READ Luke 22:19-20
READ This Do in Remembrance…in Additional Resources
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles asked: “Do we see [the sacrament] as our passover, remembrance of our safety and deliverance and redemption?” (“This Do in Remembrance of Me,” Ensign, Nov. 1995, 68).
-What do we do during the Sacrament to remember Him?
We become more Christlike when we choose to submit our will to the Father’s.
READ Luke 22:39
-What happened this night on the mount of Olives?
-What did the Savior experience?
READ Details about the Savior’s Suffering…in Add’l Res
-Who appeared to strengthen Jesus? (43)
READ “There Appeared an Angel unto Him” ...in Add’l Res
-Did the angel stay with Him through His suffering?
-Why was Savior willing to submit His will to His Father’s?
-What other examples of the Savior submitting His will to His Father can you think of?
- How can we follow the Savior’s example?
-What happened in Gethsemane?
READ “His Sweat Was as It Were Great Drops…” in Add’l Res
During His agonies in the garden, Jesus Christ suffered for the sins of all mankind. In addition, He bore the agonizing burden of all our pains, afflictions, sicknesses, sorrows, and infirmities.
Luke 22:19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.
Luke 22:39 And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.
40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.
41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,
42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
45 And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,
46 And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.
25-NT SS Lesson: June 12-18 Luke 22; John 18 “Not My Will, but Thine, Be Done”
-Why was Christ’s experience important to me?
READ Elder Tad R. Callister…in Add’l Res
Jesus Christ performed an infinite Atonement for us
-How can we show our appreciation for what the Savior has done for us?
When Jesus Said “I Am He,” His Captors “Went Backward, and Fell to the Ground”
READ John 18:1–6.
After the Savior said these words, the men and officers “went backward, and fell to the ground” (John 18:6), “apparently unable to exercise power over Jesus unless permitted to do so” (Bruce R. McConkie, Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 1:780).
READ James E. Talmage
This detail shows that the Savior had the ability to overpower his captors but voluntarily submitted to arrest and crucifixion.
READ Matt 26:51-54
-What does this say about the Savior’s attitude?
Jesus Christ’s response when Peter cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant shows the compassion of the Son of God even toward those who wished to harm Him.
-What did the Savior He could have summoned?
He had power to defend Himself but chose not to use it at this time.
READ Jacob 2:15
READ Gerald N Lund…in Add’l Res
John 18:1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples.
2 And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples.
3 Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.
4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?
5 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.
6 As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.
James E. Talmage “The simple dignity and gentle yet compelling force of Christ’s presence proved more potent than strong arms and weapons of violence” (Jesus the Christ, 3rd ed. [1916], 615)
Matthew 26: 51 And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest’s, and smote off his ear.
52 Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
54 But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?
Jacob 2:15 (The Book of Mormon prophet Jacob taught his people of the Lord’s power, saying,) “He can pierce you, and with one glance of his eye he can smite you to the dust!” ().
We can be faithful to Jesus Christ despite our fears and weaknesses.
VIEW Jesus Warns Peter
-What was Peter going to do that night?
John’s account of Simon Peter’s three denials appears to be an eyewitness account (see John 18:15); it provides insights not found in the synoptic Gospels.
READ John 18:15
READ President Gordon B. Hinckley…in Add’l Res
READ Why should we be cautious when discussing Peter’s denial? …in Add’l Res
-In spite of Peter’s weakness what happens to him?
-What can we learn from Peter’s experience?
-How is learning about Peter beneficial to us?
Luke 22:54 Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest’s house. And Peter followed afar off.
55 And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them.
56 But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him.
57 And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not.
58 And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not.
59 And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilæan.
60 And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.
61 And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
62 And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.
John 18:15 And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple: that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest.
LAST WORDS:
The question arises: What can you give God that He has not first given you. The answer is expressed by Elder Neal A. Maxwell as he taught: “As you submit your wills to God, you are giving Him the only thing you can actually give Him that is really yours to give. Don’t wait too long to find the altar or to begin to place the gift of your wills upon it!” (“Remember How Merciful the Lord Hath Been,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2004, 46).
