswentthroughdifficulttrialsoutofloveforyou.He’swaiQngtoembraceyouandempoweryoutoovercomeyourdifficulty!Paulcalledthis“theparQcipaQonin[Christ’s]suffering’s”andindicateditisthewayintothe“surpassingworth”ofknowingJesusmoreinQmately.(Philippians3:8-10)

PrayerConsidersomethingthatisunfairorpainfultoendure…RecallhowJesusexperiencedsomethingsimilarwithhiscrossorearlierinhislifeandgivethankstohim…PraytodrawcareandstrengthfromthecompanionshipofChristinyoursuffering…

ThankyouJesus!Byyourcrossyougaveusyourlifeandshowedusthe

poweroffriendshipandsuffering.

SIX:Jesusfallsagain“Iamlaidlowinthedust.”(Psalm119:25).

“SurelyhetookofourinfirmiDes…Hewaspiercedforourtransgressions…Thepunishmentthatbroughtuspeacewasonhim,andbyhiswoundswearehealed…Hewasledlikealambtotheslaughter.”(Isaiah53:4-5,7)

AccordingtotradiQon,Jesusfallsundertheweightofhiscrossmorethanonce.ThiscanbeseenasasymbolofIsaiah’sprophecyofJesusbearingoursinandsickness.

ButJesusistheperfect“LambofGodwhotakesawaythesinoftheworld“(John1:29).Hetookthepunishmentthatwedeservedsothatwecouldbehealedofoursin,freeingusfromshameandisolaQon.

Jesustookouriniquityandinfirmity,butitwasn’tlikesomebodyforcedhim!Hechosetotakethefallforus.Itwashisgreatpassiontotakeoursinuponhimselfandbeartheconsequences,eventhoughheneversinned.AndthenHerosefromthedeadtogiveuslife.

PrayerWhatweightofsinorsicknesshasenteredyourlife?…AskGodtobringyoufreedomandforgivenessfromthisheavyweight…PraytoliveinthepeaceofChrist–evenifinyourbodyorcircumstancesyou’resQllhurQng…

ThankyouJesus!Byyourcrossyougaveyourlifeandshowedushowto

experienceYourpeace.

SEVEN:Jesuscomfortstheweepingwomen“AlargenumberofpeoplefollowJesus,includingwomenwhomournandweepforhim.[Jesus]turnedandsaidtothem,‘daughtersofJerusalem,donotweepforme;weepforyourselvesandforyourchildren.’”(Luke23:27-28)

WhenweseetheterriblesufferingofJesusinhispassion,weprobablyfeelsadforhimlikethesewomendid.Thebrutalityissogruesomeandhispainissooverwhelming!

Butthereisanother,deeperrealityandJesusredirectsoura`enQontoit.Hesaystotheweepingwomenandtous:“Look.Myfatherissustainingme.I’mchoosingtogotothecrossforyou.So,don’tcryforme–cryouttometobedeliveredofsinandtoreceiveGod‘smercy.“

IsJesusdenyinghispain?Ofcoursenot!ButHehaspreparedhimselftoendurethispainoutofloveforus.He’sconcernedtohelpuswithourpainandespeciallywithoursin.Jesusisteachingthesewomenandushowtogrieve.Wealsoneedtogrieveandseekcomfortoverwayswe’vebeensinnedagainst,orwhenalovedonedies,orwhenwesufferanykindofloss(Psalms126and137).

Jesuswantsustorealizehowbrokenandneedyweareandtocryouttohimtoreceivehisforgivenessandlovingkindness.JesuswantsustoopenourheartstoreceiveGod’shealingmercyandshareitwithothers.

PrayerThinkofaQmeinwhichyou(oralovedone)feltdistressedordiscouraged…PraythatGodwouldredeemthesehurtstouseinministrytootherswhohurt.

ThankyouJesus!Byyourcrossyougaveusyourlifeandshowedushowto

grieveandfindlasQngcomfort.

