SCRIPTURE

Matthew 26:36-44
Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, as I reflect upon your experience in Gethsemane, I am reminded of your humanness. You are God in flesh, meaning you are 100% God and 100% man at the same time. You could have walked away from the Journey to the Cross at any moment, but instead you accepted it as God’s will to rescue all mankind. You are Emmanuel, God with us. And I am so thankful that you are God with me. You understand me. You stand with me in hard times. You encourage me when I wrestle with the Father’s will and you intercede for me. How I thank you, dear Lord, for who you are, for what you have done, and for what you are doing in my life today. I want to be a person that prays and seeks guidance more than I listen to others. Speak my Lord, I am listening. In Jesus Name, Amen.

SCRIPTURE

John 18:1-3
When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it. Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.
Matthew 26:47-50
While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.” Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.

PRAYER

O Lord, as much as I hate to admit it to myself and to you, there is a bit of Judas in me. I have made promises to you that I have not fulfilled and I knowingly and unknowing have betrayed you. Forgive me for the times I have pledged my love for you, only to reject you in the way I live and speak. Help me to see where my heart is divided against you. Set me free to be wholly devoted to you, even when I don’t understand. Give me the strength to trust your plan over mine. God, I want to be a person who stands firm and trusts You wholeheartedly. I want to be unshakable and resilient, but that can only happen by depending on You and trusting You. Develop that deeper trust in me, God, so I can know you are working on my behalf, even when I can’t see it. I desperately need you. Please don’t give up on me yet! In Jesus Name, Amen.

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 26:57-68
Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled. But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see the outcome.The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’” Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” “You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?” “He is worthy of death,” they answered. Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?”

Matthew 27:1-2
Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people made their plans how to have Jesus executed. So they bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate the governor.

PRAYER

O Lord, the Jewish officials didn’t understand what it meant for you to be Messiah, and they condemned you as a criminal worthy of death. Your own followers didn’t understand what it meant for you to be Messiah, so they scattered and hid during your greatest hour of crisis. Help me to understand what it means when I confess you to be the Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed of God. I don’t want to deny you or misrepresent you to others. I know these difficulties are making me stronger so please help me hold on just a little bit longer. Give me a deep well of faith to draw upon so I can trust you more every day. I want to be a true disciple of Christ that encourages others, sacrifices for others, shows kindness to others, and most of loves others. In Jesus Name, Amen.

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 26:69-75
Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said. But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.” He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!” After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.” Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.

PRAYER

Forgive me, dear Lord, when I let fear get in the way of my relationship with you. Forgive me for all the times I’ve fallen short in living a way that honors you. I have been afraid, just like Peter, of what will happend if I don’t push you back and insert myself. Forgive me for failing to trust you when you’ve proven yourself to be so utterly trustworthy. Help me, Lord, not to be like Peter in this story. When hard times come, help me to trust you more. When my adrenaline starts to pound, clouding my mind and suffocating my heart, help me to receive your peace. When I’m tempted to deny you, either by my words or actions, help me to trust and obey. You have forgiven me and healed me, may my whole life honor of you. In Jesus Name, Amen

SCRIPTURE

John 19:4-16
Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews gathered there, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.” When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!” As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!” But Pilate answered, “You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.” The Jewish leaders insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.” When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, and he went back inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. “Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.” From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jewish leaders kept shouting, “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.” When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge’s seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha). It was the day of Preparation of the Passover; it was about noon. “Here is your king,” Pilate said to the Jews. But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!” “Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked. “We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered. Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus.

PRAYER

Dear Lord, You know how easy it is for me to be like Pilate. I don’t like to take responsibility for my failures. I find rationalization to be so natural. I can fool myself into thinking I haven’t really done wrong. So, forgive me, Lord, when I follow others instead of you. Help me to acknowledge my sins, both to myself and to You, rather than wallowing in my pointless excuses and defenses. By Your Spirit, guide me to see clearly where I have missed Your mark, so that I might confess truly and fully. Help me to experience the forgiveness You offer in Christ, and to live in the freedom of the cleansing You alone provide. Thank you for never leaving or forsaking me. In Jesus Name, Amen.

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 27:27-31
Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

PRAYER

Gracious, merciful Lord, how hard it is to read of the abuse you suffered even prior to your crucifixion. I can’t even begin to imagine what you felt, not only physically, but especially in your soul. As I take a minute to reflect on the horror of what you experienced, all I can I say is “Thank you” for walking the path of suffering and shame for me. You took the abuse that I deserved, and gave me your glory in return. Help me, dear Lord, to honor you as my King in all that I do. May my words and deeds reflect your sovereignty and celebrate your glory. In Jesus Name, Amen.

SCRIPTURE

John 19:16-17
Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha).

PRAYER

Dear Lord, you chose the cross. Yes, the Jewish leaders accused you. And, yes, Pilate sentenced you. And, indeed, Roman soldiers led you to Golgotha. But in a very real sense they were simply working out what God had willed and you freely and painfully chose. How I thank you for this costly choice! Because you took up the cross, I can take up life in all of its fullness and have a relationship with God. Because you were led to die, I can have eternal life. Because you bore my sin, I can enjoy your forgiveness. Thank you for being so gracious to me my Lord and Savior. In Jesus Name, Amen.

SCRIPTURE

Mark 15:21
A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross.
Luke 23:26
As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.

