At the proclamation of the New Covenant between God and man, the disciples sung a hymn (Matt 26:30). They worshipped. They understood that Jesus was surely doing for them what they could never do for themselves.

Or did they?

For after they sang, they went on to the Mount of Olives where Jesus said, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me” (Matt 26:31).

Despite Peter’s adamant protest (Matt 26:33), they would fail. And not just Peter.

All of them.

I’ve read this passage hundreds of times of times, but I’m not sure that I ever noticed that Jesus told them that each of them would fail Him.

Peter, I got. Peter, I’ve written about, but how did I miss that Jesus told them that every one of them would be made to stumble because of Him?

Because of Him.

Things would get so bad, what would happen that night would cause fear so horrific, that those who had been so close, the disciples who had seen the miracles, would each stumble and scatter.

Because of Jesus, because they were His disciples, they knew they had targets on their backs.

And so do we.

We have a culture that tramples our faith all day long and an enemy who tempts us to question it all and walk away.

I see it.
I feel it.
I’ve stumbled.

But we have something those disciples didn’t have yet. Because Jesus defeated death and the Holy Spirit would come to live inside believers, we have powerful help to squash our fear, remind us of truth, and strengthen us at just the right time.

But we have to learn to listen to His voice above the noise and the lies of this loud, dark world.

The Holy Spirit will remind us of truth to extinguish the fiery darts of the evil one at just the right time. Have you heard His voice?

He will help us know the way to take as we ask Him to direct our steps. Do you know?

Oh friends, God is with those who call Him Lord, because He went to the Cross and defeated death. He won’t leave us. He is in us. He has us. May we learn to listen for His voice and hold tight to Him in obedience.

And may we also remember, as we sometimes stumble, as we are still clothed in flesh, that God’s mercies are new every morning—this morning. (See Lam 3:22-23).

So let’s just keep getting back up, let’s listen for His voice and walk towards Him, and let’s help others to do so along the way.

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