EIGHT:JesusfallsathirdKme“ChristJesus…BeinginverynatureGod,didnotconsiderequalitywithGodsomethingtobeusedforhisownadvantage;rather,Hemadehimselfnothing,bytakingtheverynatureofaservant,beingmadeinhumanlikeness.Andbeingfoundinappearancesasaman,hehumbledhimselfbybecomingobedienttodeath–evendeathonacross!”(Philippians2:5-8)

AccordingtotradiQon,asJesusstaggerstocarryhiscrosstoCalvaryhefallsagainandagainandagain.ThepointofthisisnothistoricalaccuracybutspiritualdevoQon.Werecallhowwe’vefallendowninlife.WeconsiderJesus’humanlimitaQonsandtheweightofhiscross.

Whippednearlytodeath.Carryinghiscross.Becomingoursinoffering.JesusisstretchedbeyondhishumanabiliQes,sohedependsenQrelyonGodhisFather.

ThatJesusfallsthreeQmesissignificant.InloveourLord“tookthefall”forusintooursin,ourdeath,andourhell.Heovercamethethreeawfulenemiesthatthreatentodestroyus!(RevelaQon1:18)

PrayerConfessyoursintotheLordandseekhisforgiveness.GivethankstoGodfordeliveringyoufromdeathtolife.PrayforsomeonewhoneedstotrustinChristforsalvaQon.

ThankyouJesus!Byyourcrossyougaveusyourlifeandshowedushowto

riseagainwhenwefalldown.

NINE:TheSoldiersabuseJesus“Thegovernors’soldierstookJesusintothePraetoriumandgatheredthewholecompanyofsoldiersaroundhim.Theystrippedhim…Andmockedhim…Andstruckhimontheheadagainandagain…Thentheyledhimawaytocrucifyhim.”(Maghew27:27–31)

“Jesussaid,‘father,forgivethem’…AndtheydivideduphisclothesbycasDnglots.Thepeoplestoodwatching,andtherulersevensneeredathim.”(Luke23:34–35)

Ifyou’veeverbeencallednames,yelledat,hit,orviolatedsexuallythenthisplaceintheJourneywithJesusisespeciallyforyou.HereChristsuffersasyouhavebutevenworse,andhiscompassionandmercyflowouttoministerpersonalhealingtoyou.Or…maybeyourealizethatyou’vemistreatedothersandneedChrist’smercyyourself.

BytrusQnginChristatthecrossyoucanexperiencespiritualandemoQonalhealing,forgiveness,andfreedom.Also,youcanbeempoweredtosharehismercyandlovewithothers–evenyourenemies.

LukeshowsushowJesusforgivesandlovesthesoldierswhobeathim.Ishejustbeingadoormat?Helplessandafraid?No!InJohn'saccountofthePassionwerepeatedlyseethatJesusisborntospeakthetruthinlovetohisabusers(John18and19).

PrayerPrayforGodtohealyouofhurt,shame,anger,andfear…andthatyouwouldhaveincreasingcapacitytoforgiveandloveothersasGodhasdoneforyouinJesusChrist…

ThankyouJesus!Byyourcrossyougaveusyourlifeandshowedushowto

overcomeabusewithdignity.

TEN:Jesusiscrucified“theycrucify[Jesus],alongwiththecriminalsoneonhisright,theotheronhisleh…Oneofthecriminalswhohungtheirhurledinsultsathim:‘areyoutheMessiah?Saveyourselfandsaveus!’“

Buttheothercriminalrebukeshim.‘Don’tyoufearGod?…Thenhesaid,‘Jesus,remembermewhenyoucomeintoyourkingdom.’“Jesusansweredhim,‘todayyouwillbewithmeinparadise.”(Luke23:33,39-43)

It’snevertoolateforGod’sgoodpurposetobefulfilledinyourlife!It’snevertoolatetolearntoexperiencetruelivingwithChrist!“NowisthedayofsalvaQon”(2Corinthians6:2)

ThinkofJesusonhiscrossbetweenthetwothieves.Allthreearebeingtorturedtodeath.Jesus’sufferingisinfinitelyworsebecauseheisalsobearingoursin-yetheistheonewhoisextendingcompassionandforgiveness!

