Agony in the Garden
Free Religion Lesson from Our Holy Faith, Book 1 Teacher’s Manual
Objectives
- To know that Jesus suffered for all the sins of all people.
- To appreciate Jesus’ all0embracing love.
Approach
After our Lord had eaten His Last Supper with His Apostles, He went to a nearby garden, called the Garden of Olives. Jesus was very sad as He entered the garden. Do you know why?
Presentation
The Agony in the Garden
Jesus went into the Garden of Olives to pray. He took Peter, James, and John with Him. You remember Jesus was true God and True man. As a man, He feared to suffer and die. But He knew that it was God’s will that He suffer in order to save us from sin.
When He thought of the terrible death He would die, He became very sad. He asked His Father to spare Him this suffering if possible, but He added, “not my will but your s be done.” He was so sad and so heartbroken that all this made Him sweat blood. This was a terrible suffering.
Cause of Christ’s Suffering
Do you know what made Jesus suffer so much? It was the sins that people commit, the sins that you commit. If Adam had not sinned, if we would be all good, then Jesus would not have had to sweat blood. If we are tempted to do something wrong, think of Jesus in the Garden of Olives.
Would you want to hurt Him?
Jesus didn’t want to suffer. But He knew that His heavenly Father wanted Him to die for us. It wasn’t easy for Jesus to die for us, but He obeyed, because He loved His Father and He loved us.
He prayed for strength, He wants us to pray too. He asked Peter, James, and John to pray with Him, but they fell asleep. Will you fall asleep or will you pray with Jesus?
Organization
- Where did Jesus go after the Last Supper?
- What was Jesus’ first great suffering?
- What did Jesus tell Peter, James, and John to do?
- Did He know all the pain He would have to suffer?
- Did He know that many people would never love Him?
- What happened to Jesus when He became very sad?
- What did the Apostles do that made Jesus feel sad?
- Whom did God the Father send to comfort Jesus?
- Did Jesus want to do what God the Father wanted?
- What should we think of when something sad happens to us?
Virtues and Practices
- Be sorry because you make Jesus suffer whenever you sin.
- Thank Jesus for suffering for you.
- Comfort Jesus by making someone happy.
- Resign yourself to the will of God in time of suffering.
- Do nice things to someone who has hurt you.
Suggested Learning Activities
- Discuss the cause of Jesus’ suffering – our sins.
- Make up original prayers of contrition.
- Poem: “The Agony in the Garden” Belger, Sing a Song of Holy Things, p. 57
Teacher References
- S.N.D. Religious Teaching of Young Children, pp. 60-62
- Dennerle, Leading the Little Ones to Christ, pp. 186-187