Lesson 23: Matthew 26; Mark 14; Luke 22; John 18

June 10-16
Matthew 26; Mark 14; Luke 22; John 18
"Not as I Will, but as Thou Wilt"

Materials: picture of the partaking of the sacrament (link below), picture of the last supper (link below), picture of Christ in Gethsemane, scriptures, coloring page (link below)

Opening Song: "Gethsemane" For sing-along video click here.
Opening Prayer:
Scripture: Moroni 10:32 "Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God."

Attention Activity:
Show a picture of the partaking of the sacrament like the one here. What is happening in this picture? When do we take the sacrament? Why do we take the sacrament? What do the bread and water represent?

Lesson:
Last week we talked about when Jesus met with his apostles on the night of the Passover Feast. He washed their feet and instructed them to "love one another as I have loved you." After they ate dinner, or supper, Jesus took some bread, broke it into pieces, and gave it to the apostles. He said, "This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. " (Luke 22: 19)

Show a picture of the Last Supper like In Remembrance of Me, by Walter Rane

Read Matthew 26: 27-28. Jesus said that the wine was symbolic of the blood he shed for you. When Christ says his blood is the "new testament," he means a new covenant. Partaking of the bread and wine is a covenant with God. 

Christ then told them that one of his apostles would soon betray him and he left with Peter, James, and John to go to the Mount of Olives, to a garden called, Gethsemane. When they came to the mount, Jesus asked Peter, James, and John to pray. He then went off by himself to pray. Read Luke 22: 41-46. When Jesus went to pray "his soul was exceedingly sorrowful [or sad]." This was because he was suffering for all of our sins. During this special prayer, he felt the suffering and sins of the whole world. The pain was so great, he actually sweat drops of blood. 

*** There are a lot of touching works of art depicting the Savior's suffering in Gethsemane, Please choose your favorite to display as you teach your family about the atonement.***

This was the most important event of all time. It is called the atonement. When Jesus prayed and suffered for our sins, he made it possible for us to repent so that we could live with Heavenly Father again. Sometimes we refer to this as "grace" as in the "grace of Jesus Christ." When we repent, we are utilizing the gift of the atonement. Brother Tad Callister, former General Sunday School President said this about the atonement: "It was to make possible for us to return to God's presence, become more like Him, and have a fulness of joy. This was done by overcoming four obstacles: 1. physical death 2. spiritual death caused by Adam and by our sins 3. Our afflictions and infirmities 4. Our weaknesses and imperfections." Christ's Atonement was not just to redeem us from our sins. He also suffered our afflictions (injuries), infirmities (disabilities), weaknesses, and imperfections. 

Optional videos: "The Last Supper" Bible Video via ChurchOfJesusChrist.org (6 min.)
                            "The Savior Suffers in Gethsemane" via ChurchofJesusChrist.org  (8 min.)

Hold up the picture of the partaking of the sacrament from the beginning of the lesson. Each week, we attend church to participate in the ordinance of the sacrament. We do this to renew our covenants with God and to remember the atonement of Jesus Christ. The hymn we sing before the sacrament is blessed always has lyrics to remind us of the atonement and sacrifice of Jesus. The bread we eat reminds us of Christ's body which was slain for us. We will talk more about Jesus' death next week. The water we drink during the sacrament represents the blood of Jesus Christ that was shed in Gethsemane and upon the cross. 

For older children and teens: remind your family the Christ referred to himself as the "bread of life." He also referred to himself as the "living water." Bread and water were often used by the Savior as symbols. What were some ways we've discussed previously how Jesus is like bread? Like water? 

How do you feel you are doing to remember Jesus and think about Him as you take the sacrament? What could we do better to stay focused on Christ while we take the sacrament? (sing the hymn, read the lyrics of the sacrament hymns, read scriptures about the sacrament or the atonement, read a story depicting the atonement, think about Jesus, look at pictures of Jesus, etc.) 

Encourage your family to try hard this upcoming Sunday to think about Jesus and the atonement as they partake of the sacrament. Bear your testimony of the atonement and the sacrament. 


Activity: Have your children color the this coloring page. On top of the page, have them write one thing they are going to do to remember the Savior as they take the sacrament this week. 


Closing Song: "To Think about Jesus" (Children's Songbook, 71)
Closing Prayer:

Refreshment: Red Velvet Sandwich cookies For Recipe Click Here