Stations of the Cross - Calvary on...

Stations of

the Cross

An at home, family

friendly way to walk

through the last part of

Jesus’ life.

Contents

Making Your Own Stations at Home

Preparation: Prepare yourself to enter into a story that has a lot of pain.

First station: Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane

Second station: Jesus is betrayed by Judas and arrested

Third station: Jesus is condemned by the Sanhedrin

Fourth station: Jesus is denied by Peter

Fifth station: Jesus is judged by Pontius Pilate

Sixth station: Jesus is scourged at the pillar and crowned with thorns

Seventh station: Jesus bears the cross

Eighth station: Jesus is helped by Simon the Cyrenian to carry the cross

Ninth station: Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem

Tenth station: Jesus is crucified

Eleventh station: Jesus promises his Kingdom to the repentant thief

Twelfth station: Jesus speaks to his mother and the Beloved Disciple

Thirteenth station: Jesus dies on the cross

Fourteenth station: Jesus is placed in the tomb

Final Thoughts

Making Your Own Stations at Home

As a kid, I went to a Catholic school and there was

something so meaningful about walking around the church, which

permanently had the stations on the walls. Our movement coincided,

in a way, with that of Christ. While it is special to read these

together sitting as a family, I encourage you to set up your own

stations in your house. Put motion into this practice. Here are two

simple ways you can do this.

1) You can simply print off these slides and tape them to your wall.

You should space them a few feet apart. You may need to use

wall space in more than one room. Let it be a journey.

2) You can make your own numbers, pictures, scripture prompts

that let you read Scripture from your Bible, and some sort of

action step; something you can say, pray, or motion for each

station.

Preparation: Calm your self! Take 10, 30, or 60 seconds to just calm down. Take deep breathes. If you are reading together, make sure you can hear the reader and see the pictures. If you made your own stations, make sure your paths are clear and are free from distractions. You know of many amazing things Jesus has done like heal people , give sight to the blind, calm the seas, raise a girl from the dead, and that whole transfiguration thing where he appeared glowing with Moses and Elijah. Today, you are going to hear about parts of Jesus’ story that don’t seem quite as happy. They might not make sense. They might make you sad or upset. This is the story of Jesus’s death. While they may not be fun to hear, it is very important. It reminds us that God really came to Earth as a person, as Jesus, to be like us. It is an amazing way for God to show His love for us, for you. Take your time. It is okay to ask questions and pause while you read.

Jesus in the

Garden of

Gethsemane

36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” 39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” 40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Matthew 26:36-41

First station: Jesus in the

Garden of Gethsemane

What do you think Jesus meant when he said “Father, may this cup

be taken from me”?

Say Together (or have kids repeat)

“Jesus, thank you for doing something hard that you did not

want to do.”

Jesus is betrayed

by Judas and

arrested

Second station: Jesus is

betrayed by Judas and

arrested

43 Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders. 44 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” 45 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. 46 The men seized Jesus and arrested him. 47 Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

Mark 14:43-46

Have you ever had a friend or someone you loved hurt you?


“Jesus, we are sorry that your friend

betrayed you.”

Jesus is

condemned by

the Sanhedrin

Third station: Jesus is

condemned by the

Sanhedrin 66 At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and the teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them. 67 “If you are the Messiah,” they said, “tell us.” Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe me, 68 and if I asked you, you would not answer. 69 But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.” 70 They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?” He replied, “You say that I am.” 71 Then they said, “Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips.”

Luke 22:66-71

Why do you think the Sanhedrin, the religious leaders, did not believe Jesus

was God?


“Jesus, we know that you are God.”

Jesus is denied

by Peter

Fourth station: Jesus is

denied by Peter 69 Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said. 70 But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. 71 Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72 He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!” 73 After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.” 74 Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. 75 Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Matthew 26:69-75

Have you ever thought it would be easier to lie about something than to

tell the truth?


“Jesus, help us to say what is true, even if it may be harder.”

Jesus is judged

by Pontius Pilate

Fifth station: Jesus is

judged by Pontius Pilate

Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, made their plans. So they bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate. 2 “Are you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate. “You have said so,” Jesus replied. 3 The chief priests accused him of many things. 4 So again Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.” 5 But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed. 15 Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

Mark 15:1-5, 15

Why do you think Jesus didn’t speak up and he let this happen?


