As they led Jesus away, they came upon a man of Cyrene, Simon by name, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross to carry it behind Jesus. “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

5. The Cross is laid on Simon of Cyrene—Donna Brough, ceramic sculpture
When asked to participate in the "Stations of the Cross" endeavor, I immediately chose to do Simon of Cyrene helping Jesus carry his cross. It was not until much later, after further contemplation that I figured out the "why" of that selection. Simon was chosen do be of assistance and accepted somewhat reluctantly but willingly. We do not know how he felt about this dubious honor but can only imagine. How often do we (I) get chosen to assist with a task and help out willingly but with some reluctance? We always seem to hold back slightly and not embrace the sheer joy that can come from accepting wholeheartedly the duties requested of us.

To what can I liken you, to what can I compare you, O daughter of Jerusalem? What likeness can I use to comfort you, O virgin daughter of Zion? For vast as the sea is your ruin. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. The Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of mourning shall be ended.

4. Jesus meets his afflicted mother—Claire Beorn Norman, cut paper on canvas
Northwest Coast art is rarely just representational; it is a symbolic art form, drawing on the rich lore of the tribes of the Pacific coast in which the salmon is a prominent theme. The salmon is honored and celebrated by all coastal peoples as a powerful symbol of self-sacrifice, regeneration, and perseverance. According to one Coast Salish artist, “It is said that the Salmon People took pity on our lives and gave themselves to save us.”

Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped; but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, and was born in human likeness. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him, and bestowed on him the name which is above every name. Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, and kneel before the Lord our Maker, for he is the Lord our God.

3. Jesus falls for the first time—Anne Ritchey and Sunday School, collage
Sunday School Project

The diversity of the drawings done by the Sunday School children illustrates so well their compassion for Jesus. This project provided them with a wonderful opportunity to "live" the Passion of Christ. The children are so proud to have their work displayed in church.

Jesus went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called the place of a skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. Like a lamb he was led to the slaughter; and like a sheep that before its shearers is mute, so he opened not his mouth. Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.

2. Jesus takes up his cross—Sharon & Jerry Fishel, stained glass
I am from the Jesus Christ Superstar generation; the one that said "Jesus Christ, Superstar, do you think you're who they say you are?" When I saw Mel Gibson's the Passion of the Christ it said to me that yes, Jesus did think he was the Christ and he willingly took up the cross, which was not a fun, easy, or pretty thing to do. In fact the graphic portrayal of what taking up that cross meant was a profound experience for me. So…when I went to make a symbol of that act I wanted to show that the cross was not just a pretty thing, but a prickly one.

As soon as it was morning, the chief priests, with the elders and scribes, and the whole council, held a consultation; and they bound Jesus and led him away and delivered him to Pilate. And they all condemned him and said, “He deserves to die.” When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha. Then he handed Jesus over to them to be crucified.

Jesus is condemned to death—Kirsten Anderson, conté crayon on paper
It's so easy to identify with the victim—the sadness of an innocent person wrongly accused and wrongly condemned.