Day 18 of our 47-day journey with Jesus to the cross.

Author & Voice: Jared Yates

In the darkest hour of His arrest, “all” the disciples flee, leaving Jesus utterly alone—revealing the crushing weight of abandonment and shame He willingly bore. The One who had absorbed the disgrace of others now stands isolated, fully entering the human ache of rejection. Yet this episode does not end in bitterness, but in breathtaking grace: the risen Christ pursues the very friends who ran, showing us that gospel love chooses restoration over self-protection every time.

Scripture

1. Matthew 26:55-56

Reflection Questions

1. Who in your life has abandoned you when association became costly? Are you choosing self-protection or following Jesus’ pattern of pursuing restoration?
2. Is there someone who wronged you that Jesus is calling you to give up your right to claim justice, choosing instead to take the first step back?

Kid-Friendly Question

1. Have you ever had a friend stop playing with you when other kids were mean to you? How do you think Jesus felt when His friends ran away? What would it look like to be a friend who stays?

Spiritual Practice - Community & Evangelism

Write down the name of one person who has abandoned or wronged you when you needed them most. Ask yourself: “Am I protecting my image and honor, or am I willing to give those up for the sake of relationship like Jesus did?” Pray: “Jesus, You gave up Your right to revenge and shame those who hurt You. Help me follow Your example.”

Remember: Love doesn’t wait for the other person to make the first move. It pursues, even after abandonment, because it values relationship over self-protection. Jesus walked this path first and invites us to follow His example.

Day 17 of our 47-day journey with Jesus to the cross.

Author & Voice: Chase Akin

Before false witnesses and twisted accusations, Jesus remains silent—not out of weakness, but out of sovereign confidence in the Father’s plan. When the decisive question comes, He breaks that silence to declare His true identity as the Son of Man who will be seated at the right hand of Power. In this episode, we learn that we do not overcome lies by frantic self-defense, but by standing firmly in the unshakable truth of who Christ is—and who we are in Him.

Scripture

1. Matthew 26:63

Reflection Questions

1. What false accusations have you been trying to defend yourself against instead of resting in who God says you are?
2. How might silence reveal lies you’ve been believing that you need to counter with God’s truth about your identity?

Kid-Friendly Question

1. If someone said something mean and untrue about you, would it be better to argue with them or remember what your parents say is true about you?

Spiritual Practice - Silence & Stillness

Today, practice Jesus’ approach to lies and truth in the quiet.

Find a completely quiet space. No music, no phone, no distractions. Sit comfortably and invite the Holy Spirit to reveal both lies you’ve believedand truths you need to embrace.

Don’t be surprisedif accusations get louder in the silence. Write down what you hear without defendingor arguing. You might hear: “You’re not really a Christian,” “God is disappointed in you,” “You’ll never change,” “You’re not valuable.”

For each lie, don’t try to analyze where it came from or why it’s wrong. Instead, declare a specific truth from Scripture about your identity in Christ or listen to the Spirit remind you of truth.

Day 16 of our 47-day journey with Jesus to the cross.

Author & Voice: Becky Teixeira

As Jesus is arrested in Gethsemane, He does not resist or defend Himself—instead, He declares that “all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” In the face of betrayal and injustice, Christ anchors the moment not in chaos, but in the sovereign promises of God spoken long before through the Law and the Prophets. This episode reminds us that even in our darkest hours, God is a promise-keeper, and the obedience of Jesus proves that His redemptive plan cannot fail.

Scripture

1. Matthew 26:54-56

Reflection Questions

1. When I am discouraged or feel down, where do I tend to turn to for comfort? How can I instead ponder the gospel and God’s promises?
2. Where do I question God’s promises or plans for my life? Do I honestly believe He keeps His promises?
3. When I see Jesus’ willingness to endure the cross and suffer to be obedient to the Father’s will, how can I use that to reframe how I see my own seasons of suffering?

Kid-Friendly Question

1. The Bible says everything that happened to Jesus was part of God’s plan. How does it make you feel to know that God always keeps His promises? What’s one promise from the Bible that helps you when you feel scared, sad, or alone? How can you thank Jesus today for keeping every promise God made?

Spiritual Practice - Thankfulness & Worship

After fasting strips you bare, worship reorients your vision. You remember who sits on the throne—and it’s not you.

1. Begin with gratitude. List three ways Jesus has already met you in your weakness this week. Thank Him for praying for you. Let gratitude lead you into worship.
2. Name who God is. Pick a name of God and declare it out loud.
3. YHWH-Jireh, my Provider.
4. YHWH-Rapha, my Healer.
5. The Lord my Shepherd, who restores my soul.
6. As you speak these truths, let your heart realign with His authority and goodness.
7. Sing or speak your praise. Play a worship song orread apsalm aloud—Psalm 100, Psalm 103, or Psalm 145. Each declaration dethrones the idols of shame and self-reliance.
8. End in recognition, not performance. Sit quietly and whisper: “You are worthy.” Peter’s story didn’t end in silence—it ended in song. Let worship rise not from earning, but from beholding. Let your praise be the sound of a restored relationship. “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and Hiscourts with praise.” As you do, may your eyes lift from your failure to your faithful King—Jesus, the One who already planned your return.

