“And He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour?  Keep watching and praying that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Mark 14:37-38).

“The flesh is weak.”  We make a resolution and then fail the slightest test against it.  Our spirits may be willing, but how easily we choose the whims of the flesh rather than the resolution of the spirit.  We sleep through the dangers and then wonder why certain things happen.  Jesus tells us to keep watch and pray.  The Lord, who never slumbers nor sleeps, is always with us.

Lord, I do fall asleep and do not pay attention to what I should be paying attention to.  I become absorbed with what my body wants and ignore what I know to be right.  Change my heart so that I may learn to submit all things to You, and not be a slave to the flesh which seeks to betray You.  Continue to lead me to become whom You will make me.  Lead me out of slumber to be awake.

Lord Jesus, in the hour of trial, I often do not pay attention nor come to You in prayer.  Lead me into a life that abides in You always, praying without ceasing.  Lead me to understand that these things are important.  I know I have grace, but that is not an excuse to willfully not act or, because of laziness or temptation, ignore what is the right thing to do.  Help me to better understand these things so that I may learn how to live with You in the righteousness You grant me by grace.  Amen.

“And He was saying, “Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will” (Mark 14:36).

Seek to understand the struggle.  I believe Jesus did this for our sake.  He allowed us to see the reality of our human struggle.  We want the issue before us to pass.  We want the thorn removed.  Ultimately, we either go the way of the rebellion crying out, “Why me,” or else we surrender, if you will, die and say to the Lord, “Thy will be done.”  His will shall be done.  The question is, which path will you take?

Heavenly Father, You know that I have taken both paths.  I have drunk from the cup of suffering, but I still wrestle against circumstances.  In simple terms I know that I cannot control circumstances, but I still am tempted to try.  Help me to learn from You to humbly walk through all circumstances knowing that all things are now, as they always have been, in Your hands.  Help me to learn the lessons You would have me learn.

Lord Jesus, You know how the anxiety of the situation presses in and the helplessness – or so it seems – of this age presses in.  You gave us that place of peace which surpasses all understanding by directing us to rest in the Father’s will.  Help me so that I learn to give up the anxiety, working as You would have me work, but trusting that the Father’s will shall be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Amen.

“They came to a place named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, “Sit here until I have prayed.”  And He took with Him Peter and James and John, and began to be very distressed and troubled” (Mark 14:32-33).

The world is often very troubling and we are often distressed.  Jesus was preparing to take upon Himself the weight of the sin of the world.  He knows the anxieties of the world that try to overwhelm us.  We often check out and do not listen to the Holy Spirit to work through these troubling moments.  It is not that we are to be stressed, but to recognize that in any given moment somewhere, there are those around us who are greatly distressed.

Lord, Your word says that if one member of the body hurts, we all hurt.  Around the world, there are so many who are distressed.  You have called for Your people to be a people of prayer.  In communion with You, we can learn what You would have us do and obey Your commands.  Through the power of the Holy Spirit, guide Your faithful ones to be a people of prayer, in communion with all the saints, and seeking Your guidance.

Lord Jesus, none of us can comprehend the breadth and depth of the suffering You took upon Yourself for our sakes.  You call for me to join in intercessory prayer on behalf of those who are suffering.  Lead me in the faith You have given me so that I humbly join with the saints of all times and places on behalf of those who are distressed.  By Your example, help me to become a person of prayer.  Amen.

“They came to a place named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, “Sit here until I have prayed.”  And He took with Him Peter and James and John, and began to be very distressed and troubled” (Mark 14:32-33).

The world is often very troubling and we are often distressed.  Jesus was preparing to take upon Himself the weight of the sin of the world.  He knows the anxiety of the world that tries to overwhelm us.  We often check out and do not listen to the Holy Spirit to work through the troubling moments.  It is not that we are to be stressed, but to recognize that in any given moment somewhere, there are those around us who are greatly distressed.

Lord, Your word says that if one member of the body hurts, we all hurt.  Around the world, there are so many who are distressed.  You have called for Your people to be a people of prayer.  In communion with You, we can learn what You would have us do and obey Your command.  Through the power of the Holy Spirit, guide Your faithful to be a people of prayer, in communion with all the saints, and seeking Your guidance.

Lord Jesus, none of us are able to comprehend the breadth and depth of the suffering You took upon Yourself for our sakes.  You call for me to join in prayer on behalf of those who are suffering.  Lead me in the faith You have given me so that I humbly join with the saints of all times and places on behalf of those who are distressed.  By Your example, help me to become a person of prayer.  Amen.

“But Peter kept saying insistently, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And they all were saying the same thing also” (Mark 14:31).

Get a crowd together and start chanting what you want to believe.  This is the sinful human way.  Let in a little adversity and the next thing you know, the crowd has scattered.  We, like sheep, flee from danger.  Our Lord grants that we may know the truth which frees us so that we can stand firm upon what is true.  Even though no one stands with you but Jesus alone, stand firm upon the ground of truth.

Lord, You know how I am swayed by crowds and opinions.  I do not want to be a minority, but while following You, I often am.  Help me to hold fast to what is true regardless of what those around me are saying and doing.  Guide me to live according to Your word and to not be tossed about by the winds of this age.  You have come to save me, and I need saving.  Save me from all that would hinder my living in Your grace.

Lord Jesus, You know those places of pride in me which are encouraged by the crowds.  You know those places where I can easily be swayed by any wind that blows in another direction.  Lead me so that my confidence is in You alone and the salvation You have made possible through grace.  Guide me to learn how to be faithful in a world that is tossed about continuously.  Help me to live by faith.  Amen.

