“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.

“Being deeply grieved, they began saying to Him, each one: “Surely it is not I, Lord?”  And He answered, “He who dipped his hand with Me in the bowl is the one who will betray Me” (Matthew 26:22-23).

At a Passover Seder, there are many things going on.  Everyone probably dipped at least once.  We all like sheep have gone astray.  We all have betrayed the Lord.  But then, there is the grief of the Holy Spirit, which is standing against the Lord and seeking to pervert His ways.  Judas was that kind of  man.  Having walked with the Lord, he still wanted to direct the Lord’s actions to be what He wanted them to be.

Lord, in this age there are constant betrayals such that it is easy to become confused, not knowing who to trust.  But Lord, I know that You alone are fully trustworthy.  Even as the whole world goes mad, You are the One who is always good and just.  Forgive me my betrayals and help me to trust You above all things.  You alone are worthy of all trust.  Guide me past my betrayals to live trusting You.

Lord Jesus, You know my heart and those places where I have denied You.  Guide me in Your goodness to humbly and willingly trust You.  When I am confused, teach me to look to You.  When I am inconsistent, show me the better way.  Through the trials and tribulations that will come, lead me so that I keep living the truth You have revealed to me.  Teach me to share freely and to submit willingly.  Amen.

“Now when evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the twelve.  And as they were eating, He said, “Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me” (Matthew 26:20-21).

The original sin began with Adam betraying God.  He chose Eve over God and set up house on his own.  We too were born betraying God by not having Him as the center of our being.  This is the original sin.  But then, there is the next level where there is an intentional continuing on deliberately seeking our will over what God has revealed and is known to us.  This Judas did, seeking his way rather than the Lord’s way.

Lord, there is the “Judas” effect all around me.  There are those who do things their own way and without regard to You and the way of life which You have established by grace.  Let me not fall into the trap of seeking my own will over Your will.  You are and must be the One who guides my life.  Without You, I am nothing but a rebellious sinner seeking his own way through life.

Lord Jesus, You died my death so that I could live the true life which You give.  Lead me in the upward call of faith so that I live into the life for which You died.  Keep me from seeking my own will so that I live the Father’s will in all I say and do.  You have already given me the words of eternal life.  Help me to walk the narrow path this day and join You in saying, “Not my will, but Thine be done” as I take each step throughout the day.  Amen.

“The disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover” (Matthew 26:19).

That first line is the goal of our life of faith: doing as the Lord directs us.  The Lord is LORD of all and either He is Lord of your life, or else He is not.  It really does come down to this simple point.  He must be Lord of the whole of Your life and not just parts of it.  He will lead You all Your days, but You must be willing to follow wherever He leads.  That willingness is often the problem for people of faith in following Jesus.

Lord, teach me what it means to follow.  Often, I want You to clean up this part or that, but I do not want You to clean the whole of me.  I want parts of my life to be under my control.  Take this from me and be the One who leads me in the way I need to go.  Guide me by Your goodness to say “yes” to all that You ask.  You gave everything so that I could be with You.  Help me learn how to give everything to You.

Lord Jesus, lead me this day.  If You make a request of me, help me to hear clearly and then to obey.  If another comes and asks something of me, move my spirit to know if it is You who is asking.  Through all things, teach me what it means to be a steward of all that You have entrusted to me.  Guide me in living this life of faith so that I learn how to be faithful and obedient to all Your commands.  Amen.

“Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?”  And He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is near; I am keeping the Passover at your house with My disciples” (Matthew 26:17-18).

The Lord who knows all things knows those who are His.  Do not be surprised when the faithful do what is asked, for the Lord asked them first.  In this world, sinners manipulate to get what we want.  The Lord asks and the faithful say, “Yes, Lord.”  Those who are stewards of what belongs to God share from His storehouse.  What an honor it is to serve the Lord and respond to Him with a “yes.”

Lord, all things are Yours.  Would I grant You a request if You asked me?  Help me to have the heart of a steward who knows that all things belong to You.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to understand that if You want back what is already Yours, it is not time to hold on, but to let go.  You have given me the hope of eternal life and You have reminded me that this life is temporary.  Let me be useful here and now but never forget where I am going.

Lord Jesus, You gave up everything to come here and live among us.  By Your example, You did not stress over the things of this world, but lived in it freely, doing what You came to do.  Lead me in the same way by which I may become a good steward of all that is Yours.  Teach me to be responsive to Your requests and do those things You give me to do.  Lead me in the way of everlasting life.  Amen.