March 29, 2002

The Way of the Cross

[West Bank, Palestine] I observed Good Friday in Holy Week by walking the "Way of the Cross" in Jerusalem. About thirty-five people joined for the cold and rainy 5:30am start. We made our way from station to station, reading scripture, singing, praying and carrying the cross through the old city.

1. Jesus is Condemned to Death
2. Jesus Receives His Cross
3. Jesus Falls for the First Time
4. Jesus Meets His Mother
5. Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus Carry His Cross
6. Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus
7. Jesus Falls the Second Time
8. Jesus Speaks to the Women of Jerusalem
9. Jesus Falls the Third Time
10. Jesus is Stripped of His Garments
11. Jesus is Nailed to the Cross
12. Jesus Dies on the Cross
13. Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross
14. Jesus is Laid in the Tomb

Photos from Various Stations:

Israeli soldiers closed the entrances to Bethlehem yesterday, so I was unable to return home after our Maundy Thursday procession to Gethsemane. I found comfortable lodging at the Redeemer Church Guesthouse. The checkpoint remains closed today. Soldiers would not allow me to return home and told me that the West Bank was "quarantined." I took an alternate path.

The Maundy Thursday procession to Gethsemane