Sunday: A New Commandment — John 13:31-35
After giving His disciples a concrete example of servanthood (footwashing), Jesus went on to exhort them in the importance of love. Jesus knew He wouldn’t be with them much longer, and He wanted to leave them with wisdom concerning how to deal with every relationship they encounter—that of love: love towards God, and love for their fellow man. Jesus knows that the characteristic that would have the most influence on the world, is love. Indeed, that’s why it’s said, “They’ll know we are Christians by our love.”
Monday: Worldly Greatness — Luke 22:24-25
Lord John Acton (1834-1902) said, “Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” This was a lesson the disciples truly needed to learn. Even after seeing their Lord kneel and wash their feet, like a humble servant, the disciples still bickered among themselves trying to determine a hierarchy of who was the greatest among them. The word used for “greatest” in this passage is “meizon” and is basically translated as “pertaining to the perception of being in authority.” The disciples weren’t so much concerned about who had the actual authority, they really wanted to know who the people thought had the most authority among them. Because of their pride, it was the perception that troubled them.
Tuesday: Kingdom Greatness — Luke 22:26-30
Jesus cautioned that the Kingdom of Heaven was about service, and not about who had authority. It’s not that authority didn’t exist among Jesus’ followers, but it was how they exercised that authority that was important. He instructed that they should be like the “youngest,” unassuming and ready to listen and learn. They should be servants to one another. They should be humble and willing to give everything to help their brother, just as He came as a humble servant and was willing to give up His life for us.
Wednesday: To Sift You as Wheat — Luke 22:31-32
Jesus told Peter that Satan had asked permission to “sift him as wheat.” Jesus is predicting the temptation that will befall Peter. This temptation would shake Peter to the core and reveal his weakness. Even knowing this would happen, Jesus encouraged Peter to strengthen the brethren after the experience.
Thursday: Predicting a Denial — Luke 22:33-34; John 13:36-38
Jesus predicts that Peter will deny Him. To his credit, Peter says that is impossible because he’s willing to even follow Jesus to His death. But this is an example of being willing to “talk the talk,” but unable to “walk the walk.” Peter was full of bravado when his life didn’t depend on it, and lost his courage when faced with the very real probability of imminent danger.
Friday: New Traveling Preparations — Luke 22:35-38
Jesus began this sad discourse by reminding the disciples of happier days. “Those were the easy times,” Jesus told them. “But once I am gone, you will face hardships and hostilities.” When the Master was with them, they needed little preparation. Now that the Master was leaving He wanted them to be prepared and ready to be flexible no matter what they were called to do. Jesus recognized that His disciples had to be reliant on God and also prepared for whatever trials and temptations might come.
Saturday: The Lord’s Supper Instituted — Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14-20
Jesus intended that His disciples partake of the Lord’s Supper, even after He was gone from this world, as a remembrance of Him. He wanted them to continue to do this very act—that of sharing in the cup and breaking of the bread—just as He was doing with them now, so that in the future they would have a reminder of who He was and what He represented.