Lesson 3: Jesus is arrested.
Passage: Matthew 26:47-56 - After Jesus spent the night praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, Judas arrived with a crowd armed with swords and clubs to take Jesus under arrest. Judas walked over to Jesus and greeted him with a kiss. This was the signal that he used to show the people who to arrest. When the men stepped forward to arrest Jesus, Peter took our his sword and struck the servant of the high priest in the ear. Jesus instructed Peter to put his sword away and spoke to the crowd saying that he is not leading a rebellion and that there was no need for them to come at him swords and clubs. After this, Jesus is taken under arrest and the disciples run away in fear.
Big Idea: Jesus’ way is peace.
For Teachers:
Lesson plan.
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Welcome — Activity Leader
Have the children sit in a circle on the circle time rug. Welcome them to class and introduce yourselves.
Warm Up Activity: Storytime — Activity Leader
Read: “Loved” (from Lord’s Prayer book)
Preliminary Discussion — Bible Story Leader
Today we are going to be continuing our Easter story. So far, we learned about Jesus’ last supper with his friends, then we learned about Jesus praying to God in the garden when he was scared.
Today is all about Jesus being taken under arrest by the people who didn’t like him.
Let’s watch our vide to find out more…
Video Lesson — Bible Story Leader
Follow Up Discussion — Bible Story Leader
Can anyone remember the name of Jesus’ friend who tried to protect him when Jesus was about to be arrested?
How did Peter try to help Jesus? What did Jesus say about this? What did Jesus do next?
Why do you think that Jesus didn’t want to fight back against the people who were trying to arrest him?
Do you think that it's hard not to fight back when others are being mean? What do you think is a better thing to do?
Prayer — Bible Story Leader
"Dear God, thank you for the story we learned today about how Jesus refused to fight back even though he was being treated so unfairly. Thank you for how this teaches us that Jesus loves peace, and that it is better to be kind and peaceful to others even when they’re not being kind to us. Please help us to do the right thing and think about what Jesus would do when we go through hard things. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Activity: Jesus Arrested Mural — Activity Leader
Kids will add to our mural by making a torn paper mosaic to represent the sadness of being betrayed and arrested. Kids are encouraged to make a landscape or a picture of Jesus, his disciples, some soldiers… however they interpret the story.
If a child is not interested in the activity, allow them to move to free play.
Dismissal: Collect tags and make sure each child leaves with their caregiver.
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Welcome — Activity Leader
Have the children sit near the TV. Welcome them to class. Introduce yourselves.
Warm Up Activity: Storytime — Activity Leader
Read: “Bare Tree and Little Wind”
Preliminary Discussion — Bible Story Leader
Today we are going to be continuing our Easter story. So far, we learned about Jesus’ last supper with his disciples, then we learned about Jesus praying to God in the garden when he was scared.
Today is all about Jesus being taken under arrest by the religious leaders who didn’t like him.
Let’s watch our video to find out more…
Video Lesson — Bible Story Leader
Follow Up Discussion — Bible Story Leader
Can anyone remember what the signal was that Judas used to betray Jesus to the people who wanted to arrest him?
Which of the disciples tried to protect Jesus? How did Peter try to do this? What did Jesus say and do next?
What do you think that tells us about Jesus that he didn’t want to fight back?
Do you think it’s difficult to be peaceful when others aren’t being peaceful towards us?
Prayer — Bible Story Leader
"Dear God, thank you for the story we learned today about Jesus being taken under arrest, and what it teaches us about Jesus’ way of peace .Thank you that Jesus always practiced what he preached, and showed us the best way to live, that is to always show peace and kindness to people even when they are not doing the same to us. Please help us to do the right thing in difficult situations, just like Jesus showed us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Activity: Jesus Arrested Mural — Activity Leader
Kids will add to our mural by making a torn paper mosaic to represent the sadness of being betrayed and arrested. Kids are encouraged to make a landscape or a picture of Jesus, his disciples, some soldiers… however they interpret the story.
Dismissal: Collect tags and make sure each child leaves with their caregiver.
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Welcome — Activity Leader
Welcome the kids to class, introduce yourselves.
Warm Up Activity: Heads Up Seven Up — Activity Leader
Choose seven volunteers (or fewer, depending on the size of the group). The rest of the kids will sit on the floor with their eyes closed (with space to walk around) and their thumbs up.
The volunteers silently tap the thumb of one kid each and return to the front of the room. The seven kids whose thumbs were picked stand up and try to guess who tapped them.
If they guess correctly, they get to be a picker next round. If not, they sit back down and the person who picked them gets to stay up for another round.
Preliminary Discussion — Bible Story Leader
Today we are continuing on with our Easter story, which is all about the last week of Jesus’ life on earth.
Can anyone remember what we have learned about so far?
What’s one interesting thing that you’ve taken away from the story?
Today we’re going to be hearing about the part of the story where Jesus is betrayed by Judas and taken under arrest by the religious leaders.
Let’s watch our video to find out more…
Video Lesson — Bible Story Leader
Follow Up Discussion — Bible Story Leader
Can anyone remember what the signal was that Judas used to betray Jesus to the people who wanted to arrest him?
Which of the disciples tried to protect Jesus? How did Peter try to do this? What did Jesus say and do after this?
What do you think that tells us about Jesus that he didn’t want to fight back?
Do you think it’s difficult to be peaceful when others aren’t being peaceful towards us? Have you ever had a similar experience?
Prayer — Bible Story Leader
“Dear God, thank you for the story we learned today about Jesus being taken under arrest, and what it teaches us about Jesus’ way of peace .Thank you that Jesus always practiced what he preached, and showed us the best way to live, that is to always show peace and kindness to people even when they are not doing the same to us. Please help us to do the right thing in difficult situations, just like Jesus showed us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Activity: Jesus Arrested Mural — Activity Leader
Kids will add to our mural by making a torn paper mosaic to represent the sadness of being betrayed and arrested. Kids are encouraged to make a landscape or a picture of Jesus, his disciples, some soldiers… however they interpret the story.
Dismissal: Collect tags and make sure each child leaves with their caregiver.
For Parents:
Follow-up questions.
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What was the Bible story that you learned about in class today?
How did Judas end up betraying Jesus? (he brought people to arrest him)
Which of Jesus’ friends tried to protect him? (Peter)
How did Peter try to do this? (fighting back with a sword)
Did Jesus like it that Peter was fighting back? Why not?
Is it hard not to fight back when people are treating us badly? Why do you think it’s better not to fight? What are other things we can do instead?
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What was the Bible story that you learned about in class today?
What was the signal that Judas used to betray Jesus? What do you think that tells us about what kind of friend Judas was?
Which of Jesus’ disciples tried to protect him? How did he do so?
What was Jesus’ response to Peter fighting back with a sword? What do you think that tells us about Jesus?
Has there ever been a time when you wanted to fight back against someone who was treating you badly? What do you think is the best thing to do in that kind of situation?
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What was the Bible story that you learned about in class today?
What was the signal that Judas used to betray Jesus? What do you think that tells us about what kind of friend Judas was?
Which of Jesus’ disciples tried to protect him? How did he do so?
What was Jesus’ response to this? What do you think that says about Jesus?
Do you think that Jesus’ way of peace a difficult one to follow? Why or why not?
