Easter Holy Week – Tuesday – Last Supper, Gethsemane and Betrayal

On Tuesday, Jesus teaches in the temple for the last time, marking day four of His time spent at the Temple in Jerusalem. (Just like the lambs who have spent 4 days living in the homes of the families). This morning, Judas agrees to betray Jesus to the Pharisees for thirty pieces of silver—the price of a slave during Jesus’ time (Luke 22:1-6; Matthew 26:14-16).

This day is where the timeline and events of Holy Week can get a bit complex. Remember that according to the Jewish calendar, Tuesday at 6 PM begins the DAY called Wednesday. Therefore, the Last Supper and all events leading to the burial of Jesus occur within the span of a Jewish Wednesday (from 6 PM Tuesday evening to 6 PM Wednesday evening). The Jewish faith also calls this the day of “preparation.”

The day before a ‘High’ Holy Day is a day to prepare all food and finish all work. The Jewish law says that on a holy day; they cannot work, or prepare food, no traveling, no buying or selling on this day, and they cannot prepare a body for burial. So everything had to be done on “Preparation” day.

For Passover, part of the “preparation” was to clean your home from all “leaven” (see the Passover Meal for details about leaven and why it was an important part of their traditions and a game the children can play).Link to Passover Meal. Printable Information Cards about the symbolic food. It was a day to get themselves, their homes, and their hearts ready for the Passover.

This could become a long day for the kids. Maybe talk about the Last supper during your family dinner. And make it a day of preparing your home for talking about the sacred sacrifice of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

The Last Supper

The Last Supper begins after 6 PM Tuesday night, which is considered Wednesday in the Jewish calendar. It was not ‘the’ Passover feast, but still a sacred covenent meal, during this time of preparing to celebrate the Passover.

The word ‘Passover’ is used broadly in scripture. In Exodus 12:6 it refers to the Passover as the lamb itself, the sacrifice. It is referred to as eating a meal/dinner of a sacrificial lamb that was roasted, unleavened bread, and bitter herbs. It could be used to talk about a special meal, or the entire celebration period of Passover and the Feast of the Unleavened Bread (John 2:13). It can also be referred to as a covenant, a redemptive act. Christ our Passover (1 Corinthians 5:7).

• Jesus says, “eat this Passover” – a covenant meal, but no lamb or bitter herbs were mentioned.
• John says, “they had not yet eaten the Passover” – this refers to the temple feast, the sacrificial lamb.
• Both are true: because “Passover” means different things in different contexts.

Jesus washes the feet of His disciples (John 13:1-18). Maybe talk about how they wore sandals and the roads were made out of dirt. This means that their feet were very very dirty and to have the Savior wash such dirty feet, would have been very humbling for those disciples.

Then Jesus teaches them the sacrament (Luke 22:7-13; Matthew 26:26-29). The sacrament is an ordinance we get to receive every Sunday. The water is to remind us “He sweat as it were great drops of blood” in the Garden of Gethsemane and the bread is to remind us of His body, “bruised and torn” on the Cross at Calvary. The sacrament teaches us of the sacrifice our Savior made for each one of us, it is to help us always remember Him, and to repent of our sins that we might be made clean again through His Atoning sacrifice. If we keep our baptismal covenants with God, He promises to send us the Holy Ghost who will guide us and help us choose the right.

Judas then departs to finalize his betrayal (John 13:19-35).

Jesus and the remaining eleven apostles sing hymns as they walk to the Mount of Olives (Matthew 26:30).

I would begin commemorating the Last Supper on Tuesday evening at 6pm. After a family dinner, we could sing hymns as we walk the peg-people to gethsemane.

• These hymns are still sung today; during Passover week, and other special holidays in the Jewish faith.  They are songs of Praise to God and songs of victory over death. The songs are packed with prophetic meaning.

