VERSES: Matthew 26:17-29; Mark 14:12-25; Luke 22:7-23
MEMORY VERSES: Luke 22:19 "...do this in remembrance of me."
BOOK TO REMEMBER: Daniel. Write "Daniel" on small slips of paper for the students to take home and memorize.
PRAYER: Pray that we always do things God's way and not what we think is best.
SPECIAL SONG: Jesus Loves Me (see February 2014 - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #2 on this blog.) No, Not One (see June 2014 - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #6 on this blog. Click on orange circles to hear tune.)
LESSON POINTS:
- Finally, the Day of the Unleavened Bread or the Passover had come and the Passover lamb needed to be prepared. Jesus instructed Peter and John to go and prepare the Passover lamb. When they asked where they should prepare it, Jesus told Peter and John to go into the city. He said as they entered the city, they would meet a man carrying a pitcher of water. Jesus said to follow the man into a house. Then, they were to ask the good man of that house, 'The Master asks where is the guest chamber where He should eat the Passover with His disciples?' The man would show them a large furnished upstairs room and it was there that they should get everything ready for the Passover. Peter and John did exactly as Jesus said and everything that Jesus said happened.
- When it was evening, Jesus came to that upper room with the twelve disciples. He sat down and ate at the table with His disciples. Jesus knew that it would soon be time to suffer on the cross, so He told His disciples that He wanted to eat the Passover with them before it was time for Him to suffer. He said that He would not be eating anymore with them until the kingdom of God was fulfilled.
- Jesus then said something very interesting. He said that one of the twelve men who sat with Him right there at the table would betray Him. Soon, everyone was asking, "Is it I? Is it I?" Jesus answered and said that it was one who dipped his hand with Him in the dish. Jesus said how sad it would be for the one who betrayed Him. He said that it would have been better if that person had never been born.
- We learned last time who had plotted with the chief priests to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver! What was his name? It was Judas. Judas did not think that Jesus knew it was him who had betrayed Him to the chief priests because even Judas pretended to be innocent and asked Jesus, "Is it I?" just like the other disciples. But Jesus did know all about Judas and what he had done. Jesus simply said to him, "You have said."
- Then, as they were eating,Jesus took the unleavened bread, blessed it, and gave it to His disciples. Jesus told everyone, "Take, eat; this is my body. Do this in remembrance of me." Then, Jesus took the cup, gave thanks for it, and gave the cup to the disciples, too. Jesus said, "Drink all of it. For this is my blood of the New Testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins."
- This same unleavened bread and fruit of the vine that was in the cup is what is used in the worship of the church today. The unleavened bread is a symbol of His body on the cross and the fruit of the vine or grape juice is taken by Christians to remember Jesus' blood that was shed on the cross. The disciples might not have entirely understood what Jesus was saying at this last supper, but they would remember later and do exactly as Jesus commanded.
"Older Student" Tips:
- Jesus knows everything. He knew when and how he was going to die and He knew it was Judas who was going to betray Him. We need to remember that Jesus knows what we do even when other people do not. Judas would suffer the consequences of that terrible deed of betraying Jesus and we, too, will pay for our wicked deeds. let us always do those good things that the Lord would be proud of.
- Some people mistakenly teach that the unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine really become Jesus' body and blood, but that is not what is said here in these verses or in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26. In the worship of the Lord's church, this memorial is called the Lord's Supper and it is taken every first day of the week (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26). That is why Christians continue to partake in the Lord's Supper today. God wants it that way.
Materials needed: 9" x 12" brown construction paper, 4.5" x 12" tan construction paper, twelve different colors of scrap construction paper, scissors, crayons, marker, tape, glue.
- Hand out brown construction paper.
- Fold brown paper in half, lengthwise.
- Fold brown paper in half again, lengthwise.
- Unfold paper.
- Fold two edges of the paper, so they meet in the middle.
- Tape edges together.
- On one 'panel, write "The Last Supper" and "Matthew 26:17-29."
- Unfold paper, so that it stands up like a table. This is the table.
- Cut twelve heads with necks out of tan paper.
- Cut twelve shirts out of different colored scraps of paper.
- Draw faces and hair on both sides of all twelve heads.
- Glue shirts on to all twelve necks.
- Select one person to be Jesus.
- Write "Jesus" across his shirt.
- Apply glue to the bottom of ten shirts, including Jesus.
- Beginning with Jesus, glue Jesus to the middle of the side of the table.
- Glue and press nine more men around the two long edges of the table.
- On the two remaining men, fold the bottom of each man's shirt up 1/2".
- Apply glue only to edge of these two men's shirts.
- On the short edges of the table, press the bottom edge of one man's shirts under the table.
