L.O. offer suggestions about what the narrative of the Last Supper, Judas’ betrayal and Peter’s denial might

mean

Monday 8th March

We have begun to consider the meaning of Holy Week and its importance to Christians.

We are going to first focus on Judas' betrayal of Jesus.

Whilst reading the passage telling of Judas' betrayal, think about:

What did Judas do?

Why should Judas betray/not betray Jesus?

Mark 14:43­50

As he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders.Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.”Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. The men seized Jesus and arrested him. One of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.“Am I leading a rebellion,” said Jesus, “that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.”Then everyone deserted him and fled.

We are now going to discuss and answer the

first two questions.

Use the Bible passage to help you.

Judas should betray Jesus because in the Bible passage Jesus says that, "the Scriptures must be fulfilled".

Judas was one of Jesus' disciples and friends. The disciples respected Jesus and loved and served Him.

Now that we have considered Judas' role in the betrayal of Jesus, we are going to consider Peter's

denial.

To help us understand this we are going to first think of a problem probably much closer to

ourselves...

IMAGINE...Your best friend has just ignored you in the park, as if they simply didn’t know you!

Next someone came up to them and said, ‘You are friends with him/her, aren’t you?’ and they looked at you and said, ‘I’ve no idea who

they are!’ and walked off.

Explain how you would feel? Write your response on your sheet.

We are now going to read the story of Jesus predicting Peter’s denial, Jesus being arrested and Peter’s denial from Matthew 26: 31–75.

If you would like to read the passages yourself, click the link below:

Jesus’ Followers Will All Leave Him

Jesus told the followers, “Tonight you will lose your faith because of me. It is written in the Scriptures:

‘I will kill the shepherd, and the sheep will scatter.’ But after I rise from death, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”

Peter said, “All the other followers may lose their faith because of you. But I will never lose my faith.”

Jesus said, “I tell you the truth. Tonight you will say you don’t know me. You will say this three times before the rooster crows.”

But Peter said, “I will never say that I don’t know you! I will even die with you!” And all the other followers said the same thing.

https://www.bible.com/bible/1359/MAT.26.ICB

Peter Says He Doesn’t Know Jesus

At that time, Peter was sitting in the courtyard. A servant girl came to him and said,

“You were with Jesus, that man from Galilee.” But Peter said that he was never with

Jesus. He said this to all the people there. Peter said, “I don’t know what you are

talking about.” Then he left the courtyard.

At the gate, another girl saw him. She said to the people there, “This man was with

Jesus of Nazareth.” Again, Peter said that he was never with Jesus. Peter said, “I

swear that I don’t know this man Jesus!”

A short time later, some people standing there went to Peter. They said, “We know you

are one of those men who followed Jesus. We know this because of the way you

talk.” Then Peter began to curse. He said, “May a curse fall on me if I’m not telling the

truth. I don’t know the man.” After Peter said this, a rooster crowed. Then he remembered what Jesus had told him: “Before the rooster crows, you will say three times that you don’t know me.” Then Peter went outside and cried painfully.

Once Jesus was arrested he was taken to the palace of a High Priest near the Temple until a trial could be held the next morning.

Peter followed Jesus to the High Priest's palace, quietly fitting in with the mixed crowd of Temple guards and servants. A servant girl and

a couple of others recognised Peter as one of Jesus' followers.

Let us read what happens in the Bible passage below...

Think back to the example of seeing a friend in the park and them ignoring you and denying that they even knew you!

Peter was the leader of the disciples — the most confident, and perhaps the one you might expect to stick with Jesus at his

arrest.

How might Peter have felt when he denied knowing Jesus?

We are now going to look at a very powerful painting which represents

Peter's Denial.

Let's take a look!

This painting by Frank Wesley depicts Peter's denial

of Jesus.

Can you see any clues in the artwork?

Complete the next questions on your sheet.

On the bent back of the humiliated disciple are two golden claw prints

of the cock.

Three hands cover Peter’s profile, yet this does not seem odd or disturbing.

They represent the three denials.

Around his shoulders and bowed head gold leaf glows, blending into the blue and black of the dark night

of the soul.

Even in the moment of Peter’s extreme embarassment, God is there waiting

to redeem the moment.

Look carefully at the painting again, what hidden meanings has the artist

chosen to represent?

Complete the final question on your sheet.

We are now going to create freeze­frames of key points in the story of Peter’s Denial.

Jesus telling Peter that he will deny him, Peter and the other disciples running away when

Jesus is arrested, Peter denying Jesus to the servant girl and the

others, and the cockerel crowing and Peter weeping.

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