Tavern Talk #76 - The Tavern Way toward Easter

At The Tavern, we are intentional about shedding any vestiges of traditional church worship experiences in order to provide a safe space for the unchurched or those who have suffered from church hurt. But we haven’t thrown the baby out with the bathwater. We incorporate a variety of things -- like the old hymns that we sing occasionally - we just do them “The Tavern Way.”

This month, we anticipated the highest holy day of the Christian calendar, the very reason that we can celebrate our Christian-ness, by tapping into an ancient tradition of the Christian church, which predates Protestantism –  the stations of the cross. Why? Because it is good stuff. Of course, we added a little Tavern twist.

The stations of the cross began many, many years ago as a way for Christians to experience a pilgrimage through which they can remember, commemorate, and honor 14 features of Christ’s fateful journey to his death. However, like many traditions, the stations of the cross included (and for some, still include) facets for which there is no biblical basis. Did they happen or not? Who knows. And does it matter? We elected to avoid the confusion.      

We chose 14 elements of the Passion journey which are biblical. And we added a 15th to celebrate Easter. Read them. Pray over them. See what they can do for you. What is God trying to say to you?

1	Jesus prays alone.	Luke 22:39-44	Take this cup from me.
2	Jesus is arrested.	Matthew 26:47-56	Have you come with swords?
3	Sanhedrin tries Jesus.	Mark 14:61-64	Are you the Christ?
4	Pilate tries Jesus.	John 18:33-37	Are you King of the Jews?
5	Pilate sentences Jesus.	Mark 15:6-15	Crucify him.
6	Jesus wears crown.	John 19:5	Here is the man.
7	Jesus carries his cross.	John 10:17-18	I lay it down of my own.
8	Simon carries cross.	Luke 23:26	Simon the Cyrene
9	Jesus speaks to the women.	Luke 23:27-31	Weep for yourselves.
10	Jesus is crucified.	Luke 23:33-34	Jesus on the cross
11	Criminals speak to Jesus.	Luke 23:39-43	Today you will be with me.
12	Jesus speaks to Mary, John.	John 19:25b-27	Woman, this is your son.
13	Jesus dies on the cross.	John 19:28-34	It is accomplished.
14	Jesus is laid in tomb.	John 19:38-42	There they laid Jesus.
15	Jesus is risen.	Mark 16:4-6	He is risen!