Stations of the Cross (11)

 Jesus promises his Kingdom to the good thief (Luke 23: 39-43)

Luke 23:39-43 (NIV84)

39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? 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, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Jesus hanging in severe pain,

each breath an agony on the cross,

yet Jesus did not respond to the mockery,

but freely offered salvation to the other.

Do we still mock Your ways and You Yourself?

Yes, we do in our words and deeds daily,

when in our pain we lash out in anger,

and live in constant fear.

Lord, give us eternal life.

Lord, give us eternal life.

Do we repent of our evils and sins?

No, we don’t.  But only by Your Word,

Living in obedience to them,

reaching out to others, loving them,

do we repent and received Grace.

Lord, give us eternal life.

Lord, give us eternal life.

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Stations of the Cross (10)

Jesus is crucified (Luke 23:33, 34, 47)

Luke 23:33,34, 47 (NIV84)

33 When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, 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 …47 The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.”

The journey was at an end.

Jesus was quickly thrown backward

with his shoulders against the wood.

The soldier felt for the depression at the front of the wrist;

he drove a heavy, square, wrought-iron nail through the wrist and deep into the wood.

Quickly he moved to the other side and repeated the action,

being careful not to pull the arms too tightly.

The left foot was pressed backward against the right foot.

With both feet extended, toes down,

a nail was driven through the arch of each,

leaving the knees moderately flexed.

The victim was now crucified.

 ‘Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews’

He is our peace.

The soldiers hoisted Your cross on high.

You were their prisoner;

but no one took Your life away from You.

You gave it willingly, freely.

It was love that held You there.

It was love that held You there.

You were lifted high upon that cross,

even as You had prophesied when You promised;

‘I, if I be lifted up from the earth,

will draw all people to Me.’

It was love that held You there.

It was love that held You there.

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Stations of the Cross (9)

Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem (Luke 23:27-31)

Luke 23:27–31 (NIV84)

27 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 barren women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ 30 Then “ ‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!” ’ 31 For if men do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

As Jesus continued,

painfully stumbling along the road to Calvary,

a group of women joined themselves to the procession,

wailing in the manner normally considered

appropriate for a funeral procession.

But Jesus told them to cry out to God

for themselves and their own children.

Some of us are never far from tears,

and some of us have forced ourselves not to cry.

Bring our tears into Your captivity and direction,

that they respond to Your voice.

Lord, You have the words of eternal life.

Lord, You have the words of eternal life.

You are with us in our pain

and suffering. Companion in our loneliness.

You know our needs and desires,

our hunger and passion.

Lord, You have the words of eternal life.

Lord, You have the words of eternal life.

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