AsJesussuffersheisdrawingcareandpowerfromhisFather.Incontrast,thetwothieveshavenoconnecQontoGodintheheavenssothey’rewrithinginbi`ernessandcursing.(Ma`hew27:44).

However,lateroneofthethievesissodrawninbyobservingthegoodnessandgraceofChristheisconvictedofhissinandcriesoutforGod’smercyjustbeforehedies(Luke23:42).Immediatelythatdeepsufferingisdiminishedandredeemedbythedivinelife,love,glory,andpowerthatflowintohim.

PrayerWhattrialiscausingyoudistress?OfferittotheLord…Prayliketherepentantthief:“Jesus,remember_(name)_whenyouenteryourkingdom.”GivethanksforGod’sgraceflowingtoyounow!

ThankyouJesus!Byyourcrossyougaveusyourlifeandshowedushowto

accessandshareparadise!

ELEVEN:JesusDies“atnoon,darknesscameoverthewholelandunDlthreeintheahernoon.Jesuscriedoutinaloudvoice…‘myGod,myGod,whyhaveyouforsakenme?’”(Mark15:33–34)

“whenJesussawhismotherthere,andthedisciplewhomhelovedstandingnearby,hesaidtoher,‘[Dear]Woman,hereisyourson,’andtothedisciple,‘hereisyourmother.’”(John19:26–27)

Mark'sgospelgivesusonlyoneofthesevenlastwordsofJesusonthecross…Hiscryofabandonment.ItseemsthatGodhasforsakenJesusonthecross(SeealsoIsaiah53:5–6,10).So,hisfollowersfeelforsakentoo.

Luke’sviewofthecrossemphasizesthisbondbetweenFatherandSon.Hedoesn’trecordacryofabandonment,butshowsJesustotallytrusQnginhisFather'slovingcareashesuffers(23:45-46;seealsoActs2:25–33).

InJohn’sGospel,asJesushungonthecross,andjustbeforehisvictoriouscryof“Itisfinished!”(19:30),heaskedMaryandJohntoloveoneanotherasmotherandson.

Verysoonhe’llnolongerbephysicallypresentwiththemandthey’llneedtohelponeanotherlearntorelyonhisspiritualpresence.LikeMaryandJohn,wecanhelponeanothertotrustthatjoinedtogetherinChristweareneverforsaken!

PrayerWhatfriendhelpsyoutostayclosetoChrist?ThankGodforthisfriendandthethingsyouappreciateaboutthem.PraythatyouwouldhelpeachotheralwaystodependonJesus.

ThankyouJesus!Byyourcrossyougaveusyourlifeandshowedushowto

trustGodwhenwefeelforsaken.

TWELVE:JesusTakenofftheCross“[Mary]wrappedhimincloths…”(Luke2:7)

“Jesuscalledoutwithaloudvoice,‘Father,intoyourhandsIcommitmyspirit.’Whenhehadsaidthis,hebreathedhislast.(Luke23:46)

Michelangelo'sfamousPietàstatueshowsMarytenderlyholdingthebodyofherson.Nolongerisheonthecross

inpain–nowhelooksatpeace,lyingsQllinhismother'sarms.Thismaynotbehistorical,butthePietàisapreciouspicturethatportraysJesus’completerelinquishmenttoGodashislovingFather.

Jesuslivedeverymomentwiththattotaltrustinhisfather.HenevertriedtocontrolpeopleorsituaQons;hedidn’ttrytoforcethingstohappenbutkeptgivingitallbacktoGod;HealwaysactedandspokeinunisonwithhisFather'swill.(John5:19,6:38,12:50)

TryingtogetpeopletodothingsortocontroloutcomesofsituaQonscausesalotofstress!ButJesus’wayofrelinquishmenttoGodbringsgreatpeace.

