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An Unforgettable Walk With Jesus

Walk With Jesus

Have you ever walked with Jesus and prayed through the Stations of the Cross at a retreat center? Or done a virtual “prayer walk” using the stories and prophecies of Christ’s passion that go with the ancient Stations?

I have. Many times. It’s truly unforgettable. Divine mercy has flooded into my body and soul. The Gospel scenes are branded into my brain. Today I’m closer to Jesus and more like him because of this journey.

In this article, I invite you to come along with me. Let’s experience the stations together…

Walk with Jesus

In 2002 God led me to start using the Stations of the Cross for personal devotional use. Previously I had thought of this as a Catholic practice that wasn’t well-suited for evangelical Christians.

But as I walked the stations and stopped at each one to picture Jesus with his cross in that Gospel scene, meditate on Scripture, and pray, I experienced God working powerfully in my life. I came to realize why countless Christ-followers had been using the Stations of the Cross for centuries before there were Catholics and Protestants.

By walking with Jesus in prayer from one station to the next, God brought healing to my heart and strength to my soul in surprising ways. I grew to appreciate the work of Christ on the cross for me and (we usually miss this part) I learned to take up my cross daily and follow Jesus’ “cross way” of life (Luke 9:23).

This devotional practice enthralled me with the goodness and beauty of the Lord Jesus Christ! Look at how he fully submits himself to God! Look at what he did to forgive us of our sins and reconcile us to God! Look at how he is able to remain secure and strong in Abba’s love when he’s suffering! Look at how he loves his enemies and blesses those that curse him!

Jesus went to the cross to forgive us of our sins and to show us how to live our daily lives more like him, sharing his love with others — even our enemies (Luke 6:27-31).

I started inviting other people to take prayer walks with me along the Stations of the Cross and I shared my Bible meditations and prayers with them. I did this on retreats, in “virtual prayer walks” in church services, and on the actual Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem where Jesus carried his cross for us 2,000 years ago.

Most of these people had never done the Stations of the Cross before. I found that person after person was deeply impacted. Many cried with new realizations of how much Jesus loved them and how they, empowered by his mercy and grace, could become more like him. It’s amazing how powerful a discipline it is to open our mind, imagination, and heart to the Gospel scenes of Jesus’ passion.

Ready?

Take a Prayer Walk with Jesus!

Let’s take a walk together with Jesus to the cross…

First, righteous Jesus is condemned to death by the religious and civil leaders. He doesn’t defend himself — he’s silent. How does he stand silent, secure, and confident? Right away I’m magnetically drawn to this Heavenly Man.

As my Lord takes up his cross and carries it through the streets of the Old City (John 19:17) I feel the weight and stagger with him. I wince at hearing the insults. I flinch at the crack of the whip. It’s too much for me and I start to shut down emotionally.

But then I find comfort in the endearing exchange between Jesus and his mother Mary. (Inferred from Luke 2:34-35.)

Still walking right behind Jesus, I cry out when he falls to the ground under the weight of the cross. (See Psalm 38:6, 10 and 119:25.) I think about how often I fall down. I fall in pain. I fall in sin. I fall in failure and discouragement. Jesus never sinned, but he feels my temptations, my limitations, my struggles.

Three times Jesus falls! I want to help him, but I feel so helpless.

But Simon of Cyrene comes to help Jesus carry his cross (Mark 15:21) and Veronica gives him a cloth to wipe the sweat and blood off his face. (The story about Veronica is a legend, but it demonstrates a precious truth that comforts us deeply.)

I realize that it encourages Jesus when I take up my cross and follow him. It blesses my Lord when I offer a simple act of kindness to someone for his sake.

Then Jesus is stripped. He endures more insults and abuse. He’s nailed to the cross. He cries out in pain. He’s suffocating. (Mark 15:16-32)

It’s dark. He seems alone and abandoned. The few of his followers who are watching from a distance are in despair. I feel despair too. (Mark 15:33-34)

But then Jesus connects his beloved mother and disciple to be as mother and son. I recall that Jesus is one with the Father. Strengthened in this loving intimacy, he cares for everyone around him — including me — and invites us into their oneness! (John 10:30, 17:21)

He forgives me of my sins and reconciles me to God. He wants this for everyone — and so do I! (Romans 5:8-11)

He’s showing us that by relying on his grace we too can learn to have joy, peace, and power in our trials and to love our enemies.

Next I see Joseph of Arimathea place Jesus’ body in the tomb. I enter the tomb. I reflect on my death that could come anytime. (Mark 15:42-47)

Thankfully, our journey doesn’t end with Good Friday. Sunday is coming! The tomb is empty and the angel sings the Gospel: “Christ is risen!” (Mark 16:6)

Our Lord and Savior has overcome sin, death, and hell! He has brought us new life for all eternity!

With Jesus you are Unforsaken!

An Evangelical Christian Adaptation

Some of the Stations of the Cross booklets you’ll find are not based on readings from the Gospels. Others don’t help us receive the forgiving work of Christ into our hearts and learn how to become a person of peace and love like him. So through my experience of taking prayer walks along the Stations of the Cross, I wrote a Biblically-based devotional booklet: Unforsaken

This is a great resource for devotions during Lent, doing a prayer walk through physical stations of the cross, or a personal retreat any time of year. It brings the rhythms of Good Friday and Easter Sunday into our heart and life.

At each of the 15 ancient stations I include pictures of scenes from Christ’s passion, Scripture passages, devotional applications for daily life struggles with sin and stress, reflection questions, and prayers to help you live by the words: “I praise you Lord Jesus Christ. By your cross you gave us your life and showed us how to live.” Also, in the introduction I explain why I think it’s helpful to use the original stations of the cross, even though five of the stations are legends and not recorded in the Bible, and I offer further guidance on how to use this resource.

Order your copy here: Unforsaken: With Jesus on the Stations of the Cross. You can also listen as Kristi and I share this resource on a special episode of our Soul Talks Podcast: You are Unforsaken! (The Message of Lent).

I pray that this walk with Jesus we’ve taken together has helped you to experience his empathy and love in ever deepening ways!

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