Stations of the Cross
This series of fourteen pictures is known as the 'Stations of the Cross', showing key scenes around Jesus death on the cross. The stations are often called a 'spiritual pilgrimage' for the believer, perhaps originally created to help those unable to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
These stations are a useful year-round reminder of the richness of God's love shown through Jesus' suffering for the sake of his friends - all mankind - as part of the season leading up to Easter
Jesus is condemned to be crucified
At the first picture or station, Jesus stands before the Pilate
Jesus is compelled to bear his cross
The cross is laid on Jesus' back and he is forced to walk by the Roman soldiers to the place of crucifixion
Jesus falls under his heavy cross
Jesus falls for the first time under the weight of the cross
Jesus is met by his blessed mother
Mary meets him on the pathway
Jesus is helped by Simon of Cyrene
Simon is called out from the watching crowd by the soldiers to help carry Jesus' cross
Jesus rewards Veronica's loving kindness
A woman charitably wipes Jesus' face
Jesus falls again under the cross
Jesus falls a second time
Jesus speaks to the weeping women
Jesus is shown comforting the women of Jerusalem – illustrating his selflessness
Jesus falls for the third time
Jesus perseveres in prayer and duty as he falls for the third and last time
Jesus is stripped of his garments
Jesus is humiliated, identifying with all those in all time who are denied love and respect
Jesus is nailed to the cross for us
This picture shows Jesus being prepared to be crucified
Jesus by death redeems the world
Jesus gave his life on the cross for humanity
Jesus is taken down from the cross
The picture shows Jesus being carried by his mother
Jesus is laid within the sepulchre
Jesus is wrapped in a sheet and placed in a tomb.
More on the Stations of the Cross on the web:
Wikipedia's page on the Stations
According to the BBC website (www.bbc.co.uk/religion/galleries/stations/), the Stations of the Cross were unknown before the fifteenth century, but they became widespread after the seventeenth.