Walking with Jesus to the Cross
Song: Were you There?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Oh-Oh-Oh-Oh, Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Opening:
Lord Jesus Christ, we want to understand why you died upon the cross. Now we want to pretend that we are walking with you on the last day before you died. Help us to understand how much you love us and forgive us. Amen.
1.The Judge named Pilate gives Jesus the Death Penalty after some People lied about Jesus.
People: This Jesus is trying to overthrow the King Caesar.
Pilate: Is this true Jesus? (no answer) Well, then take this Jesus and crucify him.
Lord Jesus, we wish that we could have been there with you to tell the truth about you. We would have told Pilate that you loved children, you healed the sick, you welcomed the strangers. But since we were not there, we want everyone to know the truth about you now. Amen.
Song: “Were you There when they crucified my Lord?”
Leader: Let us walk to the Second Station
II. The Heavy Cross is put on the back of Jesus. He must carry it to the place where he will die.
A tree is beautiful, but the wood of the tree is made into an instrument of death and torture.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, we are sorry that a beautiful tree was destroyed to make such a bad thing as a cross. Help us to use all good and beautiful things in our world in the right way. Please help us get rid of the things that cause harm and pain in our world. Amen.
Song: “Were you There when they crucified my Lord”
Leader: Let us walk to the Third Station.
III. The Cross was so heavy that Jesus fell to the ground.
People: What is the matter Jesus, are you clumsy?
Lord Jesus, we wish that we could have been there with you to help you carry the cross. Sometimes we slip and fall too. Help us to have the strength to get up and keep on going. Amen.
Song: “Were you There when they crucified my Lord?”
Leader: Let us walk to the Fourth Station
IV. Jesus sees his Mother Mary.
Mary: My Son is a good man. Why are they treating him in this cruel way?
Mary’s Friends: Mary, come with us, we will stay with you.
Lord Jesus Christ, your mother was proud of you and she loved you and stayed with you in difficult times. We thank you for our mothers and grandmothers who have been with us in our times of trouble and sorrow. Amen.
Song: “Were you There when they crucified”
Leader: Let us walk to the Fifth Station
V. A man named Simon helped Jesus carry the Cross.
Soldiers: Jesus is too weak to carry the cross. Let’s find someone else to carry it for him.
Simon: I will help you carry the cross.
Lord Jesus Christ, give us strength to help you carry the cross. Help us to make it through the difficult times in the day and at night when we feel sad, alone, or afraid. Amen.
Song: “Were you There when they crucified my Lord?”
Leader: Let us walk to the Sixth Station
VI. A woman wipes the face of Jesus
Jesus: Thank you for your kind deed.
Dear Jesus, we want to help you in any way that we can. Help us to do kind deeds to those people in need, because when we help others, we are helping you. Amen.
Song: “Were you There when they crucified my Lord?”
Leader: Let us walk to the Seventh Station.
VII. Now Jesus has been walking so long, he falls a second time.
People: What is the matter Jesus, are you clumsy?
Jesus: I must be dizzy from being hit too many times.
Lord Jesus, we will help pick you up when you fall. Help us to be kind to people who have accidents and misfortune. May we never make fun of them, but always help them. Amen.
Song: “Were you There when they crucified my Lord?”
Leader: Let us walk to the Eighth Station
VIII. Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem.
Jesus: Where are my friends Peter, Andrew, & James?
The Women of Jerusalem: They were afraid that they might be put to death so they ran and hid. We will stay with you, Jesus.
Lord Jesus Christ, you had men and women and girls and boys who followed you. Help us always to be faithful to you and never run away from you. Amen.
Song: “Were you There when they crucified my Lord?”
Leader: Let us walk to the Ninth Station
IX. Jesus Falls a Third Time.
Jesus: I am tired and thirsty. I don’t know if I can walk much farther.
The Soldiers: You must keep going on. Get up and walk.
Lord Jesus Christ, please help us to stop the violence and the cruelty in our world. Amen.
Song: “Were you There”
Leader: Let us walk to the Tenth Station
X. The Soldiers Strip the clothes from Jesus.
Jesus: I am getting cold.
Soldiers: Too bad. Let us take his clothes.
Dear Jesus, we pray for all of the people in our world who are in need of food, clothing, and shelter. Give them strength to survive, and make us people who are willing to help the poor in this world. Amen.
Song: “Were you There when they crucified my Lord?”
Leader: Let us walk to the Eleventh Station.
XI. Jesus is Nailed to the Cross.
The Soldiers: This Cross will not fall from you now, because the nails will keep you on the cross.
Jesus: My hands and feet hurt!
Lord Jesus, please help us bring an end to the unnecessary cruelty in our world. Let all wars and hatred come to an end. Amen.
Song: “Were you There when they nailed him to the Tree?”
Leader: Let us walk to the Twelfth Station
XII. Jesus dies on the Cross.
Jesus: My God, why have you forsaken me? It is finished. Into your hands I give my spirit.
The Roman Soldier: Truly this man was God’s Son.
Lord Jesus Christ, by dying on the cross, you showed us that God is with us at all times and at the time of death. Amen.
Song: “Were you There when they pierced him in the side?”
XIII. The Body of Jesus is given to his Mother Mary.
Mary: O my Son, my Son. Why did you have to die in this way?
Mary’s Friends: Come Mary, we will help you. We will mourn with you.
Lord Jesus Christ, comfort all parents who have had to see their children suffer. Give them the assurance of your love and care. Amen.
Song: “Were you There when they laid him in the Tomb?”
Leader: Let us walk to the Fourteenth Station
XIV. The Body of Jesus is laid in the tomb.
Joseph of Arimathea: Come let us have a funeral for Jesus and put him in the tomb.
Friends of Jesus: This is the saddest day of our lives because we have lost our best friend.
Dear Jesus, it is sad when we must say good bye to someone who dies. Give us hope and let us know that all good people will live on in heaven. Amen.
Song: “Were you There when they laid him in the Tomb?”
