Walking with Jesus is a journey to the Cross

"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.'"

Jesus, when we are struggling, help us to love you no matter what. Grant us strength to follow your good example.

Let us pray:
Jesus, we ask for your forgiveness when we are finding it difficult to see your way.
Shine your light so we can see your sign.

"Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders.
Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: 'The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.' Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, 'Rabbi!' and kissed him. The men seized Jesus and arrested him."

Jesus, help us to forgive betrayal and teach us to love our friends and family even when it is hard.

Let us pray:
God of love,
You fill us with love and kindness.
Help us with your wisdom to not betray others and show forgiveness.

"At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and the teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them. 'If you are the Messiah,' they said, 'tell us.'
Jesus answered, 'If I tell you, you will not believe me, and if I asked you, you would not answer. But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.'
They all asked, 'Are you then the Son of God?'
He replied, 'You say that I am.'
Then they said, 'Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips.'"

Jesus, help us to have the courage to not doubt others. Help us seek the truth before judging others.

Let us pray:
Dear God,
Open my heart to see others as you see them.
Fill our hearts with love and joy.

"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."

Jesus, help us to admit when we are wrong or have made poor choices. Guide us to seek and tell the truth when we are tempted to lie.

Let us pray:
Gracious and merciful God,
Please send your spirit into our hearts to help us to be truthful even when things are difficult.
Bring justice and everlasting peace to the world.

"Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, made their plans. So they bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate.
'Are you the king of the Jews?' asked Pilate.
'You have said so,' Jesus replied.
The chief priests accused him of many things. So again Pilate asked him, 'Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.'
But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.
Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified."

Jesus, help us to always have faith in you even when things are difficult. Help us to find guidance in your love and sacrifice.

Let us pray:
Light of the World,
Open my eyes to see the dignity of others who fill the earth with life.

"Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe and went up to him again and again, saying, 'Hail, king of the Jews!' And they slapped him in the face."

Jesus, help me to have faith in You, knowing You are always around me and guiding me.

Let us pray:
Jesus, give me the courage to make a difference.

"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.'
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. Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha).

Jesus, when I come across hard times, please let me still think and support others.

Let us pray:
Jesus, you carried your cross.

"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."

God is love. If you have faith in him, he will be beside you through life.

Let us pray:
Jesus, help me to be a friend to those who carry crosses in their lives.

"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?'"

Jesus, you care for all people. When I am sad and cry, I will remember how you provide comfort for all.

Let us pray:
Jesus, in your sadness you had people who supported you.

"When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.' And they divided up his clothes by casting lots."

Jesus, you taught us that forgiveness is a way to let go of anger and negative thoughts. Please lead us to understanding and care for one another.

Let us pray:
Jesus, forgive me for my mistakes and the lack of thoughtfulness I may show towards others.

"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.'

Jesus showed mercy and forgiveness. In our own lives may we show this same mercy to people who are treated unfairly by others.

Let us pray:
Jesus, watch over us, especially those in need. Teach us to have courage to stand up for others.

"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."

Jesus showed respect and kindness to all. May we show the same love through our words and actions even when things are difficult.

Let us pray:
Jesus, You fill our hearts with respect and kindness and you guide us through the tough times in life. May we continue to seek your guidance when faced with challenges.

"It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, 'Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.' When he had said this, he breathed his last."

Jesus showed bravery and sacrificed His life. When we experience pain and sadness, may we have the same bravery to find our way out of darkness.

Let us pray:
Jesus, You gave up your life for us. May we find the strength to make our own sacrifices.

"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."

Jesus entered His Father’s kingdom to show His undying love for us. May we show love through our own love by helping those in need.

Let us pray:
Jesus, You showed us bravery by walking into your heavenly Kingdom. When times are tough help us to find strength in Your bravery.