14 Stations Of The Cross

1. Jesus is condemned to death

The Sanhedrin, an exclusive council of elders, had Jesus arrested during
Passover due to the fact that they felt threatened by his religious
teachings. They put Jesus in front of Pontius Pilate to be tried
for blasphemy. After Jesus was beaten and tortured, Pilate ordered him to
punishment by death by crucifixion.

2.Jesus carries His cross

Jesus accepts his fate and is given a large wooden cross; he’s ordered to
carry it to the location where he will be nailed to it and left to die. While the
cross is heavy and difficult to move, Jesus never complains and begins his
journey to Golgotha

3.Jesus falls the first time

It was at this point that Jesus fell for the first time under the weight of the
wooden cross. While there are no definitive dimensions or specs recorded
of the cross, Catholic tradition says that Jesus fell three times under its
weight.

4.Jesus meets his mother

While carrying the cross, Jesus reunites with his mother, Mary. They look
into each others eyes, both understanding the pain and heartache each are
experiencing. After the brief encounter, Jesus continues carrying the cross
to Mount Calvary.

5. Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to carry his cross

According to all three Synoptic Gospels, Simon initially just intended
to observe Jesus carrying the cross to his crucifixion. Instead,
Simon temporarily carried the cross after the Romans ordered him
to help Jesus.
6.Veronica wipes the face of Jesus

Veronica, a woman from Jerusalem and a disciple of Jesus, saw Jesus

struggling while carrying his cross. Moved by his pain and sympathy,
Veronica gave Jesus her veil in order to wipe away his perspiration and
onlookers’ spit off his face. Jesus took the cloth, held it up to his face, and
then returned to her. When Veronica looked at the fabric, an image of his
face appeared upon it. This cloth is now known as the Veil of Veronica.

7.Jesus falls the second time

Although he had help from Simon and Veronica, Jesus continued to

struggle carrying the cross to Golgotha, and fell again due to his
wounds, abuse, and fatigue. Without saying anything, Jesus
regained his footing and continued walking.

8.Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem

While many fought against him, Jesus had disciples who believed and
trusted him. Some of those people were the women of Jerusalem who
came to comfort and thank him during his trek to Mount Calvary. During
this encounter, Jesus told them not to weep for him, but for the future of
themselves and their children.

9.Jesus falls a third time

Not long after Jesus met the women of Jerusalem, he fell under the
weight of his cross; this last fall was the worst. As Jesus struggled
underneath the massive cross, his executioners demanded that he
get up and continue. Roman soldiers eventually got him back up on
his feet and forced to continue walking towards his imminent death.
10.Jesus’ clothes are taken away

Upon reaching Mount Calvary, soldiers removed Jesus’ clothes, leaving

him naked, vulnerable, and humiliated. At this time, Jesus was beaten
again, reopening old wounds on his back. At a certain point, onlookers
stare at Jesus, as his eyes turn towards heaven.

11.Jesus is nailed to the cross

Jesus was nailed to his cross and placed between two thieves who
were nailed to their own crosses for their crimes. Scholars argue whether
three or four nails were used to fasten Jesus to his cross, but as it was
lifted up, the weight of his body hung on those nails, increasing pain and
blood loss.

12.Jesus dies on the cross

After dying on the cross, according to the Gospel of John, a soldier stabbed
Jesus in the rib cage with a spear to ensure that he was dead; blood and
water gushed from the wound. Later, these soldiers divided his garments
amongst themselves, including his seamless robe, also known as the Holy
Tunic, the Honorable Robe, and Chiton of the Lord.

13.The body of Jesus is taken down from the cross

The lifeless body of Jesus is held by his mother, Mary at the base of his
cross. A rich man known as Joseph of Arimathea, then appeared on the
scene who deemed himself responsible for the burial of Jesus. Joseph
offered an empty, man-made tomb in the garden of his house nearby to
place the body of Jesus to rest.

14.Jesus is laid in the tomb

The burial of Jesus took place in Joseph of Arimathea’s vacant

tomb, as planned. Joseph wrapped the body of Jesus in linen,
placed the body in his tomb, rolled a stone in front of its opening
and left. The placement of the large stone over the tomb’s entrance
is recognized the final sign of the permanence of death.