“Jesus, you are our king. Thank you

for being so brave.”

Jesus is scourged

at the pillar and

crowned with

thorns

Sixth station: Jesus is

scourged at the pillar and

crowned with thorns

Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. 2 The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe 3 and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they slapped him in the face. 4 Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews gathered there, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.” 5 When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!”

John 19:1-5

This is one of the really hard parts to hear. How do you feel when you hear

this part?


“Jesus, we are so sorry that you were treated this way. We pray that we

always honor you.”

Jesus bears the

cross

Seventh station: Jesus

bears the cross

It was the day of Preparation of the Passover; it was about noon. “Here is your king,” Pilate said to the Jews. 15 But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!” “Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked. “We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered. 16 Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. 17 Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha).

John 19: 14-17

What do you think you would have done if you saw Jesus carrying this

heavy, huge cross?


“Jesus, we know you carried a cross you didn’t deserve.”

Jesus is helped

by Simon the

Cyrenian to carry

the cross

Eighth station: Jesus is

helped by Simon the

Cyrenian to carry the cross

A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross.

Mark 15:21

Pause: Stop for a moment. It was not long ago that Jesus was with his Disciples in the garden. Now, he is in a VERY different situation. This story has been sad and hard, but remember, this becomes a story more important

and beautiful than any other.


“Jesus, this is a hard story to hear, but we know it leads to something great.”

Jesus meets the

women of

Jerusalem

Ninth station: Jesus meets

the women of Jerusalem

A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. 28 Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore!’ 30 Then “‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!”’[b] 31 For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

Luke 23:27-31

Why do you think Jesus told the women not to cry?


“Jesus, help us to be strong when hard

things are happening in our lives.”

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke+23&version=NIV#fen-NIV-25966b

Jesus is crucified

Tenth station: Jesus is

crucified

When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

Luke 23:33-34 Have you ever forgiven someone for

hurting you?


“Jesus, help us to forgive others when they hurt us.”

Jesus promises

his Kingdom to

the repentant

thief

Eleventh station: Jesus

promises his Kingdom to

the repentant thief

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Luke 23:39-43

What do you think the picture above means?


“Jesus, we need your forgiveness,

because we too are sinners.”

Jesus speaks to

his mother and

the Beloved

Disciple

Twelfth station: Jesus

speaks to his mother and

the Beloved Disciple

Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” 27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

John 19:25-27

Notice how even though Jesus has been beaten and is dying on the cross,

he yet again is thinking about and looking out for other people.


“Jesus, we too can help take care of

others even when we are struggling.”

Jesus dies on the

cross

Thirteenth station: Jesus

dies on the cross

It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.

Luke 23:44-46 Is Jesus’ death the end? If not, what

happens next?


“Jesus, we praise your amazing sacrifice.”

Jesus is placed

in the tomb

Fourteenth station: Jesus

is placed in the tomb

As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. 58 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59 Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.

Matthew 27:57-61

The morning after Jesus is placed in the tomb, something amazing will

have happened. Have you ever had a bad day, but when you woke up the

next day things seemed better?


“Jesus, we thank you for the hope that comes tomorrow!”

Pause again. Grab a piece of paper and a pencil. If you could write a note to Jesus right now, what would you write? Write a note to Jesus and tape it or place it on the ground near wherever you set up Station 14.

Final Thoughts

You need to know the whole story. Our God is so good. Life on

Earth is sometimes not so good. But through the mess and pain,

there is beauty. Through Jesus’s death came his resurrection.

Jesus died, but was alive again!

All that pain and suffering happened to help God show you how

much He loves you. God isn’t just off in the clouds giving us rules.

He came to Earth as a person to be with us, to be like us.

God loves you very much. Yes, celebrate Easter with smiles and

candy. It is even ok to do an Easter egg hunt. But all that is only

fun and great because of a God who loves us so much.

You may want to read this story again. Go for it! Know this part of

the story well.

Always remember you are loved deeply by God.

All Images © 2013 Nicholas Markell | Eyekons http://mountzionnews.blogspot.com/2013/03/meditations-on-scriptural-

stations-of.html?m=1

Bonus: Find any errors? Let Mr. Steve know!

Put together by Calvary Reformed Church Children’s Ministries – 2020 Holland, MI

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