Stations of the Cross: Station Twelve - Jesus Dies

 

“Jesus said, ‘I am thirsty.’  A jar of wine vinegar was there and they gave him wine.  Jesus said, ‘It is finished!’  With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”

John 19:28 & 30

 

It is finished.

Death’s finality.

Certain.

God’s servant,

 crushed in sorrow.

Pierced for our offenses.

Shall we not stand

 watching, Lord

mourning the sins

You bear,

rejoicing in the pardon

You bestow?

Art by Lindsey Leigh - 2006

Stations of the Cross: Station 11 - Jesus is Nailed to the Cross

“carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha).  Here they crucified him, and with two others.”

John 19:17 & 18

Nailed to the cross

Hands and feet  

You paid for sin

 Past Present Future

Limitless love

For me

The world

 The ultimate sacrifice was paid.

My sins? My faults?

My life?

Is it only You hanging on the cross,

or me as well?  

Art by Lindsey Leigh - 2006

Stations of the Cross: Station Nine - Jesus Falls the Third Time

“I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint…My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death.”

Psalm 22:14 & 15

Like water poured out completely.

As a dry dessert.

Your strength gone.

You fall again, as if to the dust

 of death.

By your third fall, Lord

give us courage before

our trials, sufferings  and pain.

Give us patience to go on.

Help us in our need.

Lift us above our weakness.

Art by Lindsey Leigh - 2006 

Stations of the Cross: Station Ten - Jesus is Stripped

 

“They stripped him…and knelt in front of him and mocked him. ‘Hail, king of the Jews!’ they said.  They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again.”

Matthew 27:28 & 30

They divided Your garments

and cast lots for Your clothes.

Stripped of all dignity.

Humiliation

Shame

You had nothing of Your own.

By Your despoilment, Lord

clothe us in Your grace and mercy

which is rich beyond words and

all earthly possessions.

Art by Lindsey Leigh - 2006 

Stations of the Cross: Station Eight - Jesus Meets the Women

 

“A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him.”

Luke 23:27

Women wept as You passed

You comforted them:

“Weep not

 for me but for Your

 children.”

May the grace of

this meeting

be kept alive in our hearts, Lord.

Let us weep for humanity.

Those that suffer.

Those that are alone.

Art by Lindsey Leigh - 2006