Day 15 of our 47-day journey with Jesus to the cross.

Author & Voice: Chase Akin

When Peter draws his sword in Gethsemane, it seems like courage—but Jesus’ command to “put your sword back in its place” exposes a deeper misunderstanding about the nature of His Kingdom. The way of Christ is not advanced by self-reliant strength or anxious control, but by trust in the Father’s sovereign plan, even when it leads through suffering. In this episode, we confront our instinct to protect God with our own strategies and learn instead to surrender our swords, rest in His power, and follow the path of obedient faith.

Scripture

1. Matthew 26:51-52

Reflection Questions

1. Where in your life are you reaching for the sword instead of trusting God’s protection? What “kingdoms” are you trying to defend that God hasn’t asked you to fight for?
2. How does your typical response to crisis reveal what you really believe about God’s power and timing?

Kid-Friendly Question

1. When something scary happens, do you try to fix it yourself or ask for help? How can we remember that God is always bigger than our problems?

Spiritual Practice - Confession & Fasting

As you fast today, pay attention to what “swords” you instinctively reach for when discomfort hits. Use these confession prompts:

1. Write down three areas where you’ve been “stepping in front of God’s plan” with your own solutions. Confess specifically: “God, I’ve been trying to protect/control instead of trusting You with it.”

Day 14 of our 47-day journey with Jesus to the cross.

Author & Voice: Carlos Montoya

In the garden, Judas identifies Jesus not with a weapon, but with a kiss—an act meant to signify love, now twisted into betrayal. While Judas cloaks deception in affection and calls Him “Rabbi,” Jesus responds by calling him “friend,” revealing a heart that moves toward sinners even in the moment of treachery. This episode exposes the deceptive nature of sin and magnifies the greater truth of the gospel: the kiss that led to the cross became the doorway through which Christ bore our sins and made reconciliation possible.

Scripture

1. Matthew 26:47-50

Reflection Questions

1. Why did I circle the words in this passage? What do they say about what God is speaking to me?
2. How have I sinned and tried to mask it behind something good?
3. How does Jesus’ response to this betrayal challenge my understanding of forgiveness?

Kid-Friendly Question

1. What is your definition of a friend? Jesus calls us friends. How does that make you feel?

Spiritual Practice - Prayer

Spend some time asking God to reveal areas in your life where you have sinned and have masked them behind an action that you are using to justify your sin. Once He reveals these to you, spend some time praying and thanking God for the forgiveness of sins. A great practice is journaling your prayers to God, as He will continue to speak to you and reveal more of Him and your sin in your life that He is asking you to give over to Him.

Day 13 of our 47-day journey with Jesus to the cross.

Author: Elizabeth Parks

Voice: Molly Inskeep

As Jesus stands before an unjust tribunal, what appears to be weakness is actually restrained power and unwavering obedience. In declaring Himself the Son of Man who will be “seated at the right hand of Power,” Jesus points beyond the cross to His exaltation, victory, and coming glory. This episode reminds us that through union with Christ, believers share in that risen position—anchored not in present darkness, but in the eternal triumph of the One who reigns.

Scripture

1. Matthew 26:57-64, Ephesians 2:4-6

Reflection Questions

1. How do you think the disciples must have felt as they watched Jesus on trial before the high priest?
2. What situations in your life make you feel helpless or hopeless?
3. Never forget that this life is not the end of the story. Eternity awaits us, and no eye has seen, no ear has heard what awaits us there. Hope is never lost! What feels heavy or hopeless in your life right now? How does that situation change when you truly believe that eternity is your reality?

Kid-Friendly Question

1. How do you think Jesus felt when people said mean or untrue thingsabout Him?
2. Heaven is our forever home! What do you think heaven will be like? How does thinking about heaven make you feel better when things are hard?

Spiritual Practice - Meditation & Memorization

Spend some time memorizing and meditating on these verses:

“But God, being rich in mercy becauseof the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ – by grace you have been saved – and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:4-6

Day 12 of our 47-day journey with Jesus to the cross.

Author: Elizabeth Parks

Voice: Maddie Huang

In the garden, as betrayal unfolds and Jesus declares, “This is your hour, and the power of darkness,” it appears as though evil has won and the light has gone out. Yet this was no loss of control—Christ willingly stepped into that hour, submitting to the Father’s will to rescue those enslaved to sin and transfer them into His Kingdom. This episode invites us to face the reality of darkness with hope, remembering that its reign is temporary, but the victory of our crucified and risen King is eternal.

Scripture

1. Matthew 26:36-56, Luke 22:52-53

Reflection Questions

1. What troubles in your life are too powerful for the same power that raised Jesusfrom the grave?
2. How can you claim victory today as you look at what Jesus accomplished on the cross?

Kid-Friendly Question

1. Have you ever been afraid of the dark? How does knowing Jesus is always in control help you when you feel that way?

Spiritual Practice -Sabbath

Today, practice resting in Christ’s finished work—the truth that light still reigns, even when darkness feels near.

