Welcome to the Stations of the Cross
This is a Duluth Vineyard art project that invites us into the experience of Jesus on the journey to the Cross. This exhibition, featuring 9 artists, follows the powerful journey of Christ’s unjust suffering and redemption, and prompting reflection, repentance, prayer, and action.
This iconic story has influenced Western culture for centuries and speaks to many challenges facing our individual lives and our society today. We are drawing upon the centuries-old Christian spiritual practice of walking and praying the Stations of the Cross. The Stations are captured through art pieces expressing the dramatic moments of Jesus’ final hours.
Whether you are deeply faithful or simply pondering spirituality, we invite you to participate by observing each piece of art, reflecting on the scripture reference, and entering into a time of prayer.
STATION 1
Jesus on the Mount of Olives
(Luke 22:39-46)
“He came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed him. When he reached the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not come into the time of trial.” Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done.” [Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and gave him strength. In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground.] When he got up from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping because of grief, and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not come into the time of trial.”
Prayer: Thank you Lord that even in the garden when your suffering began, you showed us the honesty of real relationship with your heavenly Father that you granted us by your coming sacrifice.
Reflection: Close your eyes or look at the art work and focus on entering the garden with Jesus. What are the smells? What are the sounds? Is it cold or hot, dry or humid? What does Jesus look like? What do you think he is going through?
Prayer: Jesus, we worship you and we follow you to the cross today.
LeAnn Oman Chainsaw, Wood Carving
STATION 2
Jesus is betrayed by Judas and arrested (Luke 22:47-48)
“While he was still speaking, suddenly a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him; but Jesus said to him, “Judas, is it with a kiss that you are betraying the Son of Man?”
Prayer: With a sign of love, affection, and intimacy, you were betrayed. We have all been hurt by relationships, all betrayed in some way. Jesus, we pray that just as you were betrayed and suffered the weight of all betrayal, that even while we were your enemies you went to the cross out of your love for us. Let your death be the death of all of our pain, of all of our hurt, and all of our experiences of betrayal.
Reflection: When have you experienced betrayal or hurt in relationships? How did it make you feel? Do you still hurt at the mention of that persons name or the sight of that persons face? See that the one we follow, has been betrayed, he has felt that sting, that pain. And he has come to relieve it, to heal it, and to rescue you from the effects of it. Let us stop now and ask the Holy Spirit to be with us and by his presence bring us peace and life in the middle of our pain.
Prayer: Jesus, we worship you and we follow you to the cross today.
Natalie Salminen Rude, Encaustic
STATION 3
Jesus is condemned by the Sanhedrin (Luke 22:66-71)
“When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, gathered together, and they brought him to their council. They said, “If you are the Messiah, tell us.” He replied, “If I tell you, you will not believe; and if I question you, you will not answer. But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” All of them asked, “Are you, then, the Son of God?” He said to them, “You say that I am.” Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard
it ourselves from his own lips!”
Prayer: Lord, you spoke nothing but truth to the very end. And still you were misunderstood and rejected. Thank you Jesus for taking this journey to the cross, for the very people who rejected you. Your love is astounding.
Reflection: Imagine yourself as Jesus, despised by the very people who thought they spoke for God. Imagine the looks on their faces, filled with anger, hatred and contempt. What are you feeling as you look at their faces? What do you think Jesus felt in that moment?
Prayer: Jesus, we worship you and we follow you to the cross today.
Anthony Schaefer, Illustration
STATION 4
Peter denies Jesus (Luke 22:54-62)
“Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house. But Peter was following at a distance. When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. Then a servant-girl, seeing him in the firelight, stared at him and said, “This man also was with him.” But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” A little later someone else, on seeing him, said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!” Then about an hour later still another kept insisting, “Surely this man also was with him; for he is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about!” At that moment, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed. The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.”
Prayer: Lord, you knew that your friends would desert you. No matter their zeal or their words, you knew that you would be left alone. Thank you Jesus that you bore such loneliness for us.
Reflection: Peter had told Jesus at the last supper that he would be willing to die for Jesus. But our Lord predicted that Peter would deny him three times. But why? Why did one of Jesus’ closest friends, the first one to follow, deny him. It was because of fear. We all have our fears. What fears are holding you back from following Jesus? We bring our fears to you today on our journey.
Prayer: Jesus, we worship you and we follow you to the cross today.
