Mark 15:13-20          The Last Steps of Christ

I had the opportunity to tour the Hold Lands in February.  I took many pictures and got a better understanding of the last footsteps of Christ.  When Jesus cried from the cross, "It is finished", that was not the end of the story.  When Jesus cried from the cross, it was not a cry of defeat; it was not a cry of finality but rather it was a  cry to show that God's redemptive work was complete.

Today we are going to walk down the path to retrace the last few spaces of Jesus' life.  In Jerusalem there is a path called "Via Dolorosa."  I had the opportunity to walk this path. 

There are fourteen "Stations of the Cross" along this path that exemplify fourteen significant events of the last steps of Jesus.  Some of these stations represent Scriptural events and some represent traditional events that are not mentioned in Scripture.

• First Station: the place of condemnation, the place where Jesus was beaten and condemned to die.  [John 18:28 - 19:6]

• Second Station: The burden of the cross was placed upon Jesus' shoulders [John 19:17

• Third Station: The first time Jesus fell under the load of His cross [Traditional]

• Fourth Station: Jesus speaks to His mother [Traditional]

• Fifth Station: Simon was compelled to help Jesus carry His cross [Mark 15:21]

• Sixth Station: Veronica wipes the face of Jesus.  Legend has it that Christ's face was transferred to the cloth [Traditional]

• Seventh Station: Jesus falls a second time [Traditional]

• Eighth Station: Jesus speaks to the women [Luke 23:27-31]

• Ninth Station: The soldiers cast lots for His garments [Matthew 27:35]

• Tenth Station: Stripped Him of His garments

• Eleventh Station: Jesus is nailed to the cross [Mark 15:22]

• Twelfth Station: Jesus' Death on the cross [Mark 15:33-34]

• Thirteenth Station: Body of Christ prepared to burial [Mark 15:46]

• Fourteenth Station: The traditional place where they buried the body of Christ

There were seven last saying Jesus spoke from the cross.  They are as follows:

• "Father, forgive them: for they know not what they do." [Luke 23:34]

• "Today thou shalt me with me in Paradise." [Luke 23:39-43]

• "Woman, behold they son!"  and "Behold thy Mother." [John 19:26-27]

• "My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?" [Matthew 27:46]

• "I thirst" [John 19:28]

• "It is finished." [John 19:29-30]

• "Father, into thy hands I commend my Spirit." [Luke 23:45-46]

Pilate once asked, "What shall I do with this man?"  I ask you the same question, "What will you do with this man?"

JR. Fields, Pastor
March 16, 2008

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 This page last updated: 04/19/08