Encountering our Lord from the agony at Gethsemane to His final breath on the Cross
By Neltje Fu
It seemed like a weekday afternoon like no other. The scorching heat enveloped me as I walked over to Wesley Methodist Church for the Journey to the Cross. This was a self-guided spiritual exercise where you walked through four prayer stations intended to take you on the path that Jesus walked in the final week. The weekend before, my daughter, Olivia had excitedly shared with me about the Stations of the Cross, the Children’s Ministry’s kid-friendly version and that made me anticipate the adult session more. Both exercises shared the same purpose, in preparation for Good Friday and Easter. It was a reflective journey of encountering our Lord from the agony at Gethsemane, the betrayal of Judas, the denial by Peter, the trial and suffering, to His final breath on the cross.
I traipsed over to the Plaza Hall and the aura was different from that of the usual Sunday bustle of Children’s Ministry. The Plaza Hall was not a new place for me considering how I spent many late Sunday mornings accompanying my son, Ludo at Sunday school. Today was different though, there wasn’t the sound of noisy children singing and playing in the background but a certain calm and serenity. Before stepping into the first station, I was asked to pick up a palm-sized wooden cross from the basket. To be honest, I had no idea what I would do with it. It was only until much later that I would realise the significance of the concrete object in my hand.
Station 1: Jesus at the Garden of Gethsemane
I walked gingerly into the ‘garden’ and up to the first bulletin board, half afraid that my steps would puncture the pensive silence. After praying and surrendering all my distractions from heart and mind, I focused on the sounds of the crickets and read the first scripture. It was from Matthew 26:36-46. Jesus, accompanied by his disciples Peter and the two sons of Zebedee went into the garden of Gethsemane to pray.
My heart wrenched as I read this verse, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.”
Jesus knew beforehand what was going to happen to him and he was beyond despair. Yet he continued to be faithful and he prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
As I meditated on these words, I was reminded of Jesus’ actions. He presented all his burdens to God and he prayed fervently. When he was troubled, he did not take matters into his own hands but he surrendered to God’s will. How many of us can be like Jesus and say to God “Yet not as I will, but as you will?”
I began to pray like Jesus did in the garden. I lifted my burdens to God and asked Him to strengthen my flesh so I would not fall into temptation. I reminded myself to give control to God. After this, I continued my journey into Station 2.
Station 2a: Jesus is Betrayed
“Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” – Luke 22:48
Judas was one of Jesus’ disciples, a man who travelled everywhere with Him. Yet for thirty pieces of silver, he handed Jesus over. Shockingly, Jesus knew from the start that Judas would betray him, yet he allowed it to happen. I looked at the tray of thirty coins and wondered what my own thirty coins represented. Sometimes, we may feel overly righteous and think that we will not betray Jesus, but some of the things we do may unknowingly involve greed or self-gratification. Some of our pursuits, even the good ones, can distract our gaze from Him and cause us to believe that God is distant and silent. As I recounted the littlest things that I did that made up my own bag of silver, I flinched in guilt. I confessed, asked for repentance, and prayed to give my all to Jesus. I know I might fail him again but I am reminded that He fails us not.
Station 2b: Jesus is disowned
“Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”
As a language teacher, I am well aware of the power of 3 when it comes to writing persuasive arguments. Repeating something three times can help make an argument more believable and impactful. When Peter was confronted, he denied knowing Jesus not once but three times! Can you imagine how badly he wanted to shrug any association to Jesus? As the rooster crowed repeatedly at this station, I looked at the post-it notes that flooded the wall. These were confessions by various participants who, like Peter, denied knowing Jesus.
One of the Post-its read:
“When the trials are hard, I do not know Him.”
Another read:
“I do not know him when I don’t tell my friends and family”
Indeed this is true. Societal pressures sometimes call for us to blend in with the crowd and prevent us from remaining faithful to Christ. We need to stop denying Jesus in our lives and tell everyone the good news.
Station 3: Jesus is crucified
I clutched the wooden cross nervously as I watched the countdown to the start of the acoustic scenography at this station. A life-sized cross, draped with royal purple cloth took centre stage. Right in front were several knee cushions. An invitation for anyone who wished to pray before the cross. I’ve watched many of the crucifixion videos before but it still fills me with heartache and trepidation every time I relive the scene. Tears welled up in my eyes as the hall filled with the sounds of the whipping, mocking and cries.
“Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?)
On the cross, Jesus suffered unthinkable pain ever known to mankind. This only goes to show that the love that Jesus has for us is immeasurable and selfless. How easily do we forget this? How can we? At the end of the scenography, I picked up the long slender Roman nail at the station. This was such a painful punishment for Jesus, a punishment that he received for a transgression that he was falsely accused of. I ran my fingers along the prickly thorn crown and felt Jesus’ humiliation when the soldiers set it on his head.
Finally, I looked at the cross in my hand again. I used to think that it was just a symbol of Christianity but really it is more than that. It is the cross of sin and shame. It is the cross of redemption and hope. It is the cross of love and forgiveness. By grace today, I can say “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.”
Station 4: Jesus’ Seven Last Sayings
How can I commit to be a disciple of Jesus then? Firstly, I can meditate on his words. The last station at the sanctuary consisted of Jesus’ seven last sayings before he died. Each saying had different reflection pointers. My spiritual journey did not end at this station. I will continue to revisit these sayings and ponder on how they are applied in my life.
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
– Matthew 28:19-20
The best way for me to remember God’s love is to be His Salt and Light. I will make an effort to share the Good News with the people around me. God is with us!
