The Scriptural Way of the Cross -- part I

    Yesterday was Palm Sunday, the day when Christians celebrate the entrance of Christ into Jerusalem.  Through this celebration, we entered on the road to the Cross...to the execution of the Christ for the salvation of the world.
    Traditionally, Christians have participated in a spiritual exercise known as “The Stations of the Cross.”  “The Stations” recount Jesus’ steps on the Via Dolorosa, the road that led from his condemnation to his death.  In cathedrals across the world The Stations have been depicted in stained glass, paintings, and wood carvings, and pilgrimages have been made to participate in The Stations at these cathedrals.
    In 1991, Pope John Paul II publicly named that the traditional “Stations” were a mix of scripture and tradition, and as such created what is known as the “Scriptural Way of the Cross,” which follows the scriptural story of Christ’s way to the Cross.  It is said that Pope John Paul had a representation of “The Way” installed in a room at the Vatican, and he would follow “The Way” at least once a day.

    During this Holy Week, I will be sharing brief meditations on each of the 14 stations of the Scriptural Way of the Cross, and I invite you to join me on the journey

   1. Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane:

    Jesus has just come from washing the Disciples’ feet and sharing the Passover Feast, through which He revealed that He was the Passover Lamb and in which He invited them and us to remember and participate in the same meal again and again.  Imagine the power of such an act?  That HE would be the Paschal Lamb, the innocent One who would die for the sins of the world.
    He left the Table with a mix of emotions and led a small group of them to the Garden of "Gethesemane.”  “Gethsemane” is translated to mean “Olive Press.”  On that sight Olives were

pressed for their oil, and the way they pressed out the oil was that a donkey was used to move a large millstone which pressed the olives, then the oil dripped down a trough into a container.  The crushed olives were then placed in baskets with large stones on them, pushing every last ounce of oil from the pulp.

     As Jesus prayed in the garden at that mill stone, we can only imagine the weight of what he was feeling that night.  It was literally the weight of the world pressing down on Him, as he waited for what was to come.  Even worse, the disciples fell asleep in Jesus’ time of need, their sin revealed and reminding us of how we leave Christ again and again. 

  It was our sin that pressed down on Jesus that night.  As we enter this Holy Week, name those sins and ask for forgiveness.

   2. Jesus is betrayed by Judas and arrested:

    We can just imagine our Savior praying for relief, but then His senses kicked in, and He knew.  They were coming for Him.  Even worse, they were coming for Him led by one of His own.  His heart had to have been torn, knowing that Judas had betrayed Him, and yet He also knew what was coming.  He knew that it had to be this way.
    Judas approaches, and the sign of our affection became the sign of betrayal.  It was with a kiss that Judas revealed the Messiah.  In that sign of welcome Jesus exit began.

    As the mob approached the disciples awoke.  Alert and on the defensive, they sprang to action and jumped in front of Jesus.  Peter grabbed his sword and struck.  Blood and flesh flew as the ear of one of the guards falls to the ground.

    “Enough!,” Jesus shouted.  “Those who live by the sword, will die by the sword!”  And he picked up

the ear, and the Creator restores that which was severed.
    “You have come for me.  Even though you could have taken me any day in the temple, you choose to come in the dark to perform this dark deed.  Do what you will...”
    They led Him away into the darkness, and as they did, darkness enveloped the earth, for all Creation moaned at what was to come.

    Imagine and pray about this scene.  Who are you in the story?  Are you Judas the betrayer?  The sleepy and reactionary disciples?  The guards following orders to arrest Jesus?  Maybe even the one whose ear was restored?  Who are you?  What might God be teaching you by sharing with you, this Truth?

   3. Jesus is condemned by the Sanhedrin:
    It was a trial set up by the religious leaders of the day.  They were THE Jewish High Priests.  They were the ones called to defend the faith from every enemy, and if we are honest with ourselves and them, from their perspective, they were justified in their actions.  Jesus’ teachings turned their beliefs on its head, for Jesus was opening the door for all.
    Such was not the understanding of the chosen people.  They were God’s people, chosen to keep God’s law and commandments and stand in the way of anyone who spoke or acted to the contrary.
    So when Jesus interrupted the tradition of the selling of livestock for the sacrifice in the temple court, it was too much.  They were on the brink of an attack anyway, but that pushed them over the edge.  He had to be stopped.  So they sent the guards to arrest Him, and they set up a trial, like they’d done before.
    After all, He did claim to be the Son of God.  Blasphemy!  He did break the Sabbath teachings.  Unheard of by a Rabbi!  He did seem to twist the teachings away from tradition.  Threatening indeed!

    So they call him forward, and try to get him to claim his Kingship.  At first, he turns it back on them.  As only He could do, he turned their questions around and frustrated their efforts, until

finally, He spoke the Truth.

    How many times have we judged others because of our beliefs?  How often have those judgments meant that others suffered?  Were they the beliefs of God, or were they really our own beliefs self-imposed as the beliefs of our God?