Class 18 – The Last Supper and Gethsemane
Suggested Pre-Class Readings
Read Luke 22:1-46. What is the main event Christ initiates at the Last Supper in Luke? (it’s the same in Matthew and Mark).
What does Luke describe about the events of Gethsemane? (note: Luke refers to the “mount of Olives” (this is where Gethsemane is located). Make a note in your scriptures by Luke 22:44 connecting it with Mosiah 3:7 and Doctrine and Covenants 19:16-19. How do these verses from Restoration scripture influence your understanding of Luke 22:44?
Read John 13. What is the main event Christ initiates at the Last Supper in John? What is the new commandment that Christ gives?
Read John 14. As you read Christ’s comforting words, remember that in context he is giving them as he is about to face the most challenging 20 hours ever known.
What is the “I am” statement in this chapter? What phases stand out to you from this chapter?
Read John 15-16. What is the “I am” statement in chapter 15? What does Jesus teach about the role of the Holy Ghost? (see 15:26, 16:13-14) What phases stand out to you from these chapters?
Read John 17. Note–Jesus says this prayer before entering Gethsemane.
How does Jesus define eternal life in 17:3?
What does this prayer teach us about unity (both within the Godhead, us and the Godhead, and amongst believers in Jesus Christ?)
Read John 18:1-3. What does John omit? Given what you know about John’s themes, why might this have been omitted?
Questions to focus on
Understand why a precise ordering of the events at the Last Supper is not possible.
Know which main event happened at the Last Supper in the Synoptics and in John.
According to John, what was the final commandment Jesus gave his disciples?
What do we learn about unity from John 17?
Note the only specific verses that teach Christ suffered for our sins in Gethsemane, and the only New Testament book that speaks of Christ sweat being “as drops of blood.”
What lesson do we learn from the ancient road near Gethsemane?
Compare and contrast the accounts of the Savior’s arrest? How do Matthew/Mark present a “human Jesus,” Luke, a “healing Jesus,” and John, a “divine Jesus”?
Optional Post-Class Readings
“The Use of Gethsemane by Church Leaders, 1859–2018” by John Hilton III explores what church leaders have taught over time about Gethsemane (the results might surprise you!)
This video depicts what the four Gospel accounts teach regarding Christ in Gethsemane may be helpful for you in deepening your understanding of what transpired in Gethsemane.
In class we talked about some lessons we can learn from how Christ prayed. To learn more about patterns in how Book of Mormon prophets (as well as Christ) pray, read this post. It contains a link to all the passages in the Book of Mormon where prophets pray.
Acknowledgements
Insights from, discussions with, and resources authored by Dr. Frank Judd, Dr. Matthew Grey, Dr. Mark Ellison, Dr. Timothy Keller, Dr. Raymond Brown, and Dr. Roy Huff were used in the creation of this video.