About the contributor
Neltje is a teacher at an international school and she enjoys writing stories for children in her free time. She spends her Sundays in Wesley with her active four-year-old at JC Nursery while her seven-year-old attends Children’s Ministry. She hopes that one day, her entire family can serve the Lord together.
What Pain! What Horror! What Love!
By Goh Hwee Lian
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46)
The fourth statement of Jesus’ seven last sayings encapsulated my Journey to the Cross experience this year.
The line captures the depth of his despair and his soul’s darkness. Jesus, the Beloved Son, had to suffer the anguish of abandonment by His Beloved Father! What pain! What horror!
He had already suffered betrayal and denial by disciples and friends, beatings, insults, and humiliation, and now abandonment by His Father.
As I walked the Journey to the Cross this year, I received a more intimate peek into the depth of the anguish and suffering that our Lord Jesus went through, starting from the Garden of Gethsemane all the way to Golgotha. It also gave me an insight into his compassion for us and assured me that He knows my pain when I suffer because He has walked this way before. Because He was abandoned, I never will be. He has paid the price for me already.
In the light of his love for me, will I extend grace and walk alongside a friend in her pain and suffering? May I not only be a hearer but a doer of God’s Word.
Journey to the Cross is a contemplative and experiential journey that helped me slow down, meditate on the last hours of Jesus’ life on earth, imagine his suffering, and appreciate the depth of his love for me.
What love Jesus has for me!
About the contributor
Hwee Lian has been worshipping at Wesley Methodist Church for over 10 years. She attends the 5pm traditional service while her son attends Praise Community (PSCom). She is a homemaker who she can run away from home. She enjoys running, which helps her feel better each time, so she runs back home to her children and the life God has called her to.
A Quiet, Personal, Contemplative and Emotional Experience
By Chan Wai Lup
Through the Bible, I know with certainty that Jesus loves me so much that He is willing to die for me on the cross.
When I walked the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem, I physically retraced Jesus’ footsteps to Golgotha, but the noisy environment did not give me an immersive experience of His journey of suffering. But at the recent Journey to the Cross’ four prayer stations, I was able to enter a quiet and personal experience that wasYe not only contemplative, but also emotional.
In the recreated scenes of the Garden of Gethsemane and Golgotha, I could experience Jesus’ feelings of torment and betrayal, as well as love and mercy.
At the foot of the cross, my heart opened to receive His love and forgiveness anew.
This spiritual exercise through the Journey to the Cross has helped me to process through the odyssey Jesus took and align my head, heart and hand to His love, mercy, and purpose for me, as I continue to follow Jesus as His disciple.
About the Contributor
Wai Lup worships at Wesley Methodist Church with his wife Joy, their two sons, daughters-in-law and two grandsons. He serves in the Discipleship & Nurture Ministry. Recently retired from his medical practice, he can now spend more late nights watching soccer as he and his sons support Arsenal Football Club.
A Whole New Perspective on What Jesus Did for Us
By Georgia Gwee
To me, Journey to the Cross was truly a moving encounter with God, one that left me feeling humbled and deeply reflective. From the quiet beauty of the Garden of Gethsemane to the powerful scenes of Jesus’ crucifixion, I felt drawn into the Easter story and was in awe of each thoughtfully designed station.
As I walked through the various stations, I really appreciated having the freedom to explore everything at my own pace. Taking my time to reflect and simply dwell in His presence gave me this personal connection with God and filled me with a sense of peace. The interactive nature of the stations, along with the guided notes in the booklet, encouraged deep introspection and personal revelations. Through the readings, reflections, and responses, I was prompted to confront aspects of my life that I had kept hidden and struggles I had yet to surrender to God. There is something just so powerful about laying it all down before the Lord and feeling that weight lift off your shoulders.
The experience started with Jesus at the Garden of Gethsemane. Being immersed in the setting of the garden allowed me to see that Jesus walked a path from struggle to surrender. Though He was overwhelmed with sorrow and despair, He said to the Father, “Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done” and that encouraged me to keep on walking with Jesus towards a place of surrender.
The second station, “Jesus is Disowned”, allowed for a time of repentance, recognising that all of us have had our “I do not know him” moments like Peter. As the sound of the rooster crows echoed in the Plaza Hall, I was left to question what pressures and fears I have given in to that have caused me to deny Jesus in areas of my life.
The station that struck me most was Jesus’ crucifixion. The audio-visual experience in the Wesley Hall brought the story to life in a visceral way. Feeling the crown of thorns and the roman nails brought about a heavy-hearted feeling within me. Kneeling there at the foot of the cross, I was just overwhelmed by the magnitude of Jesus’ sacrifice and love for us.
Moving on from this was the final station, where I had a chance to simply sit and reflect on the gravity of Jesus’ last words and what they mean to me. In the stillness, I was made to ask some tough questions to examine my own life, my relationships, and where I need to let go and trust God more.
Leaving this experience, I felt like I had a whole new perspective on what Jesus did for us. It is not just some story from the past—it is a daily choice to follow Him, to deny ourselves and take up our crosses.
So, we are now left with this question: Will we all choose to walk in His footsteps, even when it is hard?
About the contributor
Georgia is a 19-year-old student, serving in the Youth Ministry (YM) at Wesley Methodist Church. She recently finished her IB (International Baccalaureate) exams and is currently waiting to enter university. Georgia enjoys cooking and watching TV shows and serves actively as a Crosstrainer, a sub ministry of YM that seeks to nurture youths to bond the community together through a spirit of mentorship.
(Photos by Gaius Ho)
Read also: Behind the Scenes of the Passion Story at Wesley; ‘Easter Tells of the Most Important Story in the World, the Redemption of humankind’: Stations of the Cross at Wesley Children’s Ministry
