Jesus is tried by Caiaphas, the High priest and King Herod. Herod’s soldiers beat him, mock him and insult him, before he is taken to Pilate the Roman Governor. Then, dressed in mockery as a king, Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, is condemned to a death of shame on a cross.

A heavy cross is laid on Jesus’ shoulders. He accepts it in obedience to his Father’s will, for it is by death on across that Jesus will show God’s love to all people.

Jesus sets out on the journey to Calvary, bowed down by the weight of the cross. The crowd mock him. He is exhausted from the long night of hardship – the agony of betrayal in the garden, the the trials, the beatings and insults. His strength fails him and he falls to the ground.

Mary, the mother of Jesus, has known that he is the Son of God from the time of the Annunciation. She has watched him grow in stature and wisdom and she has become one of his disciples. Now she grieves as she witnesses the suffering of her Son.

Too weak to proceed, Jesus cannot carry the cross alone. The Soldiers force Simon of Cyrene, a visitor to Jerusalem, to help Jesus carry his cross

We could ask the obvious “who is Veronica? ” She is a woman of Jerusalem, said to have been touched by pity at the sight of Jesus’ suffering. She wipes the blood and sweat from his face.

The struggle through the crowded streets of Jerusalem and the urging of the soldiers is too much for Jesus. He becomes increasingly weakened and falls a second time.

Some women bewail and lament the suffering of Jesus, knowing that he will die on the cross. He warns them to keep their pity for themselves who need it the more, for he knows the affliction that will later come upon Jerusalem.

Jesus’ bordering on exhaustion, falls for the third time. One journey is almost over, another about to begin. He climbs the hill to Calvary which the Jews call Golgotha outside the wall of Jerusalem.

Jesus’ is humiliated, the garments torn from his body as he is prepared for crucifixion. We sing “There is a green hill far away”. There is no beauty in this hill. It is the place where the Son of God is placed on a cross and prepared for the cruel nails which will hold him to the cross.

The beam is laid on the ground and Jesus is stretched on it. The nails are struck through his hands and feet, then the crucified Jesus is placed upright between the crosses of two thieves to suffer a shameful and painful death before the crowed.

Jesus hangs on the cross, the weight of his body by his nailed hands. Despite his pain, he thinks of others: he forgives those who crucified him; he promises salvation to the repentant thief; he commits his mother to the care of his friend. What amazing love flowed from the cross on this dark, dark day. Jesus knows his mission is complete . He expresses once more a human desire – he thirsts. He calls on his Father to receive him – he bows his head – he dies.

The soldiers have pierced Jesus’ side, but do his body no more harm when they see that he is dead. Joseph of Arimathea has permission to remove the body before the Sabbath. Jesus is taken from the cross.

The body of Jesus is wrapped in linen cloths by Joseph and Nicodemus and laid in the tomb. The stone is rolled in place to seal the tomb, enclosing the body of Jesus to await the Resurrection.