Alternate Stations of the Cross
or Way of the Cross for Protestants

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You can begin now at the 1st Station of the Cross
 

Sketch of the Via Dolorosa in Old Jerusalem, by James J. Tissot (1886-1896). Larger image.
Protestants have sometimes been turned off by the Stations of the Cross because of its sole focus on the cross and "neglect" of the Resurrection. It's the old crufix-vs.-empty-cross issue. So this Alternative Way of the Cross begins with the Lord's Supper and ends with the Resurrection. It's a wonderful meditation.

However, I don't see any reason not to focus solely on the cross for a Good Friday meditation so long as you don't neglect the Resurrection on Easter Sunday.  I find Pope John Paul II's Scriptural Way of the Cross very fine as a devotional exercise.

Here's an outline of the Stations of the Cross in this Alternate or Protestant version.

Stations Scripture
1. The Last Supper Matthew 26:26-30
2. The Garden of Gethsemane Matthew 26:36-41; Luke 22:40-46
3. Jesus before Pilate Mark 15:1-5, 15; John 19:4-16
4. The Scourging and the crowning with thorns John 19:1-3; Mark 15:15-20
5. The Receiving of the cross John 19:6, 15-17
6. The Fall  
7. Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus Mark 15:21; Luke 23:26
8. The Women of Jerusalem Luke 23:27-31
9. The Stripping of his Garments John 19:23-24
10. The Good Thief Luke 23:39-43
11. Mary and John Below the cross John 19:25-27
12. The Death of Jesus Luke 23:44-46; Mark 15:33-39; John 19:30
13. The laying in the tomb Matthew 27:57-61; Luke 23:53-54
14. The Resurrection Matthew 28:1-7
You can view a harmony of the various versions to see what each includes.

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Copyright © 2023, Ralph F. Wilson. <pastor@joyfulheart.com> All rights reserved. A single copy of this article is free. Do not put this on a website. See legal, copyright, and reprint information.

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