Stations of the Cross: Holy Week

Note:
 Students will read the script for each station.
 There is a prayer or response after each station for the whole class to join in with.

(Optional) Drum roll until the group have settled. Silence. Single Drum

Introduction – One student reads

After the last supper with his friends, Jesus was arrested by those who didn’t understand who he
was. His enemies took him to court. They sentenced him to die on a cross. Jesus gave his life for us
so that we could be free. We remember Jesus’
Death but we celebrate with joy, his coming back to life on Easter morning.

Station One – The Last Supper - One student reads

As the time of his sacrifice drew near, Jesus called his close friends together for a meal. Even
though he knew what was going to happen, that he would be betrayed, suffer and die, this meal
was a celebration of life and renewal.

Everyone: Lord, at the last supper you modelled care, forgiveness and love and you gave us the
gift of your body and blood. Help us to be givers in life, to care, forgive and love and to make a
gift of our friendship even when we are feeling hurt and alone. Jesus, teach us how to follow
you. Amen.

Drum Beat

Station Two – The Garden of Gethsemane. One student reads.

Jesus went into the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. He knew what was to happen and when alone
he called out “let this cup pass me by” but even in his time of greatest anguish he accepted God’s
will and called out “let it be as you, not I, would have it”. Jesus would give his human life to save us
and grant us eternal life. Jesus knew what was going to happen to him, yet his praying gave him the
strength and courage to go on.

Everyone: Lord, even in your time of greatest weakness you put your faith in God. Help us to
turn to God especially when we are challenged and find it hard to do your will. Give us the
courage to follow you. Jesus, teach us how to follow you. Amen

Drum Beat

Station three – Before the Sanhedrin - One student reads

Jesus stood before the very people he had come to save. These people taunted and condemned
him because he refused to deny the truth – that he was the Christ. The Sanhedrin thought his
death would be the end. But for us his death would be the beginning of the fulfilment of the
Scriptures. That he would be put to death and rise again as Son of God, Saviour and Messiah.

Everyone: Lord Jesus, Thank you for the strength you give, which helps us to speak the truth in
times when it may be difficult. Jesus, teach us how to follow you. We make this prayer to you as
our Lord. Amen
Drum Beat

Station four - Jesus is condemned by Pilate. One student reads

Jesus is taken by the Jews to Pilate the Roman Governor to be judged. Pilate knew he was
innocent but he gave in to the crowd and condemned Jesus to death.

Everyone: Jesus, you have been told you must die to take away all our wrongs. Such is your
Father’s will. Give us courage in our struggles. Our trust is in you. Jesus, teach us how to follow
you. Amen.

Drum Beat

Station Five – Whipped and Crowned. One student reads

Pilate then had Jesus taken away and scourged; and after this the soldiers twisted some thorns into
a crown and put it on his head and taunted him by saying ‘Hail, King of the Jews’.

Everyone: Lord Jesus, Pain and suffering are part of our world. With your help we are able to do
something about it. We are sorry for the times we may have caused others pain and suffering.
Jesus, teach us how to follow you. Amen

Drum Beat

Station Six – Jesus Carries the Cross. One student reads

Jesus walks through the streets of Jerusalem for his last journey in the city of peace. He is carrying
the cross and the burden of the sins of the world.

Everyone: Lord Jesus, help us to keep trying to do our best for you and give us the strength to
carry our burdens. Never let me feel that any sin of mine is greater than your love- no matter
what my past has been – I can begin anew. Jesus, teach us how to follow you. Amen

Drum Beat

Station Seven – Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry the cross. One student reads
Simon, a stranger to Jerusalem saw Jesus walking weighed down with the cross and even though
he did not even know who Jesus was he stopped and helped him to carry the cross

Everyone: Lord Jesus,

Thank you for the people who step out and help me when I am in need.
Help us to be the caring hand for friends and strangers who need your help. Jesus, teach us how
to follow you. Amen