Jesus’finalprayerofsubmissiontoGodcamefromPsalm31:5:Father,“intoyourhandsIcommitmyspirit.”(Luke23:46)Thisispowerfulprayerandhere’sapracQcalwaytoprayit:

PrayerThinkofasituaQoninwhichyouwanttocontroltheoutcome.TellGodhowyoufeelaboutthis.ThenjoinwithJesustosubmitthesituaQontoGodbypraying…“Father,intoyourhandsIcommit_(Nameofperson,event,orthings)_.”

ThankyouJesus!Byyourcrossyougaveusyourlifeandshowedushowto

giveourlifefullytotheFather.

THIRTEEN:JesusputintheTomb“Joseph…placed[Jesus’body]inatombcutoutofrock.Thenherolledastoneagainsttheentranceofthetomb.MaryMagdaleneandMarythemotherofJosephsawwherehewaslaid.”(Mark15:46-47)

Josephdoesn’twantJesus’bodydiscardedinamassgraveorburnedintheRomanway.HewantstogivehisLorda

properburial.Inthegardennearthecrucifixionsitethereisanewtombinarockcaveandsoheusesthis(John19:41).ProbablyitisJoseph’stomb.

ImagineJosephcarryingJesus’bodyintothedarknessofhisowngrave!HemustfeeleerieanQcipaQonofhisowndeathmingledinwithhisgriefoverhisLord'sdeath.

EarlyChrisQansusedBibletextsliketheaccountofJesus’burialtoremindthemoftheirmortality.Itmayseemstrangetoustothinkthisway,butit’snotunlikea`endingafuneralorreadingtheobituariesandbeingprayerfulasyoudothesethings.ThepsalmistinvitesustocontemplateourmortalitytohelpusliveforGodinthe“hereandnow.”Heprays,“OLORD,showmetheendofmylifeandthatmydaysarenumbered.HelpmetoknowhowfleeQngmylifeis…Trulyeachpersonisbutabreath.”(Psalms39:4,11;paraphrased)ThisistoinspireustolivetodayinthewonderfulandeternalspiritualrealitythatGodisonthethrone.(Psalm102:3,12)

PrayerAskGodtoshowyouwhatneedstobeputtodeathinyou(pride,lust,selfishness,etc).PraythatyoucanlivefullyforHimtoday.

ThankyouJesus!Byyourcrossyougaveusyourlife.

FOURTEEN:RESURRECTION!

“Theysawthatthestone,whichwasverylarge,hadbeenrolledaway.Astheyenteredthetomb,theysawayoungmandressedinawhiterobesilngontherightside,andtheywerealarmed.“Don’tbealarmed,’hesaid.‘YouarelookingforJesustheNazarene,whoiscrucified.Hehasrisen!Heisnothere.Seetheplacewheretheylaidhim.Butgo,tellhisdisciplesandPeter,‘HeisgoingaheadofyouintoGalilee.Thereyouwillseehim,justashetoldyou.”(Mark16:1,4-7)

“Christlivesinme!”(GalaKans2:20)

Howwillyourespondtotheemptytomb?Howwillyouliveeachday?WemaybelievethehistoricalfactofJesusresurrecQonandyetnotknowhowtoparQcipateinthelifethattherisenChristisoffering.It’seasyforustomakethemistakeofseparaQngour“spirituallife”(likechurch

acQviQes,devoQons,orministry)fromtherestofourlives(likework,school,home,friendships,orhobbies).

ButfollowingJesusisnotjustreligiousacQviQes–it’sALLofourlifeacQviQes.OuropportunityistolearntolivefullyinthepresenceofandundertheleadershipoftherisenChrist.That’swhenthegreatadventureoflifebegins!It’saswedrawlifefromabidinginJesusandhisword,waiQngandwatchingforhisdirecQon,andkeepinginstepwithhim(John15:7;GalaQans5:25).

PrayerCelebratethepresenceoftherisenChristwholivesinyou.AskGodtoguideyourdecisionsandacQonsinallofyourlifeandtofollowhisleading.

ThankyouJesus!Byyourcrossyougaveusyourlifeandshowedus

howtolivewithyourresurrecQonpower!