• The songs are called ‘The Hallel’ Psalms. They come from Psalms 113-118. Psalm 113 focuses on God as the Creator, 114 is about the historical exodus from Egypt, 115-116 the words talk about the debt we owe God for saving us and blessing us, and we express joy and appreciation and humility for His acts of sacrifice. The last Psalms 117-118 these weave together gratitude, memory, and a heartfelt petition or request. These are done with a leader calling out one verse and the rest answering back. Imagine Jesus leading these hymns and the disciples responding. They are sung before, during and after the meals. It is most likely the disciples and the Savior sang 118 as they walked to the garden of Gethsemane.

• Here is a description of the song from the link above: Tehilim 118 (Psalm 118) is one of the most powerful prayers in the Hebrew tradition — recited during the High Holy Days, it begins with gratitude: “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good — His mercy endures forever.” But its core is a journey: → “From the narrow place I called to Yah” — the feeling of being trapped by regret, fear, or past mistakes. → “He answered me in the wide open” — the moment of divine relief, when clarity returns. → “Open for me the gates of righteousness” — a direct plea to enter the new year with purity and purpose. Listen in stillness. Let the words guide you from the narrow place… to the open gate.

You could have the Peg-People in the hands of your children singing a hymn (like ‘Gethsemane’ by Melanie M. Hoffman) or listening to Psalm 118 (Here is a version of the songs that are 8 minutes long, but can be turned off when you reach the spot), as you walk Jesus and the Disciples, in and out of rooms, to the location where you have the Garden of Gethsemane displayed.

Leave the 8 disciples waiting first, a ways away.

Then Peter, James and John with “Jesus went farther; and was soon enveloped by deep sorrow”.

The Joseph Smith Translation states, “The disciples began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy, and to complain in their hearts, wondering if this be the Messiah. And Jesus knowing their hearts,” was impelled to deny Himself the companionship of even the chosen three; and, “Saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.” (Jesus the Christ – Talmage)

Then at the garden “gates” leave Peter, James and John. And remind the children, that Jesus asked the three to watch and pray for Him (kids building blocks can make a gate if necessary).

I just placed the figures away from the garden scene, but not too far.

Finally place Jesus by the rock and trees. 

Gethsemane

At the Mount of Olives, around 8pm, Jesus seeks solitude and prays in Gethsemane, where I’m sure the gravity of what’s to come sets in as He suffers for the sins of the world (Mark 14:32-36; Luke 22:43-44; Matthew 26:40-46; D&C 19:16-19).

Gethsemane is described as a quiet, familiar retreat for Jesus and his disciples. Making it a natural location for Judas to find him. (The life and times of Jesus the Messiah, by Alfred Edersheim).

Gethsemane means “olive press”. Emphasizing the intense mental, spiritual and physical pressure Jesus endured there. The first press of an olive comes out red and looks like blood.

“And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” (Jesus the Christ – Talmage)

Jesus begins his prayer. In it, He is not asking anything for Himself, but that He might glorify the Father in Heaven. In His agony, it is the first time as recorded in the Gospels, when Jesus addresses God with the personal pronoun: ‘My Father.’ And then ‘if it were possible, that this cup might pass, but not My will, but Thy will’. The Son continues in obedience to the Father. (The life and times of Jesus the Messiah, by Alfred Edersheim).

This part of His impassioned supplication was heard by at least one of the waiting three; but all of them soon yielded to weariness and ceased to watch.” (Jesus the Christ – Talmage)

Here you could describe how hard it must have been for the Savior. Maybe read a description of the Saviors suffering from one of the scripture versus or Talmage’s ‘Jesus the Christ’ (typed out below). Or Tad Callister’s book, ‘The Infinite Atonement’. Or this link tothe talk given by Bruce R. McConkie, ‘The Purifying Power of Gethsemane’ .

Read the suffering of Jesus from His own words:

D&C 19:18-19: “Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink—Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men.”

• A great reminder that even Jesus was in preparation for His Atonement on preparation day.

