We had an idea of an outdoor Easter trail for the children at our local Primary School. I needed something which was easy to run and I had the idea of using Stations of the Cross but with photographs of local places; trying to imagine where the incidents would have taken place had the story happened here rather than in and around Jerusalem.
The photographs are all mine and I will have them mounted on foam board and placed on a mown path around the School's garden. The penultimate station is actually an activity where the children will place pieces of broken tile onto a wooden cross I will make.
I think I will adapt this slightly and use it as a major part of our Good Friday Final Hour service in Church.
If you want to use this send me a message and I can mail you pdfs and jpegs if you'd find them useful.
We begin…
Right back to the times of Jesus’ earliest followers there has been a tradition for Christians of travelling to Jerusalem to experience the places where Jesus had been; where he had taught and healed people. Jesus’ followers wanted to go to those exact spots involved in the final week of his life and where he rose again from the dead.
Over time, as the Good News about Jesus travelled further, it became increasingly difficult or dangerous for people to visit Jerusalem for themselves, and so people started making pictures to represent the moments recorded in the story. These became known as ‘Stations of the Cross’.
Through these photographs I have tried to imagine where Jesus would have been if the story had taken place in and around Patchway. In a normal Stations of the Cross the characters are shown, but in my photographs I have used a white drape to suggest where Jesus might have been standing or sitting. I hope this helps you to imagine for yourself the places and the people - the background noise, the feel of the breeze, the delight of his followers and the murmurings at the back of the crowd by those who wanted Jesus arrested.
The readings are based on the account in Mark’s Gospel, the first and simplest written account of those events.
So join us on this journey as we travel around modern day Patchway, but also see and hear the story of the final week of the life of Jesus. Take time to imagine, think and reflect what those moments then might mean for you, here, today.
Can you tell where the photograph was taken?
Mark chapter 10 verse 32
Jesus and his disciples were now on the road going up to Jerusalem. Jesus was going ahead of the disciples, who expected bad things to happen; the people who followed behind were afraid. Once again Jesus took the twelve disciples aside and spoke of the things that were going to happen to him.
The story
Jesus was leading his followers along the road to Jerusalem. He knew the difficulty of what lay ahead, and his followers sensed this too, although they still didn’t understand.
The road up to Jerusalem must have felt a very long way for Jesus to walk with such a heavy heart, but he knew that there was no alternative. He had come to show the crowds God’s love in action, not just in words, but Jesus knew the best example of this would be choosing to do what his Father asked of him even in the most difficult moments. He showed the depth of God’s love for us by his willingness to not be distracted or diverted from the path he had chosen.
To reflect on
Lots of things in life are difficult and costly. Is there something on your mind today which you know will take a lot of effort on your part? What can you learn from Jesus’ determination and willingness?
Can you tell where the photograph was taken?
Mark chapter 11 verses 7 to 11
They brought the colt to Jesus, threw their cloaks over the animal, and Jesus got on. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches in the field and spread them on the road. The people who were in front and those who followed behind began to shout, “Praise God! God bless him who comes in the name of the Lord! God bless the coming kingdom of King David, our father! Praise be to God!”
Jesus entered Jerusalem, went into the Temple…
The story
Jesus finally arrived in Jerusalem, and many were excited about this. They cheered and celebrated as they welcomed him into the city. They were so pleased to see him that they threw leaves and cloaks into the road for his donkey to walk on.
Jesus must have known that this wonderful welcome would be short-lived, and yet he doesn’t condemn or criticise. It would have been easy for Jesus to have been swayed by the crowd to lead an armed rebellion against the Romans, but that was not what he had to do.
To reflect on
People often say that somebody is “following the crowd” when they allow their own choices and decisions to be changed in order to be more popular.
Are there things in your life at the moment where you need to be true to yourself and not “following the crowd”? It can be hard for us just as it was hard for Jesus.
Mark chapter 14 verses 22 to 26
While they were eating, Jesus took a piece of bread, gave a prayer of thanks, broke it, and gave it to his disciples. “Take it,” he said, “this is my body.”
Then he took a cup, gave thanks to God, and handed it to them; and they all drank from it.
Jesus said, “This is my blood which is poured out for many, my blood which seals God's covenant. I tell you, I will never again drink this wine until the day I drink the new wine in the Kingdom of God.”
Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.
The story
Jesus had arranged to share a Passover Meal with his friends. This was one of the most important celebrations in the Jewish year, as they remembered how God has rescued his people from slavery in Egypt to the freedom of the Promised Land. And yet despite this being such a fantastic party Jesus seemed very solemn, and spoke some strange words.