1. Stop: Cease striving. Lay down the need to prove yourself or finish the list. Whisper, “It is finished.”
2. Remember: Read Matthew 26:36–56 again. Picture Jesus calmly allowing His arrest—fully sovereign, yet choosing obedience.
3. Trust: Write down one thing you’re trying to control. Pray, “Jesus, You reign even here. I trust You.”
4. Rest: Spend 20 minutes in quiet. Breathe deeply and rest in the truth that He holds everything together—even while you stop.
5. Rejoice: End your Sabbath by singing or listening to All Hail King Jesus. Let worship replace worry and rest declare: the Light has already won.

Day 11 of our 47-day journey with Jesus to the cross.

Author & Voice: Jerrika Dickerson

In Gethsemane, at the height of His sorrow, Jesus invites His closest disciples to “watch with Me,” revealing that even the sinless Son of God did not embrace suffering in isolation. In His deepest anguish, He models both dependence on the Father and the importance of faithful companionship in seasons of trial. This episode calls us to draw near to Christ in prayer, walk with one another in suffering, and let what God forms in private overflow into bold, gospel-shaped living.

Scripture

1. Matthew 26:38, Mark 14:34

Reflection Questions

1. Where in your life are you spiritually wrestling? Have you invited your community to come near to you while you are vulnerable and sorrowful?
2. How are you sharing your testimony of transformation? What practical ways could you express your gospel transformation with those around you?

Kid-Friendly Question

1. Haveyour parents ever invited you in to help on a project? Do you think that they always needed your help, or do you think sometimes they just wanted to be with you? What do you think God invitesyou to do because He wants to be with you?

Spiritual Practice - Community & Evangelism

Practice community by sharing burdens in prayer today.

1. Either share your burdens with someone else and allow them the privilege of praying with you and walking with you
2. Or help someonetoday and be with them as they are carryinga burden to the Lord. Pray with them and intercede on their behalf
3. Finally, like all Saturdays during this season, consider sharing what Jesus has done. Share the gospel with someone who may need to hear that Jesus has been there before. He has walked through that.

Day 10 of our 47-day journey with Jesus to the cross.

Author & Voice: Maddie Huang

In Gethsemane, we witness the crushing sorrow of the sinless Son of God as He begins to bear the weight of the cup set before Him. His grief was not fear of physical pain, but the staggering reality of carrying human sin and facing the wrath our rebellion deserved. In this episode, we stand on holy ground—seeing both the depth of Christ’s love and the hope we have because He entered our sorrow, surrendered in obedience, and secured redemption for all who trust in Him.

Scripture

1. Matthew 26:36-39

Reflection Questions

1. When your heart is heavy, what is your default response—distraction, striving, or stillness?
2. What does Gethsemane teach you about the emotional life of Jesus?
3. Where do you need to stop runningand begin watchingwith Him?
4. Who around you might need your quietpresence more than your advice?
5. If you are not in a season of sorrow, how might Jesus be inviting you to carry someone else’s burden—or to prepare your heart for a future season of grief?

Kid-Friendly Question

1. When you’re sad, do you talk to Jesus? If you sat with Him in a quiet place to pray, what do you think He would say to you?

Spiritual Practice - Silence & Stillness

Don’t rush past the garden.

Set aside time today to be still before God—notto ask, not to fix, not to explain. Just be. Let silence hold space for sorrow. Let the stillnessreveal what you’re carrying. And let Jesus meet you there.

1. Sit in silencefor 10 minutes.
2. If your mind wanders, return to this simple prayer: “Jesus, You know sorrow. You are with me here.”
3. Sometimes, the victoryis not found in doing, but in staying. Not in words, but in presence. Not in conquering sorrow, but in meeting God in the middle of it.

Day 9 of our 47-day journey with Jesus to the cross.

Author & Voice: Savon Pena

In the garden, Jesus commands His disciples to “watch and pray,” even as they succumb to weakness—yet He Himself returns again and again to the Father in persistent, obedient prayer. Where the disciples’ flesh failed, Christ remained vigilant, surrendering fully to the Father’s will and moving steadfastly toward the cross. This episode invites us to behold an obedience that not only secured our salvation, but also stirs our gratitude and calls us into worshipful, vigilant dependence on God.

Scripture

1. Matthew 26:41,44

Reflection Questions

1. What is an area in your life where your spirit feels willing, but your flesh feels weak? How can prayer help you stay alert in that moment?
2. How does Jesus’ obedience even when he was tired, sorrowful and facing the cross lead you to worship and trust him more?
3. Why do you think Jesus kept praying the same words repeatedly in the garden? What does that teach you about how God wants you to pray?

Kid-Friendly Question

1. How late could you stay up at night doing your favorite thing? What if I told you we would stay up that late just praying? Could you do it? Why or why not?

Spiritual Practice - Thankfulness & Worship

1. Push yourself towards longer thanksgiving today. In light of Jesus’ long prayer night, give yourself plenty of time today to thank and praise the Lord without asking for anything. You can listen to music, sing, read a psalm, but give yourself plenty of time for this today.