Or from the words of those who wrote about it:

Mosiah 3:7 “And lo, he shall 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.”

Alma 7:11-12 “And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people, And he will take upon him death that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities, Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he night take upon him the sins of his people, that he might lot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance, and now behold this is the testimony which is in me.”

D&C 76:69 “Who wrought out this perfect atonement through the shedding of His own blood.”

Talmage – Jesus the Christ: “Christ’s agony in the garden is unfathomable by the finite mind, both as to intensity and cause. The thought that He suffered through fear of death is untenable. Death to Him was preliminary to resurrection and triumphal return to the Father from whom He had come, and to a state of glory even beyond what He had before possessed; and, moreover, it was within His power to lay down His life voluntarily.⁠ He struggled and groaned under a burden such as no other being who has lived on earth might even conceive as possible. It was not physical pain, nor mental anguish alone, that caused Him to suffer such torture as to produce an extrusion of blood from every pore; but a spiritual agony of soul such as only God was capable of experiencing. No other man, however great his powers of physical or mental endurance, could have suffered so; for his human organism would have succumbed, and syncope would have produced unconsciousness and welcome oblivion. In that hour of anguish Christ met and overcame all the horrors that Satan, “the prince of this world”⁠ could inflict. The frightful struggle incident to the temptations immediately following the Lord’s baptism⁠ was surpassed and overshadowed by this supreme contest with the powers of evil.

In some manner, actual and terribly real though to man incomprehensible, the Savior took upon Himself the burden of the sins of mankind from Adam to the end of the world. Modern revelation assists us to a partial understanding of the awful experience. In March 1830, the glorified Lord, Jesus Christ, thus spake: “For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent, but if they would not repent, they must suffer even as I, which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit: and would that I might not drink the bitter cup and shrink —nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men.”⁠

From the terrible conflict in Gethsemane, Christ emerged a victor. Though in the dark tribulation of that fearful hour He had pleaded that the bitter cup be removed from His lips, the request, however oft repeated, was always conditional; the accomplishment of the Father’s will was never lost sight of as the object of the Son’s supreme desire. The further tragedy of the night, and the cruel inflictions that awaited Him on the morrow, to culminate in the frightful tortures of the cross, could not exceed the bitter anguish through which He had successfully passed.”

But His Atonement was not yet complete.

An hour later Jesus returns to the three disciples who He finds in deep sleep.

“Now in the hour of His deepest humiliation, Jesus returns to the three in an agony of soul and finds them sleeping; and addressing Peter, who so short a time before had loudly proclaimed his readiness to follow the Lord even to prison and death, Jesus exclaimed: “What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation”; but in tenderness added, “the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”  The admonition to the apostles to pray at that time lest they be led into temptation may have been prompted by the [critical nature] of the hour, under which, if left to themselves, they would be tempted to prematurely desert their Lord.” (Jesus the Christ – Talmage)

“Aroused from slumber the three apostles saw the Lord again retire, and heard Him pleading in agony: “Abba, Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.”(Jesus the Christ – Talmage)

“Returning a second time Jesus found those whom He had so sorrowfully requested to watch with Him sleeping again, “for their eyes were heavy”; and when awakened they were embarrassed or ashamed so that they wist not what to say”.(Jesus the Christ – Talmage)

“This third and final time, Jesus went to His lonely vigil and individual struggle, and was heard to implore the Father with the same words of yearning entreaty. Luke tells us that “there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him”; but not even the presence of this super-earthly visitant could dispel the awful anguish of His soul.

“And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” ⁠ (Jesus the Christ – Talmage) Luke 22:42-44

“When Jesus had woken them, His words of reproach did not rouse them sufficiently to stay awake and ‘watch and pray’. But they must have noticed on His brow that “His sweat became drops of blood, falling down upon the ground.” (Luke 22:43-44).