When accompanied by a broken [tamed] heart and a contrite spirit, our will is the gift that He seeks from us
It was with excruciating pain and sorrow that Christ, submitting His will to His Father, and paid the price that we might be redeemed. Not just a few of us but every individual, who has ever lived, that accepts Him. As disciples of Christ we too must sacrifice. We must pay a price, suffer pain and sorrow, to bring our lives into His orbit. We need to make changes to fully embrace the Gospel, we leave behind us the ways of the world, the sins of envy, price and avarice. It might not be easy, but it is possible. We can faithfully put our feet upon His path. We have learned in a past lesson, that with God,
all things are possible. He and His Father love us. It is their work and glory to bring us into
their fold.
Christ is the good shepherd. It is our choice whether we be the sheep or the goats.
Sheep in Idaho This is a video of a shepherd moving his flock of approximately 2500 sheep
down the road and across the highway. He leads the flock, has sheep dogs to assist him,
and also has friends that assist the moving of the sheep. You need to scroll down to the
fifth or sixth picture before you get to a short video. This will not help you in the decision
to be a sheep or a goat, but it is pretty interesting.
Take satisfaction in being one of the flock. We are indeed blessed. But if we have
wandered we should take comfort in knowing that He, or someone representing Him, will be
coming for us. That is His Father’s will.
Have a great week. Take heart and remember that you are either one of the 99 or the one
being searched for. You are known. We are loved.
Greg
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
“This Do in Remembrance of Me” Both Luke and Paul wrote that when the Savior introduced the symbols of the bread and wine, He instructed His disciples, “This do in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:24). The sacrament’s purpose of helping us remember the Savior is reinforced by the Joseph Smith Translation, which adds the terms “remember” and “in remembrance” to the sacrament accounts in Matthew and Mark (see Joseph Smith Translation, Matthew 26:22, 24–25 [in the Bible appendix]; Joseph Smith Translation, Mark 14:20–25 [in the Bible appendix]; 3 Nephi 18:7, 11). In Jewish language and practice, remembering meant much more than simple mental recollection; it meant re-experiencing, reaffirming, and recommitting. By partaking of the sacrament, followers of Jesus Christ may experience anew the blessings of His Atonement, reaffirm their loyalty to Him and His Church, and recommit their lives to following Him.
Details about the Savior’s Suffering in Gethsemane: Some modern Bibles do not include verses 43–44 of Luke 22 because they do not appear in all ancient Greek manuscripts of Luke. Historical evidence suggests that some scribes in the centuries following the Apostles’ deaths may have removed these verses. The scribes felt embarrassed at the description of Christ’s agony, which contradicted popular Hellenistic ideals of emotionless suffering. Such tampering with the biblical text verifies the testimony of the Book of Mormon prophet Nephi: “They have taken away from the gospel of the Lamb many parts which are plain and most precious” (1 Nephi 13:26). Latter-day scriptures and prophets affirm the authenticity of what is recorded in Luke 22:43–44 (Mosiah 3:7; D&C 19:18).
“There Appeared an Angel unto Him from Heaven, Strengthening Him” Luke recorded that an angel appeared to the Savior to strengthen Him as He suffered in Gethsemane. President Dallin H. Oaks taught that the angel came in answer to the Savior’s prayer:
“The gospel of Luke … describes how he knelt down and prayed: ‘Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done’ (JST, Luke 22:42).
“… The Father’s answer was to deny the plea of his Only Begotten Son. The Atonement had to be worked out by that lamb without blemish. But though the Son’s request was denied, his prayer was answered. The scripture records: ‘And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him’ (JST, Luke 22:43).
“Strengthened from heaven to do the will of the Father, the Savior fulfilled his mission” (“Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ,” Ensign, May 1994, 99–100).
But eventually even the angel left the Savior, for He was required to complete the great atoning sacrifice by Himself. In these latter days, the Savior has declared that when He comes to earth in glory, His voice will be heard saying, “I have trodden the winepress alone, and have brought judgment upon all people; and none were with me” (D&C 133:50). The Savior’s triumph over sin and death is complete. (Institute Manual)
“His Sweat Was as It Were Great Drops of Blood Falling Down to the Ground” Luke was the only Gospel writer to record the important detail that the Savior’s suffering included “great drops of blood” (Luke 22:44). The Savior’s unparalleled suffering—the extreme pressure caused by taking upon Himself the infinite sin, sorrow, and guilt of all mankind—caused a physical condition in his body known as hematidrosis. This condition leads to the rupture of capillaries just under the surface of the skin, causing the skin to exude a bloody sweat. Any other person would have died before this condition reached the point of bleeding from every pore, but the Savior was the Son of God and so was able to endure this great agony for us.
