Welcome

This journal has been provided to guide you through ten prayer stations that will take you through the last hours of Christ’s life before His crucifixion and His burial. Our prayer is that you will be humbled and deeply moved by your experience in the labyrinth. May God bless your time with Him as you come to a deeper understanding of the awful and beautiful sacrifice Jesus made for you.

As you move from station to station, you will find arrows to help direct you to the next station. You will also find numbers at each station to help guide you. This guide contains suggestions for reflection and prayer activities at each station.

Station #1: Last Supper

When the hour came, Jesus took His place at the table with the apostles. He said to them, “I have wanted so much to eat this Passover meal with you before I suffer! For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it is given its full meaning in the Kingdom of God.” Luke 22:14-15

The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread,  and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.”  In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

As you begin your prayer journey, sit for some moments to quiet your heart and mind. Take the communion elements, and give thanks. Commit to spending this next hour remembering Jesus’ body broken for you and His blood shed for you.

Station #2: Garden of Gethsemane

Jesus withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond His disciples, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him. And being in anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. Luke 22: 41-44

In a beautiful setting Jesus spends His last night of freedom crying out to God. He knows the excruciatingly painful path that awaits Him. Yet He faithfully prays that His Father’s will be done. In this emotional prayer, Jesus commits Himself to obeying His Father’s will, despite the suffering it entails.

Sit and contemplate the price of Jesus’ choice to surrender to God’s plan.

Artwork by Dave Chisessi

Station #3: Do You Know Him?

“You aren’t one of this man’s disciples, are you?” Peter replied, “I am not.” It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself... “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.” He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!”… “Surely you are one of them”… Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know him!” Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly. John 18:17-28; Matthew 26:71-75

Have you ever been afraid to identify as a follower of Jesus? Do you have any fear that is holding you back today? Are there any areas in your life that you “don’t know Him”?

If you identify with Peter in any way with his fear or denial, push the button. In reflecting on denial we recognize our need for His grace and restoration which He gives freely.

Artwork by Joel Fairley

Station #4: By His Stripes We Are Healed

But He was pierced for our transgression, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:5

We stand on this promise and declare healing over physical ailments, emotional wounds, and spiritual brokenness. Jesus carried all human suffering to bring peace, redemption and wholeness. Where do you need healing in your life? Who else needs prayer for healing? Bring these needs before God, trusting in His divine healing and love.

Take a ribbon and place it on the cross, praying for healing, peace and wholeness.

Station #5: Take Up Your Cross

And Jesus, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of the Skull, which is called in Aramaic, Golgotha. John 19:17

Jesus’ commitment to us meant that He was willing to carry the cross to His death. His call to us is no less significant. We are to crucify our own sins and to put away all those things in our lives that get in the way of following God.

Take one of the small crosses and begin the long walk to the cross that Jesus took. As you walk on His path, think about what Jesus must have felt.

Ask God to reveal to you the things you need to sacrifice for Jesus, just as He sacrificed for you. Will you make the commitment to daily carry your cross for Jesus, just as He carried His cross for you?

Artwork by Joel Fairley

Station #6: Crucifixion

Then they crucified Him…. Matthew 27:35a

Think about the nails that went through the hands and feet of Jesus. He was willing to go through this excruciating pain so that we wouldn’t have to pay the price for our sins.

Take a piece of paper to write down your own sins and nail them to the cross. Ask for God’s forgiveness and commit to leaving your sins on the cross, and not being burdened with them anymore.

Artwork by Joel Fairley

Station #7: Burial

Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. John 19: 38-40

Joseph and Nicodemus brought an extravagant amount of costly burial spices to take care of Jesus’ body — enough for over 100 burials. This was a sign of how much they honored and loved Him.

Dip the wooden stick into the spice mixture and anoint or smear the linen shroud, which represents the body of Christ, as a sign of your honor and love. As you leave, remember that you are the “aroma of Christ,” carrying the scent of His love and sacrifice everywhere you go.

Station #8: For God So Loved

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. John 3:16-17

The Lord your God is with you… He will take great delight in you; in His love He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17

You are loved.

Write a psalm of thanksgiving to God or whatever is on your mind to tell Him, roll it up and place it in the grid.

Artwork by Dave Chisessi

Station #9: Who’s Your One?

Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

Jesus experienced so much pain and shame, but He was able to look ahead to the “joy” of being reconciled with His people and returning to His Father’s side. Turn your face towards Him like the sunflower turns towards the sun. May this joy overflow from you to others around you. It is a gift meant to be shared.

Who is one person in your life who needs to know that God loves them? Write their name on the notepad and put it on the wall. Pray for them by name. Don’t be afraid to share with them about the love of God that you have experienced today.

Artwork by Joel Fairley

Station # 10: The Presence of God

At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. Matthew 27:51-52

Be still and know that I am God… Psalm 46:10

When Jesus died on the cross, the symbolic barrier (the temple curtain) between us and God, was torn in half. The curtain led to the Holy of Holies, an inner room in the temple where the presence of God resided. This torn curtain represents the way the very real barrier separating us from God has forever been removed by what Jesus did for us.

You are invited to spend time in God’s presence here. This access to God is not a result of merit but by faith in Christ. What is He saying to you today as you finish this journey? Listen for His voice. Wait here in His presence to be transformed.

Artwork by Joel Fairley

Thank you so much for joining us on this spiritual journey. We hope and pray that God has moved in your heart through this experience. The cross is not the end of Jesus’ Passion story; join us on Sunday morning to celebrate the power of the Resurrection!