“And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will” (Matthew 26:39).

How we long for the cup of suffering to pass from us.  This world is filled with suffering, but the Lord has promised that if we hold fast and endure to the end, all things will work together for good.  Ultimately, we meet the place where our ideas surrender to the One who holds all things in His hands.  We must attain that place where we no longer live just by the Lord’s grace, but by His will in all things.

Lord, my will gets me into trouble.  Sometimes, with the most simple things, I falter and fail.  Only Your will is perfect.  Lead me in Your will to do what is right and fitting in every situation.  I cannot see into tomorrow, but all of the days before us are in Your sight.  Guide me according to Your will and keep me from living according to my will alone.  In Your hands all things have their being.  Keep me in Your hands.

Lord Jesus, You drank the cup of suffering for my sake.  Not just for my sake, but for the sake of all who believe.  You suffered for us.  Teach me how to submit in all things so that the Father’s will is the will I live.  Guide me into a life of submission so that I learn how to be obedient in all things.  By Your example, and in the grace You provide, lead me into a life that seeks Your righteousness.  Amen.

“Then He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me” (Matthew 26:38).

Grief is what we often experience in this world.  There are times where we would like it to be over.  Watch.  Watch with Jesus.  Sometimes we simply have to wait until what comes will come.  But we, unlike Jesus, become distracted and either take matters into our own hands or else, go off and do things we ought not do.  Learn how to wait upon the Lord, waiting for His lead and direction.

Lord, I am impatient and do not wait upon You.  You have created me and all things are in Your hands.  Guide me, Lord, so that I am in Your hands, waiting for Your direction.  Lead me not into temptation.  Keep me from wandering in this world filled with traps and deceit.  Open my eyes to understand that all things are in Your hands.  You have given me hope and promise.  Help me to focus upon these things.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for watching and waiting.  Your disciples shirked the call and I have too.  You alone have been faithful to the end.  Lead me to look to You as the One who will guide me all of the days of my life.  In Your goodness, help me to follow Your lead.  Hold me close to You so that I do not fall asleep in the mire of this world.  Keep me on the alert so that I may remain faithful.  Amen.

“Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and told His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”  And He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with Him, and began to be grieved and distressed” (Matthew 26:36-37).

Grief and distress lead us.  We look around in this world and imagine what it could be.  There will be a new heaven and earth, so this world is not all  we should be thinking about.  Our Lord has called us to eternity, so we should walk in hope the path He has laid before us.  The interesting thing is that when He sets our heart on eternity, we are most useful in this world, for we invest in the business of salvation one person at a time.

Lord, help me to see through the fog of wishful thinking of this world to join with You, praying to live in the Father’s will. It is not supplications of constantly asking for things, but opening up of the mind and soul to be about Your business.  It is about calling upon the Father for all things.  We know this, for we get on a phone and call someone.  It is a conversation – two ways.  We are to call upon the Lord and be open to what He would say to us.

Lord Jesus, You have called for us to be a people who are constantly in prayer.  Help me to not wait until I want something.  Help me to be open to all that You would say to me.  Let me not sleep through this age with a limited view, but engage in continuous prayer so that I may humbly live into the life You are giving me through grace.  This world is full of grief and distress.  Help me to focus upon the promised rest of Your salvation.  Amen.

“Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” All the disciples said the same thing as well” (Matthew 26:35).

I will do this and that for You Lord.  But I will be distracted, become fearful, or get busy with other things, so maybe later.  Lord, I am not honest with myself or You.  What can I say to You who knows all things?  You must lead and I must follow.  I am where I am, but You know where You are taking me.  Ignorance is my bedfellow and arrogance is my companion.  I need to be saved from myself.

Lord, You who knows all things, guide me in the way of righteousness.  Lead me up and out of the thinking I have gained in this world to begin to learn how to think the right way about life and its circumstances.  Teach me the things I need to know.  Aid me in the way You know I need to go.  Guide me on the path of salvation so that I may humbly follow where You lead.  You have the words of everlasting life.

Guide me, Lord Jesus.  Teach me to guard my mouth so that I do not speak things that are not true.  Open my mouth so that I speak of You and the great love You have for us.  Lead me in the way You know I need to be led.  Help me to understand the truth that You have spoken and place that truth in my heart.  Through all things, lead me to learn how to be faithful to You, my Lord and God.  Amen.

“But Peter replied to Him, “Even if they all fall away because of You, I will never fall away!”  Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you that this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times” (Matthew 26:33-34).

“I” will never fall away.  Yes, you will.  If we run on our own steam, it will run out and we will fail.  New Year’s resolutions anyone?  Denying the Lord is what brought the whole mess of this age.  The Lord forgives us.  That forgiveness is to truly come into humility in order to realize that we really do need to be saved each day and in many circumstances.  The Lord knows us.  He knows what we will do, who we are, and what He will make of us.

Lord of all, help me to submit to You.  I pretend in my own mind that I can do things on my own, but I cannot.  I have denied You, but now I do not want to.  Change my heart O Lord so that I see that only in You can I become whom You are making me to be.  Take away the fear of this world so that I live the life for which You are creating me.  Lead me away from what is false to what is true that I may live a true life.

Lord Jesus, so great is Your love for us all that You have taken away our sin.  I can barely begin to fathom this.  Guide me away from the things of this world that I may humbly submit to You and Your righteousness.  Lead me in the way of living this life of faith that You have given me.  Teach me how to live according to Your goodness and mercy.  Humble me so that I may be lifted by You into right living.  Amen.

“Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written: ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’  But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee” (Matthew 26:31-32).

We become dependent upon strong leadership and good circumstances.  This world is fickle and when things change, we fall away.  Yes, we are dependent upon our Lord, but He will also grow us to be able to stand fast in this world of the spiritually dead.  He means what He says when He tells us He will make of us children of the Heavenly Father.  Do not be tossed about by this world, but be led by Jesus.

Lord, You know how easily swayed by this world we are.  Help us to have firm legs which are able to walk, and not fall when the troubles of this world press in.  Take us to the place where You took the disciples so that Your faithful ones stand firm through the storms of life.  Guide us to see the truth which You have revealed.  Aid us to always follow Your lead, wherever You will take us.

Dear Jesus, You told the disciples to go ahead to Galilee.  After Your death, it took them awhile to obey.  I too lag in my obedience.  Help me to hear Your word and obey Your instructions.  Grant me a mind that discerns and a heart that willingly follows wherever You lead me.  You are my Savior and apart from You, I would be nothing.  Hold us, all who are your church, Your body, close together to follow You now and forever.  Amen.

“And after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives” (Matthew 26:30).

The Mount of Olives is now covered with graves.  Jesus went to the place of the dead.  Jesus came to us while we were as good as dead to pave the way for our salvation to real life.  Jesus is about the Father’s business of raising the dead.  We are offered a new life in Christ, a life that knows that though we die in this age, yet we shall always live because our gracious Lord and God has made the way possible.

Lord, You know how my soul becomes troubled, and I do not believe.  Guide me in the upward way You have laid before me as I walk through this world of the living dead.  Help me to be Your light to the blind that they may see and live, not because of me, but because of You in me.  Lead me on this path of righteousness so that I no longer fear death nor dying, but fear being separated from You.

Lord Jesus, You came to me while I was spiritually dead and raised me to live with You by faith.  Guide me this day to forever hold fast to You in the mystery of the faith.  Let me not slumber nor sleep, but live by the power of Your Holy Spirit and walk in Your ways.  Shine the life You have placed in me so that others see and come to believe that You are the Savior of our souls.  Lead me now and always, Lord Jesus.  Amen.

“But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it with you, new, in My Father’s kingdom” (Matthew 26:29).

The Lord will make all things new.  We do not fully know all that our Lord is doing, but we do know that He is making new the lives of those who believe.  This world was sent on a downward path from the Garden and He came to redeem those who believe.  It will be glorious then, but there is struggle now.  Look for paradise, which is being with Jesus, and live into the new life He gives you by faith.

Lord, I want things to be good and perfect here.  I want to live a life that is comfortable and good now, but every day I am reminded of sin in the world.  Take my eyes off of the world and focus them upon You.  Lead me into the new life for which You died so that I may be prepared by You for the age to come.  Guide me, Lord Jesus, in the way You know I need to go so that I may walk the path of righteousness.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for doing all that is needed for our salvation.  When I am brought low by this world, lift me up in the hope of the world to come.  When a pleasure I have had here is forever removed, remind me that it was but a foretaste of what is to come.  Lead me into a life that looks to You no matter what happens in this world.  Guide me, dear Savior, in the way of everlasting life.  Amen.

“Now while they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”  And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is being poured out for many for forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:26-28).

Jesus is the bread of life.  The blood of Jesus must course through our veins.  He is here doing what He came to accomplish.  The covenant God has made with those who believe is revealed in the salvation which saves through the body and blood of Jesus.  As many as believe, He will make of them His children.  We are saved by, through and because of Jesus.  We need the forgiveness only He provides and we need to be set upon the right course to live into the life He sets before us.

Jesus, You laid all things out so that we, being healed of blindness, might see that You have caused all things to be as they are to fulfill the Father’s perfect will.  Take away the rebellious heart in us and replace it with yours.  Give us Your flesh and blood so that it is You  that is living in us.  Do not let Your faithful ones stray from Your presence, but cause Your life to grow us into children of the Heavenly Father.

Lord Jesus, You know what I need.  In the wisdom You grant through the Holy Spirit, guide me ever deeper into the mystery of the faith You have revealed.  You have shared Your body and blood so that I may be forgiven and have true life.  As one forgiven much, teach me to love much.  Throughout the mysteries of this age, prepare me to be with You forever in the place You are preparing for all who believe.  Amen.

“The Son of Man is going away just as it is written about Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.”  And Judas, who was betraying Him, said, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself” (Matthew 26:24-25).

The curse of the second death is eternal separation from all goodness.  God alone is good and He is the source of all that is good.  Being apart from God is evil and the farther away we are from Him, the more there is evil is in those who are separated.  In this age, good and evil are being revealed.  Judas wanted to usher in His idea of how things should be.  He betrayed Truth Himself and then denied it in front of Him.

How wicked wickedness can be.  We do what we think is good and we do not know.  The only good Lord is You, leading us.  We cannot know apart from You, for we were born into a life that leads to wickedness.  Save us, Lord, and lift us out of the mire so that we do not betray You.  You have come to save us in this confused age of wickedness.  Lift us ever upward toward You.

Come, Lord Jesus, and be the Master of my heart.  Teach me what it means to humbly submit to Your authority.  Guard the words of my mouth and the ideas in my head so that I do not harbor any thoughts of insurrection.  You knit me together in my mother’s womb.  You know the plans You have for me.  Help me to live out the Father’s plans which were formulated from the beginning so that I may be counted amongst the faithful.  Amen.