Lesson Continued...

. Warm Up

For younger kids: What is the latest you have ever stayed awake? Did you find it hard to stay awake and not go to sleep? Or have you ever tried really hard to stay up late for something, but you just couldn't stay awake? Today, we're going to learn about a time when Jesus was praying in a garden, but disciples couldn't stay awake!

For older kids: Has someone ever accused you of doing something you didn't do? How did it make you feel? How did you respond? Today, we're going to learn about a time when Jesus was arrested even though he had done nothing wrong, and we will see how he responded.

Teach the Story

Jesus praying in Gethsemane is another story within the Holy Week stories that occurs in all 4 gospel accounts. We chose to use the Matthew version as the basis of the story, but we strongly encourage you to read all four versions to get a complete picture.

This story happens right after the Last Supper and Jesus washing the disciples feet. Matthew 26:30 provides the transition point to this story: "Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives." The Mount of Olives is a place that has a rich Bible history. Going all the way back to the time of David in the Old Testament, when it was known as Mount Olivet (see 2 Samuel 15:30-32), to the New Testament - a lot happened at the Mount of Olives.

The Garden of Gethsemane is an olive garden at the base of the hill. For more information about the Mount of Olives, see BibleWalks.com. The olive trees in Garden of Gethsemane are among some of the oldest on earth (nearly 1,000 years old!)

Several important things happened at the Garden of Gethsemane that night.

1. Jesus prayed. We see Jesus' humanity and a glimpse inside the trinity in this prayer. Being God, he knew what he was getting ready to go through. But he prays to the Father and asks him to not let him go through the suffering if possible. And then he utters the famous words that are a model of our submission to God: "Yet not as I will, but as you will." (Matthew 26:39)

2. Jesus asked Peter, James and John to keep watch. His disciples knew something was up. Jesus had been predicting his death for some time, and just before they left the upper room where they had dinner, he predicted that Judas was going to be betray him. Then Judas gets up and leaves the room! 

3. The disciples couldn't stay awake. Three times Jesus came back from praying by himself and found the disciples sleeping. Sometimes we think the disciples were super-human. And with the power of the Holy Spirit they did some pretty amazing things in the early days of the church. But they were also regular guys. Guys who got tired and fell asleep on one of the most important nights in human history.

4. Judas betrayed Jesus. Judas came back to join them, but this time with a gang of men and a crowd in riot mode. Judas had agreed to hand over Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. And then he arranged a signal with them. The man he walked up and kissed would be the man they should arrest. 

5. Peter cut off one of the soldier's ears and Jesus healed him. As the men were arresting Jesus, Peter (always the impulsive one!) drew his sword and cut off the ear of one of the soldiers. Matthew, Mark, and Luke don't name the disciple that did this, but we learn it was Peter in the book of John. Just a couple hours before this, Jesus predicted that Peter was going to deny him, and Peter said, "No way!". He was ready for a fight! But Jesus rebuked him and healed the man's ear. Jesus told them that what was getting ready to happen must happen to fulfill God's will. 

6. Peter denied Jesus. Shortly after praying with Jesus (or attempting to at least!) and trying to cut off the ear of a soldier trying arrest Jesus, Peter denied that he knew Jesus 3 times. We don't know exactly why Peter denies Jesus, but it was surely a low point for him. Perhaps he was scared he would be arrested too. 

After this happened, the men drug Jesus away to stand trial and the events that led to his death were beginning to unfold.

Comprehension Questions

• What happened right before Jesus and the disciples went to the Garden of Gethsemane?

The Last Supper

• What was the name of the mountain the Garden of Gethsemane is on?

The Mount of Olives

• Which disciples did Jesus take with him?

Peter, James and John

• Why did Jesus take his disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane?

To pray

• What did the disciples do while Jesus was praying?

They were sleeping

• Which disciple brought the Jewish leaders and soldiers to arrest Jesus?

Judas

• What did the Jewish leaders give Judas as payment to turn Jesus over to them?

30 pieces of silver

• How did Judas signal to the soldiers which man to arrest?

He kissed Jesus

• What did Peter do when they were arresting Jesus?

He cut off one of the soldier's ears with a sword

• What did Jesus do in response?

He told Peter to put away his sword and he healed the man's ear

• As Jesus was praying that night, he told his Father that even though he knew what he was getting ready to go through would be painful, he would do it if it was his will. Are you willing to do what God asks of you? Can you say, "Not my will but yours be done God"?

Memory Verse 

Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved. (Acts 16:31 ESV) 

Directions

1. Let the kids pick construction paper and cut long strips. 

2. Have them write "not" on one, "my" on one, "will" on one, "but" on one, "your's" on one, "be" on one, and "done" on one. 

3. Have them link the papers together to form a chain with a blank strip in between each word as shown in the picture above.

Directions

1. Give each child a piece of construction paper and have them trace and cut out their hands. 
2. Next have them write on and decorate each hand. The words should include "not my will" on one hand and "but your will" on the other.
3. Have them tape or glue them on craft sticks.

Directions

1. Act out the story as a group and let the kids take turn being different characters! 

Directions

1. Let the kids get in groups of 2 or 3 and give them some legos to act out the story together.