“But Peter said to Him, “Even though all may fall away, yet I will not.”  And Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you, that this very night, before a rooster crows twice, you yourself will deny Me three times” (Mark 14:29-30).

The foolishness of pride is that it will stand against another who knows, and speak what is not true.  Simon was bold, but often foolish.  His pride wanted one thing, but his fear went another way.  In this world our pride tries to save ourselves, and in so doing, ends up being foolish.  The Lord will lead us through whatever is necessary in order that we may learn to trust Him above all things, despite our doubts.

Lord, You have spoken what is true.  You have come to rescue us from the recompense of sin.  We too must suppress the foolish pride that speaks so boldly.  Cowering in the face of adversity, we need Your grace to understand that we need to be rescued and in You alone do we have the strength to stand up for what is true.  Let Your word of truth pierce our souls, slay the pride in us and raise us up to be like You.

Lord Jesus, You know my weaknesses better than I do.  You allowed Peter to be humiliated for his own good.  So also, help me to understand that when I am tested, You are doing so that I may be rid of that which would kill me.  Thank You for loving me to the core of my being such that You will stop at nothing to save me and prepare me to dwell with You eternally.  Guide me always in the way I need to go.  Amen.

“And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, because it is written, ‘I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.’  But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee” (Mark 14:27-28).

We need Jesus.  Without Him, we would scatter.  He knows this.  Those sheep without a shepherd are helpless.  Notice that although He knows these things, He gives instructions to gather the sheep together again.  Our faith may not be as strong as we think.  What does it matter?  The most important thing is to move beyond our fears, not relying upon ourselves, but fully trusting the One who has come to save us.

Lord God, You know that I declare one thing publicly, and, when pressed, change my mind as if I had never made such a statement.  You know how weak I am, thrown about by the winds of this world.  Lead me out of such conditional living in order that I may hear and heed the word You have spoken.  There are so many things I do not understand, but You do, for You created all things.

Lord Jesus, I would like to think I would not deny You, but I am weak and probably would.  Only in You do I have strength to stand against the foul winds of this age.  Lead me into the way of living that trusts You and holds fast to what You have shown me is true.  Gather me with Your other sheep that I may learn and grow in the faith You have granted me through grace.  Amen.

“Truly I say to you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”  After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives” (Mark 14:25-26).

All that God gives is given with purpose.  The kingdom will be finally put into place when Christ has brought all things into subjection and laid them at the Father’s feet.  Jesus will subject the hearts of the faithful to willingly bow down in obedient submission to the Father’s will just as He did by going to the cross.  Until the end of this age, the battle rages on, but those who come in faith are at peace through Him.

Dear Savior, help me to understand simply the goodness You have given through the sacrifice of Your life for ours.  You have come so that we may be reconciled to You, Holy Trinity.  Create in me a new and clean heart that follows the path of Christ my Savior and willingly submits to Your will, Heavenly Father, in all situations.  Guide me, Holy Spirit, away from rebellion and into the truth which You have spoken.

Lord Jesus, You are still at work in me as well as those around me who live in the faith which You give to all who see the light of Your presence.  Guide me in this faith in order that I may learn how to live faithfully all the days which You give me.  Continue to teach me all that this means as You implant those lessons which You have given me to learn.  Help me to be faithful to You, my Savior.  Amen.

“And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, and they all drank from it.  And He said to them, “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many” (Mark 14:23-24).

Jesus, the One who possesses the future, gives us His last will as the Messiah before His crucifixion.  “This is my blood, poured out for many.”  “Drink this and my life is yours,” Jesus is saying.  He is taking our death that we deserve so that we may have His life.  He who is life, is giving us His life.  As many as partake, He gives us the power of His life so that we may live.  He is the tree of life.  All who partake of Him will live.

Almighty Father, I know that the church has made a ritual of this, but it is so much more.  It gets to the heart of what You are doing for all who believe.  Yes, we receive it in the ritual of the church, but this is personal, between me and Thee.  Lead me out of the selfish heart that just goes through the motions to realize, at least in part, that You are creating in me the very image of Jesus my Savior.

Lord Jesus, in a lifetime of participating in this ritual, I still find great mystery in all that this means.  Help me to move beyond my limited  thinking to realize that You are doing so much more, not only in this, but in all  my life.  Guide me to learn how to be faithful and trust You above all things.  You alone are my Lord and Savior.  Lead me to follow You always.  Amen.

“While they were eating, He took some bread, and after a blessing He broke it, and gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is My body” (Mark 14:22).

Our Savior has given His body for us.  Let your body be exchanged for His body.  Give up your body to have His body become yours.  He literally gives His life to you.  Take Him in and become like Christ.  In the mystery of the faith, the Lord will do what He does with your submission.  His will, not yours.  He gives you love so that you might be able to give yourself up for Him in love.

Lord, the taking and eating is one of the things You have commanded us to do.  More than a ritual or rite, You are doing something through what You have commanded. So many have argued over the ages about how this is done and what this is.  I too have joined in the debates.  Help me to learn first how to obey all that You command, knowing that You are preparing me to be with You forever.

Lord Jesus, prepare my heart so that each time communion is offered I may come to You  knowing that You are ministering to me personally.  Lead me to have a humble heart, eagerly awaiting the next step of faith.  Guide me according to Your purpose to walk with You each step of the way, obeying what You have commanded and learning to love You and my neighbor.  Amen.