The youth at our church put on an "experience" tonight to celebrate Good Friday. They had the last days of Jesus laid out in stations, where we could learn more about and "experience" what Jesus did or may have felt. We were also given booklets that had verses and instructions for each station. I wish we could have shared it with friends and family alike because it was such a moving time. I am so blessed that we were able to share the time with JJ and Tanner.
Station One: We entered a room where a tv was playing nothing but static. This room was to remind us that we are often too caught up in the noisiness of life that we tune out God. We were instructed to turn off the tv and use the newfound stillness to remind ourselves to be still and know that He is God.
Station Two: In the next room we found the floor scattered with men's sandals or "Jesus sandals" as my boys call them. In this room, we were reminded that Jesus came to earth and lived life as a man, wearing sandals just like everyone else. Except, He wasn't like us at all. In that room we were encouraged to meditate on the mystery, majesty, and humility of Jesus.
Station Three: In this room, we were reminded of the story of Mary anointing Jesus feet with the precious perfume. Table were set up with bottles, eye droppers, and cotton balls. We were instructed to take a drop of the perfume and place it on the cotton ball. We were reminded through Mary's act that were are called to worship Him no matter how great the cost. We were also instructed to take the cotton ball and let it remind us to live every moment in fragrant worship to Jesus. (my cotton ball still smells, five hours later...as do my hands)
Station Four: We entered a room with tables set up. On each table lay various money bags. We read the passage where Judas Iscariot accepted 30 silver pieces to betray Jesus. JJ counted out thirty coins from the bag. I asked him if that was enough to sell his best friend for. He shook his head and told me that no amount of money is enough to sell his best friend for. On the wall in this room was paper and markers to write your thoughts before you left. JJ left a note that he was sorry Jesus was sold for 30 coins and that no money was enough to sell Jesus for.
Station Five: We walked into the next room and found ourselves at the last supper. There was bread and oil on the table. We were instructed to take a piece of bread and dip it into the oil. In this room we were challenged to think about what must have been going through Jesus mind, knowing that Judas would soon betray him. He also must have struggled with thoughts of his other disciples and how they would be confused, angry, and fearful.
Station Six: was the Garden of Gethsemane. We read the passages of Jesus going three times to pray and each time none of his disciples stood with him. We were reminded that he prayed that Jesus asked his Father to take the cup from Him...only if it was HIS WILL. We were then instructed to take a glass of grape juice and drink...while remembering that Jesus chose to bear the cross, or His "cup", in order to save us. While JJ and I prayed together before leaving each room, we hesitated a little longer in this room. It is so hard as humans to be happy with God's will and accept it without fear, doubt, and sometimes anger, yet Jesus accepted beatings, a painful crucifixion, and death as His Father's will and he did it for me. Wow!!
Station Seven: Hanging on the walls of this room were ropes looped like nooses and the Passion of the Christ playing without the sound on. We were instructed to hold a piece of rope and remember that Jesus was bound with rope very similar to this. We were also reminded that with every step Jesus took, he continues to accept the difficult way. We know how easy it would have been for Him to say, "enough is enough, they're not worth it". Yet He never gave up on his journey, thus He never gave up on us.
Station Eight: A single chair was set up with a purple robe laid upon it with a crown of thorns suspended above. This was lit with a single spotlight. In this room we were reminded of Peter's denials. We were asked to imagine what Peter felt at that moment when Caiaphas, the teachers, and the elders met to decide Jesus fate. The one wall was lined with paper and we were instructed to write what we would want to tell Jesus at that moment if we had been living then.
We then walked down and around a long hallway lined with photos from Passion of the Christ. With these photos, we could imagine having lined the streetways, watching Jesus pass us. We could visualize him falling over and over again as his body bled and was weakened. We were also instructed to take a cross made from two nails as a reminded of his sacrifice for us.
Station Nine: In this room, we were instructed to kneel at the foot of a cross and imagine what it might have been like to see the man who had taught you, led you, loved you for so many years hanging there...in pain and struggling to take each breath. On a side table were pieces of paper, which we were encouraged to write on it something we wanted to lay at the feet of the cross. There were then nails and hammers with which to actually nail the folded note to the cross. This was a VERY powerful room.
Station Ten: The next room was very dimly lit and had tables set about with candles on them. We read passages reminding us that as Jesus hung on the cross, darkness settled over the land. We were then reminded that as Jesus died, the earth shook and rocks split. It was noted that "when Jesus died that day, so many people watching must have thought that their hopes had died as well." I had never looked at it that way. They didn't know that Jesus would rise again for sure. The crucifixion was a finality for them. I can't even imagine how they must have felt watching Jesus die that day. This room was hard for me and I cried. I cried in sadness, but I cried in joy because I knew what happened in three days. I knew that Jesus rose from the grave and beat death...for me and you.
Station Eleven: The tomb was the next room. A pathway lined with stones with a large stone in the middle. We were reminded that this "large" stone was only a fraction of the size of the stone laid in front of Jesus' tomb. The booklet we had as a guide said it like this - "Can you sense the heavy weight the disciples and those who loved Jesus must have felt as Jesus' tomb was sealed? In their eyes, death had won. This was a stone that no one could move. It was final. Jesus was gone and buried."
Station Twelve: The resurrection scene was next...a single resting place with a white cloth draped on it, just as Mary and Mary had seen when they went to the tomb that day. We were challenged in this room to think about how the risen Jesus wants to transform us today.
Station Thirteen: A room with chairs laid out in a circle. The guide booklet offered an altar call of sorts bringing our experience to an end.
I was so blessed by tonight's experience. I'm glad Justin and I could share it with JJ and Tanner. I am so thankful for the youth group, because this was not an easy task to setup, etc. Most of all, I'm thankful for the cross and Jesus's willingness to follow the Father's will and accept the task before Him...to save the sinful and unworthy...forever and forever.
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