Welcome to the Stations of the Cross Walk at Milford Hills UMC. Please use this site to guide you through the walk on our campus, or use it as a spiritual virtual walk. The physical walk starts in our parking lot at the stairs that lead down to the playground and field. It goes around the field in a large circle. This walk is open 24/7 from March 24 - April 7.
The death row inmates who painted these used the Traditional Stations of the Cross from the Roman Catholic Church. This is a journey many early Christians took in Jerusalem and it was known as "the way of the cross" or "via crucis." It was made up of 14 stations where people would stop and have a private devotional time to connect with the suffering of Jesus during the final moments of his life. These stations came from scripture but also some traditions (which don't have any scripture references next to them). Please use this journey to connect with the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus. This art was created by those who would have been on the crosses next to him, death row inmates from Tennessee.
Jesus is Condemned to Death
Luke 23:13-25
13 Then Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people. 14 He said to them, “You brought this man before me as one who was misleading the people. I have questioned him in your presence and found nothing in this man’s conduct that provides a legal basis for the charges you have brought against him. 15 Neither did Herod, because Herod returned him to us. He’s done nothing that deserves death. 16 Therefore, I’ll have him whipped, then let him go.”
18 But with one voice they shouted, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us.” (19 Barabbas had been thrown into prison because of a riot that had occurred in the city, and for murder.) 20 Pilate addressed them again because he wanted to release Jesus. 21 They kept shouting out, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” 22 For the third time, Pilate said to them, “Why? What wrong has he done? I’ve found no legal basis for the death penalty in his case. Therefore, I will have him whipped, then let him go.” 23 But they were adamant, shouting their demand that Jesus be crucified. Their voices won out. 24 Pilate issued his decision to grant their request. 25 He released the one they asked for, who had been thrown into prison because of a riot and murder. But he handed Jesus over to their will.
Jesus takes up his cross
Mark 15:20
20 When they finished mocking him, they stripped him of the purple robe and put his own clothes back on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.
Jesus Falls for the first time
Jesus meets his mother
Jesus is helped by Simon the Cyrene
Luke 23:26
26 As they led Jesus away, they grabbed Simon, a man from Cyrene, who was coming in from the countryside. They put the cross on his back and made him carry it behind Jesus.
Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
Jesus falls for the second time
Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem
Luke 23:27-31
27 A huge crowd of people followed Jesus, including women, who were mourning and wailing for him. 28 Jesus turned to the women and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, don’t cry for me. Rather, cry for yourselves and your children. 29 The time will come when they will say, ‘Happy are those who are unable to become pregnant, the wombs that never gave birth, and the breasts that never nursed a child.’ 30 Then they will say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.' 31 If they do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
Jesus falls for the third time
Jesus is stripped of his garments
Jesus is nailed to the cross
Luke 22:33, 47
33 When they arrived at the place called The Skull, they crucified him, along with the criminals, one on his right and the other on his left.
47 When the centurion saw what happened, he praised God, saying, “It’s really true: this man was righteous.”
Jesus dies on the cross
Luke 23:44-46
44 It was now about noon, and darkness covered the whole earth until about three o’clock, 45 while the sun stopped shining. Then the curtain in the sanctuary tore down the middle. 46 Crying out in a loud voice, Jesus said, “Father, into your hands I entrust my life.” After he said this, he breathed for the last time.
Jesus is taken down from the cross and given to his mother
Jesus is laid in the tomb
Luke 23:50-54
50 Now there was a man named Joseph who was a member of the council. He was a good and righteous man. 51 He hadn’t agreed with the plan and actions of the council. He was from the Jewish city of Arimathea and eagerly anticipated God’s kingdom. 52 This man went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. 53 Taking it down, he wrapped it in a linen cloth and laid it in a tomb carved out of the rock, in which no one had ever been buried. 54 It was the Preparation Day for the Sabbath, and the Sabbath was quickly approaching.
The Resurrection
Luke 24:1-12
Very early in the morning on the first day of the week, the women went to the tomb, bringing the fragrant spices they had prepared. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in, they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 They didn’t know what to make of this. Suddenly, two men were standing beside them in gleaming bright clothing. 5 The women were frightened and bowed their faces toward the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He isn’t here, but has been raised. Remember what he told you while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Human One must be handed over to sinners, be crucified, and on the third day rise again.” 8 Then they remembered his words. 9 When they returned from the tomb, they reported all these things to the eleven and all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles. 11 Their words struck the apostles as nonsense, and they didn’t believe the women. 12 But Peter ran to the tomb. When he bent over to look inside, he saw only the linen cloth. Then he returned home, wondering what had happened.