38. Jesus Is Betrayed

What the Story Says

1. What does the Passover celebrate?

   It celebrates how God saved the Jews from slavery in Egypt (#38-01).

2. What did Jesus tell the disciples would happen to him in Jerusalem after the Passover?

   He told them that he would be killed there (#38-01).

3. What did Judas offer to do for the Jewish leaders in exchange for money?

   He offered to betray Jesus to the so they could kill Jesus (#38-02).

4. What did Jesus say the bread he broke represented?

   Jesus said the bread was his body, which he would give for the disciples (#38-04).

5. What did Jesus say the cup of wine he drank represented?

   Jesus said the cup of wine was the New Covenant in his blood, which he would pour out for the disciples (#38-05).

6. As Jesus and the disciples walked to the Mount of Olives, what did Jesus say the disciples would all do that night?

   Jesus said the disciples would all abandon him, like sheep scattering when their shepherd is struck (#38-08).

7. What did Jesus say that Peter would do before the rooster crowed that night?

   He said Peter would deny three times that he even knew Jesus (#38-09).

8. What did Jesus ask his Father to do when he prayed in the garden?

   Jesus asked his Father not to make him drink the cup of suffering. But he also asked his Father to do his will even if there was no other way except for Jesus to die (#38-12).

9. What did the disciples do instead of watching with Jesus?

   They fell asleep, because they were very tired (#38-13).

10. How did Judas betray Jesus to the crowd?

    He pretended to honor Jesus by greeting him with a kiss (#38-14).

11. What did Jesus do for the servant of the high priest?

    Jesus headed the servant after Peter cut off his ear with a sword (#38-15).

What the Story Means to Us

1. Why did the disciples not suspect that Judas would betray Jesus?

   Judas appeared to be just like the other disciples. In fact, they trusted him so much that they put him in charge of their shared money bag. Judas fooled all of the disciples. Jesus alone knew that he would betray Jesus.

2. What new meaning did Jesus reveal about the Passover meal?

   Jesus said the bread and the cup of wine at the Passover meal would remind the disciples that Jesus gave his body and shed his blood in order to save them.

3. Why do you think the disciples did not believe that they would abandon Jesus?

   The disciples thought they were brave enough to stand with Jesus. They were offended when he warned them that they would flee. Therefore, they fell asleep instead of watching and praying as Jesus had asked them. As a result, they were not able to stand with him when Judas and the crowd came for Jesus.

4. What does Jesus prayer to his Father in the garden teach us about doing God's will?

   Jesus did not want to suffer and die, and asked his Father to spare him. However, Jesus was also willing to suffer in order to do his Father's will. He knew that there was no other way for sinners to be saved if he did not die for them. Therefore, he was willing to be arrested and killed.

5. Why did the Jewish leaders need Judas to betray Jesus?

   Jesus taught publicly every day, but the Jewish leaders were afraid to arrest him in front of the crowds who came to listen to him. The needed Judas to tell them when Jesus would be in a secluded place so they could arrest him in secret.

6. Why do you think Peter stuck the servant of the high priest with his sword?

   Peter did not understand that Jesus must die for sinners. He had not listened each time Jesus told him this would happen. Therefore, he wrongly tried to save Jesus by force. But Jesus rebuked Peter, and even healed the servant that Peter struck. He did not want his servants to prevent his arrest.

Summary

Jesus understood that the Passover meal represented the way Jesus would suffer and die for sinner. He explained this to his disciples, but they did not understand him or believe that he would die. None of the disciples prayed or prepared for the time when Jesus would be betrayed. Even worse, his own disciple, Judas, betrayed him. Then the other disciples ran away. However, this did not surprise Jesus. He knew they would leave him, and that he would die. That was the reason for which he came into the world.