TODAY is Good Friday. It is a day set aside to celebrate the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. Most Christians usually celebrate the Good Friday with the Stations of the Cross/Via Crucis. These are series of pictures representing certain scenes in the Passion of Jesus. Each station offers material for reflection and prayer. This Scriptural Way of the Cross was inspired by scriptural passages and approved by St. Pope John Paul II.
1. JESUS IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE (Matthew 26:36-41): Jesus took with him Peter, James and John to a place called Gethsemane. He told them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” He came back to his disciples and found them sleeping and he said, “So, you could not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
Child of God, Have you felt rejected before? Have you ever felt like committing suicide? Jesus felt the same way; but he did not commit suicide instead he prayed to God, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.” If you find yourself in a similar situation you don’t need to kill yourself. All you need to do is to pray to God, as Jesus did.
2. JESUS IS BETRAYED BY JUDAS AND ARRESTED (Mark 14:43-46): While Jesus was speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes and the elders. When he came, he said, “Master!” and he kissed him. They laid hands on him and seized him.
We have so many betrayers in our world today. Political betrayers move from one political party to another. Church leaders even betray their fellow ministers. A married couple who is not faithful to his partner is a betrayer. A religious who is not faithful to his religious vows is also a betrayer. If you are a betrayer you really need to repent before what happened to Judas happens to you.
3. JESUS IS CONDEMNED BY THE SANHEDRIN (Luke 22:66-71): The assembly of the elders of the people said to Jesus, “If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe; but from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” And they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then? He said to them, “You say that I am.” They said, “we have heard it ourselves from his own lips.”
Child of God, Jesus was condemned because of you. No one has the right to condemn you again. Do not condemn yourself and never condemn your fellow human being. Every condemnation in your life and in your family is hereby cancelled, in Jesus name – Amen!
4. JESUS IS DENIED BY ST. PETER (MATTHEW 26:69-75): While Peter was sitting outside the courtyard, a maid said to him, “You were with Jesus the Galilean.” He denied it, saying, “I do not know what you mean…. After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you are one of them, for your accent betrays you.” Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” Immediately the cock crowed. Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, “Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.
Jesus said, “Everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father in heaven” (Matthew 10:32-33). Child of God, if you want Jesus to acknowledge you then you must acknowledge him before people.
5. JESUS IS JUDGED BY PONTIUS PILATE (MARK 15:1-5, 15): The Chief priests, the elders, and the whole council held a consultation, they bound Jesus, led him away and delivered him to Pilate, who asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” he answered, “You have said so.” The chief priests accused him of many things. Pilate asked him, “Have you no answer to make? See how many charges they bring against you. But Jesus made no further answer…
Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with the man whom you call the King of the Jews?” they cried out, “Crucify him.” Pilate asked, “Why, what evil has he done? But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him.” So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas; and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.” Jesus said, “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged” (Matthew 7:1).
6. JESUS IS SCOURGED AT THE PILLAR AND CROWNED WITH THORNS (JOHN 19:1-3): Then Pilate took Jesus and scourged him. And the soldiers plaited a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and arrayed him in a purple robe; they came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands. Every evil scourge and thorns in your life are hereby canceled in Jesus name – Amen!
7. JESUS BEARS THE CROSS (JOHN 19:6, 15-17): So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called in Hebrew Golgotha. Our Lord Jesus Christ was seen bearing his own cross. He told his followers, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Child of God, may God give you the grace to bear your own cross.
8. JESUS IS HELPED BY SIMON OF CYRENE (Mark 15:21): They compelled a passer-by, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country to carry his cross. Child of God, do you know that you can still help Jesus in carrying his cross? How? You may ask. Whatever good you do to your fellow human being; you are doing it for God’s glory.
9. JESUS MEETS THE WOMEN OF JERUSALEM (LUKE 23:27-31): There followed him a great multitude of the people, and of women who bewailed and lamented him. But Jesus turning to them said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.” Jesus has come to consol all sorrowing women, especially those who are suffering because of their children.
10. JESUS IS CRUCIFIED (LUKE 23:33-34): When they came to the place which is called the Shull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Your sickness and problem are hereby nailed to the cross in Jesus name – Amen!
11. JESUS PROMISES HIS KINGDOM TO THE GOOD THIEF (LUKE 23:39-43): One of the criminals said to him, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God… for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. And he said, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” Even if you are the worst criminal Jesus has forgiven you. Go and sin no more!
12. JESUS SPEAK TO HIS MOTHER AND THE BELOVED DISCIPLE (JOHN 19:25-27): Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother’s sisters. When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” and from that hour the disciple took her to his home. Mary is indeed our mother in faith.
13. JESUS DIES ON THE CROSS (LUKE 23:44-46): 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 thy hands I commit my spirit!” and having said this he breathed his last. The death of Jesus has cancelled our own death.
14. JESUS IS PLACED IN THE TOMB (MATHEW 27:57-60): When it was evening, there came a rich man named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. Joseph took the body, and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he hewn in the rock; and he rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb, and departed. Your problem and sickness are buried in Jesus name. You are hereby declared free in the name of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit – Amen!