March 20 – 27, 2016, The Far Room at Journey Community Church turned into an art gallery and meditation room, evoking serious attention to be paid to the sacrifice and death of Jesus Christ. Celebrated by the Church for centuries, the Stations of the Cross depict the various steps, encounters, challenges and pains that Jesus experienced before being abandoned in a tomb and then being resurrected back to human/divine life. The story of this walk is well documented in historical as well as biblical accounts. His post-resurrection appearances were marked with teaching, preaching, sudden appearances and disappearances, eating, speaking to more than 500 people and then rising into the heavens for a glorious ascension.
This was the fourth year that Abby Sherestha and Lorraine Brustas coordinated Journey’s Stations of the Cross exhibit, strikingly created by Journey artists. Each entry was accompanied by a prayer and scripture describing the event depicted. More than 600 people walked through the exhibit and confronted the journey of Jesus during Passion Week, as remembered by Christians around the globe.
Preparation Prayer: April King
Station One Passover Dinner (Luke 22:14-22) Artist: Julie Lorenz Prayer: April King
Station Two Garden of Gethsemane (Mark 14:32-42) Artists Abby Shrestha, Lorraine Brustas, Brandy Glensky Prayer: Abby Shrestha
Station Three The Betrayal Kiss (Luke 22:47-53) Artist: Autumn Spangler Prayer: Francine Phillips
Station Four Jesus is Condemned (John 19:5-15) Artist: Greg King Prayer: April King
Station Five Jesus carries His cross (Mark 15: 16-20 Artist: Greg King Prayer: Greg King
Station Six Veronica
wipes Jesus’ face (tradition) Artist: Gloria Villareal Prayer: April King
Station Seven Simon Carries the Cross (Luke 23:26)
Artists: Abby Shrestha and Lorraine Brustas Prayer: Abby Shrestha
Station Eight Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem (Luke 23:27-31 Artist: Rhaylene Montgomery Prayer: April King
The image of the Wailing W
all in Jerusalem was also created so that visitors to the Stations of the Cross could insert their prayers. Just as is done at the Wall, where the prayers are not read but gathered and planted under an olive tree, The artist took the prayers of the Journey visitors and planted them under an olive tree in her yard.
Station Nine Jesus is stripped of his garments (John 19:23-24) Artist: Glen Goddard Prayer: Barry Ayers
Station Ten Jesus is nailed to the cross (Luke 23:33-43 Artist: Lorraine Brustas Prayer: Lorraine Brustas
Station Eleven Jesus Meets His Mother (John 19:25-29)
Artist: Laurel Manning Prayer: Francine Phillips
Station Twelve Jesus Dies (Mark 15:33-37)Artist: Zach Riggs Prayer: Kathyrn Trainor
Station Thirteen Jesus’ body is taken down and laid in the tomb (John 19:31-34) Artist: Francine Phillips Prayer: Francine Phillips
Station Fourteen The Resurrection Artist: Lorraine Brustas Prayer: Lorraine Brustas
Christ has died, Christ has risen, and Christ will come again! But, the women came bringing spices as if they were expecting to find remains. They did not believe that the body would be gone from the tomb. The stone was rolled away and they did not know how. It took the angels coming to remind them what He told them when in Galilee. The Son of Man will be handed over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again. The women go report to the 11 disciples and others, and even they do not believe. These were people who were with Jesus, heard him speak these words, were witness to almost every aspect and still they doubted.
Heavenly Father, let us not doubt your resurrection. Remind us that it bears witness to the immense power of God. Only He who created life can revive it after death and only He can remove death’s sting. Remind us, we pray, that as followers who believe in Christ, that we will be redeemed from sin, and will not remain dead, but will be resurrected unto eternal life with you – and that is our blessed hope!