To reflect on
Christians today remember this moment when we celebrate Holy Communion and share bread and wine together using the words that Jesus spoke at his Passover meal. We also talk about how what he did allows us, his followers, to go from being like slaves to the wrong things we do to being forgiven so we can be free.
What would you want to remember Jesus for? How will you try to remember this?
Can you tell where the photograph was taken?
Mark chapter 14 verses 32 to 34
They came to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took Peter, James, and John with him.
Distress and deep sadness came over him, and he said to them, “The sorrow in my heart is so great that it almost crushes me. Stay here and keep watch.”
The story
Jesus knew his arrest was going to happen soon, and the prospect of a cruel death must have made him feel very sad and alone. Even his closest friends who were with him in the garden dozed off when he needed them to be awake and looking out for him.
Eventually Jesus prayed “Take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet not what I want, but what you want.” This meant he was agreeing to go through with the next steps that obedience to his heavenly Father demanded.
To reflect on
Nobody likes being alone when they are sad and not looking forward to something. Christians believe that when we endure pain or difficulties Jesus has been there before us.
What do you do when you feel most alone?
Can you tell where the photograph was taken?
Mark chapter 15 verses 22 to 26
They took Jesus to a place called Golgotha, which means “The Place of the Skull.” There they tried to give him wine mixed with a drug called myrrh, but Jesus would not drink it. Then they crucified him and divided his clothes among themselves, throwing dice to see who would get which piece of clothing. It was nine o'clock in the morning when they crucified him. The notice of the charge against him said: “The King of the Jews.”
And verses 33 to 34
At noon the whole country was covered with darkness, which lasted for three hours. At three o'clock Jesus cried out with a loud shout, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why did you abandon me?”
The story
Crucifixion was a horrible way to die. The Romans used it for their most troublesome criminals and those who wanted to make trouble. Those who saw Jesus on the cross mocked him when he was totally defenceless.
After three hours the sky turned black and Jesus died. As he did so the curtain in the Temple was torn in two. This curtain represented the divide that existed between God and human beings because of the wrong things we do. As Jesus died we were able to be forgiven and our relationship with God restored. The curtain was no longer needed.
To reflect on
On Good Friday in Church we read the story again about the death of Jesus. The most wonderful man we believe has ever lived was killed as a common criminal when all he had tried to do was to tell people about God’s love.
I invite you to be silent for a few moments to ponder for yourself the love which Jesus showed by being obedient to God, even at such a cost to himself.
Can you tell where the photograph was taken?
Mark chapter 16 verses 1 to 5
After the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices to go and anoint the body of Jesus. Very early on Sunday morning, at sunrise, they went to the tomb. On the way they said to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” (It was a very large stone.) Then they looked up and saw that the stone had already been rolled back. So they entered the tomb, where they saw a young man sitting at the right, wearing a white robe—and they were alarmed.
“Don't be alarmed,” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is not here—he has been raised! Look, here is the place where he was placed. Now go and give this message to his disciples, including Peter: ‘He is going to Galilee ahead of you; there you will see him, just as he told you.’”
The story
Jesus’ friends had felt crushed by his death, but a few days later there was news from the women that he was no longer dead, but had been raised from the dead.
This news changed his followers beyond recognition and they would go on to meet him and then, after he had ascended to heaven, to go to tell everybody who would listen the Good News about Jesus. They couldn’t keep this to themselves!
To reflect on
The resurrection of Jesus means that even in the worst possible places, and in the darkest of situations there is still room for God to work. This is what Christians believe, and it sustains them through their own pain and grief. God always brings hope.
What are there moments when you feel there is no hope? How can what we have learnt here help you?
At the foot of the Cross
The cross has a special place in the heart of Christians. Although it is a horrible symbol of suffering, we see Jesus’ death as the way by which God brings hope, healing, forgiveness and restoration.
A Christian song says
At the foot of the cross
Where grace and suffering meet...
Now I can
Trade these ashes in for beauty
And wear forgiveness like a crown
What would you want to bring to the foot of the cross for God to deal with?
On the back of a piece of broken tile please write in pencil a word or make a little drawing of what it is that you would bring and leave here.
We will then make a beautiful mosaic of all the pieces of tile on the cross with the words hidden so what we have written is only between you and God.
We go back…
We finish our journey and prepare to return to our normal day.
What will you take with you? What have you learnt about Jesus in these last few minutes? What will you want to keep with you?
A prayer if you would like to say this for yourself…
Lord Jesus,
thank you for showing us God’s love
and walking alongside us when we struggle.
Be with anyone today who feels alone or afraid
or who needs somebody beside them.
Bless them and us in the rest of our day.
Amen
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