Other scriptures give further insight into the reality and cause of the Savior’s bleeding from the pores of His skin. In the Book of Mormon, King Benjamin testified that Christ would “suffer temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer, except it be unto death; for behold, blood cometh from every pore, so great shall be his anguish for the wickedness and the abominations of his people” (Mosiah 3:7; italics added). In his Epistle to the Hebrews, Paul encouraged early Christians to remain faithful by remembering that Christ had “resisted unto blood, striving against sin” (Hebrews 12:4). The Lord Himself spoke of bleeding from every pore (see Doctrine and Covenants 19:16–19). (Institute Manual)
Elder Tad R. Callister of the Presidency of the Seventy suggested some of the mortal experiences that would have been included in the terrible weight Jesus carried:
“What weight is thrown on the scales of pain when calculating the hurt of innumerable patients in countless hospitals? Now, add to that the loneliness of the elderly who are forgotten in the rest homes of society, desperately yearning for a card, a visit, a call—just some recognition from the outside world. Keep on adding the hurt of hungry children, the suffering caused by famine, drought, and pestilence. Pile on the heartache of parents who tearfully plead on a daily basis for a wayward son or daughter to come back home. Factor in the trauma of every divorce and the tragedy of every abortion. Add the remorse that comes with each child lost in the dawn of life, each spouse taken in the prime of marriage. Compound that with the misery of overflowing prisons, bulging halfway houses and institutions for the mentally disadvantaged. Multiply all this by century after century of history, and creation after creation without end. Such is but an awful glimpse of the Savior’s load. Who can bear such a burden or scale such a mountain as this? No one, absolutely no one, save Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of us all” (The Infinite Atonement [2000], 105).
Gerald N. Lund, who later became a member of the Seventy, wrote about the Savior’s voluntary choice not to use His power to defend Himself from the abuses He experienced:
“Imagine the Being whose power, whose light, whose glory holds the universe in order, the Being who speaks and solar systems, galaxies, and stars come into existence—standing before wicked men and being judged by them as being of no worth or value!
“When we think of what he could have done to these men who took him to judgment, we have a new and different sense of his condescension. When Judas led the soldiers and the high priests to the Garden of Gethsemane and betrayed him with a kiss, Jesus could have spoken a single word and leveled the entire city of Jerusalem. When the servant of the high priest stepped forward and slapped his face, Jesus could have lifted a finger and sent that man back to his original elements. When another man stepped forward and spit in his face, Jesus had only to blink and our entire solar system could have been annihilated. But he stood there, he endured, he suffered, he condescended” (“Knowest Thou the Condescension of God?” in Bruce A. Van Orden and Brent L. Top, eds., Doctrines of the Book of Mormon: The 1991 Sperry Symposium [1992], 86).
President Gordon B. Hinckley discussed what we can learn from the account of Peter’s denials:
“My heart goes out to Peter. So many of us are so much like him. We pledge our loyalty; we affirm our determination to be of good courage; we declare, sometimes even publicly, that come what may we will do the right thing, that we will stand for the right cause, that we will be true to ourselves and to others.
“Then the pressures begin to build. Sometimes these are social pressures. Sometimes they are personal appetites. Sometimes they are false ambitions. There is a weakening of the will. There is a softening of discipline. There is capitulation. And then there is remorse, followed by self-accusation and bitter tears of regret. …
“Now, if there be those throughout the Church who by word or act have denied the faith, I pray that you may draw comfort and resolution from the example of Peter, who, though he had walked daily with Jesus, in an hour of extremity momentarily denied the Lord and also the testimony which he carried in his own heart. But he rose above this and became a mighty defender and a powerful advocate. So, too, there is a way for any person to turn about and add his or her strength and faith to the strength and faith of others in building the kingdom of God” (“And Peter Went Out and Wept Bitterly,” Ensign, Mar. 1995, 2, 4, 6).
Why should we be cautious when discussing Peter’s denial? President Spencer W. Kimball said: “I do not pretend to know what Peter’s mental reactions were nor what compelled him to say what he did that terrible night. But in light of his proven bravery, courage, great devotion and limitless love for the Master, could we not give him a little benefit of the doubt and at least and forgive him as our Savior seems to have done so fully? Almost immediately Christ elevated him to the highest position in His church endowed him with the complete keys of that kingdom.” (“Peter, My Brother,” 5).