PRAYER

Dear Lord, the powerful example of Simon reminds me that I am also to take up the cross and follow you. You have called me to die to myself so that I might live for you. I confess that sometimes I resist this call, even though I know that in dying to myself I find true life in you. So, help me, Lord, to carry my cross, to give my life away so that I might receive the abundant life of your kingdom. Thank you for taking my place on the cross. Through you, I am forgiven and invited into the fullness of life. In your death, I am raised to new life. All thanks and praise be to you, Lord Jesus, for bearing my sin on the cross, so that I can live eternally in heaven. Praise you Jesus! Amen.

SCRIPTURE

Luke 23:27-31
A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ Then “‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!”’ For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, give us strength and clarity as we live in uncertain times. Help me to get my eyes off of the mountain before me and put my eyes on You, the God who moves the mountains. Even more, help me to grasp the mystery of your grace that you have bestowed upon me to give me peace, love and a future in heaven one day. May my weeping over the suffering of Jesus, and my sorrow over my own sin, turn to joy when I recognize the majesty of your mercy. In Jesus Name, Amen.

SCRIPTURE

John 19:23-24
When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. “Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.” This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled that said, “They divided my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.” So this is what the soldiers did.

PRAYER

Almighty God, give us boldness to confess the Name of our Savior Jesus Christ before the rulers of this world, and courage to stand up for our faith. May we always be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in us, and to suffer as Jesus who now lives and reigns at your right hand. Holy Spirit, teach me to trust your direction. Help me to have confidence in your guidance and will. Turn my life into a powerful demonstration of what trust in God looks like. In Jesus Name, Amen.

SCRIPTURE

Luke 23:39-43
One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

PRAYER

Dear Lord, how I thank and praise you for your mercy. Thank you for not giving us what we deserve, but infinitely better. Thank you for hearing my cries and responding to me as you did to the thief on the cross who sought your help. Thank you for remembering even me, and for the promise I have of eternal life. There’s much I don’t understand about the afterlife, but what I know is that I will be with you, seeing you face to face. And in your presence, there will be fullness of joy. That’s more than enough for me! I know You have the best ahead for me and your love is unshakable. God, I need You to break through this cloud of worry, fear and anxiety that I’m in. In Jesus Name, Amen.

SCRIPTURE

John 19:25-27
Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

PRAYER

When I think of your mother, Lord, I remember that you weren’t just the Son of God bearing the sins of the world. You were also the son of Mary, the boy whom she loved. Mary gives us a touching reminder of your humanity. Through her pain we see that you truly suffered and bore the sins of the world. God, take my heart, my desires, my life, and transform them to make me a stronger follower of You. In Jesus Name, Amen.

SCRIPTURE

Mark 15:33-39
At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah.” Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said. With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”

John 19:30
When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Luke 23:46
Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.

PRAYER

Gracious Lord, how can I ever thank you for dying on the cross for me? Your death has given me life. Your sacrifice has led to the greatest blessing of my life, a relationship with God. Yet I confess that I can sometimes take your death for granted and I forget what you did for me. Forgive me, Lord. I want to grow in my relationship with You, but I need to trust You more for that to happen. So, help me on my journey, help me to spend time with you daily. Thank you for sending Jesus to die on the cross, your one and only son. Thank you for having mercy on me, even with my faults and sins. Even when I fail you. Thank you for your infinite love and sacrifice. In Jesus Name, Amen.

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 27:57-61
As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.

Luke 23:53-54
Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, today we remember the fact that your death wasn’t some charade. Rather, you really died. You experienced the ultimate penalty for our sin . . . for my sin. I’ll never be able to understand fully the wonder of your death. But I can grasp the fact that your death was real and opened up the door for me to experience real life. Jesus, today we remember your death on the Cross and we celebrate the victory that you won three days later! Thank you for the gift of Salvation!! Hallelujah! To you be all the praise and glory! Amen!

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 28:1-7
After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

PRAYER

Thank you God for the Resurrections! I owe you such grattitude.
Because without the resurrection:
The cross of Jesus really wouldn’t matter much.
We’d never known that Jesus submitted his will to his Father.
Judas’ betrayal of Jesus would have been long forgotten.
The Sanhedrin who condemned Jesus would have been seen as correct in their accusation of him as a blasphemer who needed to be silenced.
Peter’s denial of Jesus might seem like a judicious way to preserve his own life.
Jesus beatings would seem to be a sad but fitting for someone one who pretended to usher in the kingdom of God.
Jesus would have been one more nameless individual who took up his cross on the way to dying a cruel death.
Simon of Cyrene would have disappeared into the dust of history.
The women who mourned for Jesus would have continued to mourn for a long, long time . . . not for only two days.
The promise of Jesus to the thief, that he would join Jesus in Paradise, would seem like a bad, sad joke.
The presence of Jesus’ mother at the cross would be painful without meaning or hope.
The tomb would have been the final resting place of Jesus.
There would be no assurance of salvation.
There would be no reason to hope.
There would be only death.

Because of the resurrection:
The cross is one of the best-known symbols in the world.
Jesus demonstrates that He cleansed the guilt of our sin forever.
We are assured that our future is safe and secure in eternity with God.
We have salvation from sin and our own future resurrection.
Christ deity proves and guarantees the future resurrection of believers.
Believers are born into a living hope and have spiritual power today.
Everything is different and new life has begun.

Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed!
Heavenly Father, I will forever be grateful and serve you to the best of my ability to make your name known. In Jesus most holy name, Amen.