Trevor Kaldor, Mixed Media
STATION 5
Jesus is judged by Pontius Pilate
(Luke 23:13-25)
“Pilate then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people, and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was perverting the people; and here I have examined him in your presence and have not found this man guilty of any of your charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us. Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death. I will therefore have him flogged and release him.” Then they all shouted out together, “Away with this fellow! Release Barnabas for us!” (This was a man who had been put in prison for an insurrection that had taken place in the city, and for murder.) Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again; but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” A third time he said to them, “Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no ground for the sentence of death; I will therefore have him flogged and then release him.” But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their voices prevailed. So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted. He released the man they asked for, the one who had been put in prison for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over as they wished.”
Prayer: Lord, though it looked as if your release was imminent, you knew it was the day you would bare your cross. Jesus, you stood judged by your own chosen. We hear our own voices in that crowd; e see our own fists raised in persecution and judgement against the one who was sent to bring us life. Against you our Lord.
Reflection: As we walk with Jesus to the cross, we must come face to face with the fact that it was our imperfection, our choices, and our sin that brought him to this place. It was his love, his mercy, and his grace that allowed it to happen. Let’s take this opportunity to ask the holy Spirit what parts of our hearts or our lives are still shouting, “Crucify him, crucify him.”
Prayer: Jesus, we worship you and we follow you to the cross today.
Margie Helstrom, Watercolor
STATION 6
Jesus is scourged and crowned with thorns (Luke 22:63-65 & Luke 22:63-65)
Luke: “Now the men who were holding Jesus began to mock him and beat him; they also blindfolded him and kept asking him, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?” They kept heaping many other insults on him.”
John: “And the soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they dressed him in a purple robe. They kept coming up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and striking him on the face.”
Prayer: Lord Jesus, they mocked you and beat you, but in their mockery you stood silent. You took their insult and you bore it. You carried it all the way to the end.
Reflection: We can so easily dismiss the words and actions of these people who mocked and beat Jesus. But has there ever been a time where you have said, “If you are God then do this…” Or has there been a time where you have called Jesus Lord or King and not done what you knew he wanted you to? Then we have all mocked him, we have all heaped insults on our King.
Prayer: Jesus, we worship you and we follow you to the cross today.
Natalie Salminen Rude, Encaustic
STATION 7
Jesus takes up His cross
(John 19:17 & Mark 15:20)
“After mocking him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.”
Prayer: Lord, in the end, you were sent to be crucified as a commoner. You were stripped of any status. You came to earth, leaving behind any privilege, leaving behind all power and became one of us. You were obedient till the end to show us your love in action. Jesus, you were no passive participant. Though they lead you to be crucified, you picked up your cross
and you walked to the hill of your death, because you
choose the way of suffering.
Reflection: Our salvation began with many costly choices. Jesus chose this way. He chose the way of suffering. Take a moment and reflect on this fact. That Jesus did not lightly take these choices to heal our relationship with him, he spent all of himself in the midst of his choice to suffer and die for us.
Prayer: Jesus, we worship you and we follow you to the cross today.
J. Michael Gatlin, Watercolor
STATION 8
Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry His cross (Luke 23:26)
“As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus.”
Prayer: Lord, your body broken and bruised, whipped and bloody, could barely carry the cross. You needed help walking to your own demise. Lord, thank you, thank you for not quitting, thank you for putting one foot in front of another and putting all of us before you.
Reflection: Simon happened upon this scene. He had no idea what was going on before he approached the crowd and then was grabbed by soldiers and thrust next to Jesus. We can imagine he might have wondered if he would be put on a cross, too. Though Simon was not crucified with Jesus, Simon easily illustrates something Jesus said to his disciples earlier in his ministry in the Gospel of Matthew, “Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” How do those words resonate with you? In what ways can you identify with Simon?
Prayer: Jesus, we worship you and we follow you to the cross today.
LeAnn Oman, Wool
STATION 9
Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem (Luke 23:27-31)
“A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For the days are surely coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.’ Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us’; and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ For if they do thiswhen the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
Prayer: Lord, we see that a great number of Jews followed you that day, weeping and beating their chests in anguish. Jesus, we join them as we follow our savior to the cross.