Drum Beat

Station Eight – The Women of Jerusalem - One student reads

Jesus only spoke once on the journey to the crucifixion. This was to offer comfort and advice to a
group of women who grieved over his suffering. He told them to stop crying for him and to weep
instead for the evil being done. He was asking them to follow their own hearts – not those of the
crowd.
Everyone: Lord Jesus, forgive us, when we are weak and follow along with the crowd. Give us the
courage to do what is right. Jesus, teach us how to follow you. Amen

Drum Beat

Station Nine – Jesus is nailed to the cross - One student reads

Arriving at the hill of execution Jesus was stripped of his clothes and nailed to the cross. He was
raised in front of the crowd to endure the hours of dying.

Everyone: Jesus forgive us for the times we have nailed others to the cross because they were
different. Show us how to love and value people as you did. Jesus, teach us how to follow you.
Amen.

Drum Beat

Station Ten – The Good Thief - One student reads

One of the criminals hanging there abused him “are you not the Christ?” “Save yourself and us as
well.” But the other spoke up “Have you no fear of God at all – you got the same sentence as he
did, but in our case we deserved it, we are paying for what we did. But this man has done nothing.”
Even through his dying Jesus recognised this man’s remorse for his wrongdoing and his desire for
forgiveness and offered to him the gift of eternal life.

Everyone: Lord Jesus Christ, our saviour, you came to call us all so that we may repent and live a
new life. Grant that we may heed your call and turn away from sin and enjoy the life that you
have won for us. Jesus, teach us how to follow you. Amen.

Drum Beat

Station Eleven – Mary and John - One student reads

In his final moments Christ’s thoughts turned to his mother and he confided in her to the care of
his disciple, John. At the same time he called Mary to be a mother to his disciple. Just as the
disciples represented us at the last supper, here John represents us. As he was called so are we
called to honour Mary and just as he spoke to her we call to her as our mother.

Everyone: Dear Lord thank you for the gift of Mary our Mother in heaven. Help us to recognise
her in good times as well as times in need. May we model ourselves on her devotion and love.
Jesus, teach us how to follow you. Amen.

Drum Beat

Station Twelve – Jesus dies on the cross - One student reads

On the sixth hour, darkness came over the land and at the ninth hour Jesus called out “Father into
your hands I commit my spirit”. Jesus had given his all, his life had given way to death, and the
light of the world had stopped at that moment. Never had such a supreme sacrifice been made,
the world was changed forever.

Everyone: Jesus, thank you for your sacrifice, you died so we might live. May we be ever
conscious of your love for us and draw closer to you, the way, the truth and the life. Jesus, teach
us how to follow you. Amen
Drum Beat

Station Thirteen – The Burial of Jesus - One student reads

Jesus was placed in a tomb and all around knew that he was dead from his pain and suffering.
Even the blood and water of his body had ceased to flow; Joseph of Arimathaea took him and
wrapped him loosely in cloth, even his disciples hid themselves wondering what to do.

Everyone: Jesus, forgive us for the times we have done wrong, and not believed in. Jesus, teach
us how to follow you. Thank you for your sacrifice. Amen

Drum Beat

Station Fourteen – Jesus rises from the Dead - One student reads
Despite the treachery, despite the betrayal, despite the cross and despite the suffering Christ still
rose from the dead to save us. As he had promised us in the Scriptures Christ would be born, he
would die and he would rise again. Jesus lived to teach us, he died to take away our sins and he
rose again to show us the way. Jesus is the light of the world.

Everyone: You are alive, Lord Jesus. You are alive! Help us to celebrate the power of your
kingdom over death. Jesus, teach us how to follow you. Amen

Drum Beat

Concluding Prayer: One student reads

Loving God,
We have had the opportunity to stop and reflect on the last day in the life of your Son Jesus and his
Resurrection, and what these events might mean for our lives today. We thank you for enabling us
to see that the difficulties we face and overcome in our lives can only bring us closer to you.
We make this prayer through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.