Growing Kids in Grace: Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane

Lesson: Jesus obeyed the Father's Will

1. Lesson (based on Luke 22:39-53)

Last week we learned about Jesus celebrating the Passover meal with his disciples. Anyone remembers what Jesus did after the meal? (broke bread and gave the cup) What does the bread and cup signify for us? (broken body and shed blood of Jesus)
After the dinner, Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. His disciples followed Him.
When they reached the garden, He told them to stay there and pray, while He went a short distance away by Himself.

Then Jesus went on His knees and prayed. “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me.”
Jesus knew He was going to die soon. He knew it would be a terrible death. He would suffer and be in pain. He would be taking on God’s punishment and judgment for the sins of the whole world. He would be separated from the Father.
This prompted Him to ask God if it’s possible for Him to not take this cup of judgment.
He was in so much anguish that His sweat dropped to the ground like drops of blood!
But thankfully for all of us, Jesus continued to say “Yet not My will, but Yours be done.”
In the beginning of creation, there was Adam in the Garden of Eden. Adam disobeyed God’s instructions to eat from the Tree of the knowledge of good and evil. (Gen 3) He wanted to be like God and make decisions on his own about what was good/evil. Because of His disobedience, sin entered the world and we were all separated from God.
In this Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was fully man yet also fully God. But He subjected Himself not to His own will, but to the will of God. And because of His obedience, our sins could all be paid for and we can be reconciled with God!
TQ Jesus for obeying the Father and taking the cup of punishment for us!

Jesus’ disciples followed Him to the garden. Jesus told them to wait and pray.
But when He went to see them, they were fast asleep!
Those closest to Him were not there to support Him! Only God’s angels came to minister to Him in His time of greatest need.
And to make matters worse, one of His own disciples, Judas Iscariot, came bringing a crowd of soldiers to arrest Jesus. As a sign, Judas tried to give Jesus a kiss on the cheek, so the soldiers knew who to arrest. Your own friend, turning you over to your enemies, and insulting you with a kiss! How do you think Jesus felt?
But Jesus did not try to run away. He did not attack the soldiers. One of His disciples, Peter, actually cut off the ear of the High Priest’s servant, but Jesus touched the man’s ear and healed him!
Jesus stepped forward and allowed Himself to be arrested, out of love for you and me!
TQ Jesus for offering yourself willingly for us!

When Judas came with the soldiers, one of Jesus’ disciples, Peter, struck the servant of the High Priest and cut off his right ear!
Jesus could have taken opportunity of that moment to run away and hide. Instead, He reprimanded His disciple and touched the servant’s ear and healed him!
In fact, when the soldiers said they were looking for Jesus, twice Jesus said that He was the one (John 18:5, 8).
When the time came for someone to pay for the sins of the world, Jesus stood up and said, “I am He!”
TQ Jesus that You were willing to take my place and die for my sins!

2. Activity Suggestions

Sharing in prayer in small groups: What does what Jesus did in that Garden mean to you?

Growing Kids in Grace