Reflection: Close you eyes and stop a moment. Think of the dusty winding road Jesus walked with the cross. Now see the crowd gathered around and behind him, his followers, the people who thought him a prophet, those who had seen his miracles, who had welcomed him to Jerusalem on palm Sunday. They watched as their greatest hope for freedom was being forced to die. They thought their hope was dying with him. What do you feel as you imagine and watch Jesus, the one you love, who healed you, who loves you, who chose you, walks bloody and broken to his death?
Prayer: Jesus, we worship you and we follow you to the cross today.
Natalie Salminen Rude, Encaustic
STATION 10
Jesus is crucified (Luke 23:33-47)
“When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots to divide his clothing. When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent.”
Prayer: To the very end love and compassion poured from you. The very people mocking you, torturing you and killing you, you forgave. The tenderness and power of your loving heart draws us to you, Jesus. Thank you for showing us what a loving God looks like.
Reflection: As Jesus was being nailed to the cross, suffocating and struggling to live, he asked his Father to forgive those who were doing this horrible thing to him. It is at the cross that we find our forgiveness and where we find the power from God to forgive others. Who is Jesus asking you to forgive? Who do you need God’s help to forgive? Is it you? Is it a family member? Or just someone you’d rather forget? Take a moment and invite the holy spirit to help us.
Prayer: Jesus, we worship you and we follow you to the cross today.
Tammy Morton, Photography
STATION 11
Jesus promises His kingdom to the believing thief (Luke 23:43)
“One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
Prayer: Lord, your mercy is astounding. Thank you O’ merciful and faithful Jesus.
Reflection: We so often create hoops and obstacles for ourselves and others when it comes to following Jesus. But in this scene we see, the desperation of this man, mixed with what little knowledge and faith he had elicited a surprising response from our savior. He did not clarify the theology of this man; he did not make him pray a specific prayer. Jesus responded with a divine sized mercy. I invite you to take a moment and play those words through your mind, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” As you point your desperation and faith towards Jesus, he says them to you as well.
Prayer: Jesus, we worship you and we follow you to the cross today.
Jordan Sundberg, Illustration
STATION 12
Jesus on the cross speaks with His mother and disciples (John 19:26-27)
“Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.”
Prayer: We stand in awe of not only your divine love, but your total humanity. We are reminded that not only were you the Son of God hung on the cross, but you were Mary’s son, and Mary was by your side till the end. Jesus your attention to the need of others even in your time of greatest need teaches us what it means to serve others.
Reflection: What must have it been like for Mary to watch her child suffering and die. Try for a moment to put yourself in her shoes. As Mary, we faced trial for being pregnant with Jesus outside of marriage. We left our hometown and lived with strangers. We watched him grow up, learn to walk, to talk, be a carpenter, found him in the temple with the teachers, saw him preach to crowds and rise in all of his talents and skills. The crowds loved him. Your boy flourished. Then you watched him bedeserted, tortured, and walked to his death. In the midst of it, he still takes the time to take care of you. It shows us that no matter the stakes, he will take care of you, even if it doesn’t look the way you thought it would.
Prayer: Jesus, we worship you and we follow you to the cross today.
LeAnn Oman, Wool
STATION 13
Jesus dies on the cross (Luke 23:44-46)
“It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this, he breathed his last. When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent.”
Prayer: Lord, it is finished. Your suffering has ended.
Reflection: Spend a few minutes in silence.
Prayer: Jesus, we worship you and we follow you to the cross today.
Anthony Schaefer, Illustration
STATION 14
Jesus is laid in the tomb (Luke 23:50-54)
“Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph, who, though a member of the council, had not agreed to their plan and action. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea, and he was waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid it in a rock-hewn tomb where no one had ever been laid. It was the day of Preparation, and the sabbath was beginning.”
Prayer: Lord, we see the cost of our sin in the image of your tortured and lifeless body separated from the presence of your Heavenly Father. We wait expectantly for your return. Allow our expectation of Easter to grow these next few days.
Reflection: Through our journey many emotions and thoughts have come to the surface. Any guilt or sorrow, any embarrassment or insecurity, any struggle and any sin, place it in the tomb to die. Let it stay there. Because freedom and new life is right around the corner. Holy Spirit, allow us to give to you those things and to place them in that tomb, that they can be destroyed by your loving grace, and we can live because you died and rose again.
Prayer: Jesus, we worship you and we follow you to the cross today.
Shelley Cheney, Mosaic