• For your information or older kids: This rare phenomena is called “hematidrosis” and it occurs when under extreme stress, the small capillaries surrounding the sweat glands burst, and blood mixed with sweat pours out of the sweat glands – (Steve Shriley at jesusalive.cc and The life and times of Jesus the Messiah, by Alfred Edersheim).

Finally, time has passed, making it around 3-4 hours of prayer and suffering. Yet Christ’s Atonement was not yet complete. (The life and times of Jesus the Messiah, by Alfred Edersheim). Mark 14:32-42, Matthew 26:36-46

When for the last time Jesus came back to the disciples left on guard, He said: “Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.” There was no use of further watching; already the torches of the approaching band conducted by Judas were observable in the distance. Jesus exclaimed: “Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.” Standing with the Eleven, the Lord calmly awaited the traitor’s coming. (Jesus the Christ – Talmage)

Finally, Jesus knowing they are coming, He wakes the three and they go and join the eight.

When it’s bed time for your children or grandchildren, is when I’d do the arrest of Jesus. The next morning (Wednesday) the children can wake to the trials and injustices done to Jesus.

Judas’ Kiss of Betrayal – The Arrest of Jesus

Tuesday night around midnight:

Jesus wakes the disciples and as they go to get the rest of the group, Jesus declares it is time. A great multitude comes with lanterns, torches, swords and staves. Most recognize these people as temple guards and the chief priests and elders. But the Jewish rulers also obtained a band of Roman soldiers. (During the time of Passover, extra soldiers are brought to Jerusalem to keep peace. It is suggested that hundreds of thousands of people made the pilgrimage to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover and make offerings that year). The soldiers were asked to accompany the Jewish leaders to help make an arrest, probably not knowing before hand who they were to arrest.

The Kiss Judas bestows upon the Savior. (John 18:3, Matthew 26:47-50, John 18:4-9). And right away Judas comes to Jesus and said, “Hail, Master; and kissed him.” Jesus condemned him by saying, “Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?” Then, even though Jesus knew he was being betrayed, He said to Judas, “Friend, do that for which thou art come.”

And although Judas had given them the signal, Jesus steps forward and asks, “Whom seek ye?” Jesus of Nazareth, they answered. Jesus saith unto them, “I am He.”  Instead of advancing to take Him, the crowd pressed backward, and many of them fell to the ground in fright. The simple dignity and gentle yet completing force of Christ’s presence proved more potent than strong arms and weapons of violence. So again Jesus asks, “Whom seek ye?” again they answered, “Jesus of Nazareth” He says, “I have told you that I am he; if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way.” Jesus was referring to the apostles, who were in danger of being arrested also.

• For your information or older kids: Peter cuts off a soldier’s ear. (John 18:10, Luke 22:51, Matthew 26:52-54, Luke 22:52-53). When the officers approached and seized Jesus, some of the apostles were ready to fight and die for their beloved Master. They asked, “Lord, shall we smite with the sword?” Peter, waiting not for a reply, and wanting to defend Jesus, drew his sword and delivered a poorly aimed stroke at the head of Malchus, a servant of the high priest. Jesus immediately stepped forward, rebuked his rashness and told Peter to put away his sword. He then healed the ear of the servant, saying, “Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?’ But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?” For Jesus had not quite finished His Atonement.

Then all the disciples, afraid, ran away. Leaving Jesus alone, just as He had foretold. (Matthew 26:56, Mark 14:51-52)

And the guards laid hands on Jesus, bound Him with cords, and took Him as a prisoner. (John 18:12)

Video Link re-telling the Story of Easter Week day 4 HERE. 

Creating a Scene for The Last Supper, Gethsemane and the Betrayal:

Most links to the patterns are in the Introductory post (Link Here). Any extra links needed see below.  

Here are some ideas to help bring this Tuesday scene to life:

• Judas and the thirty pieces of silver: Judas should have a mini-magnet in his hand. You can attach coins or a ¾’ flat washer (size #6) to represent this pivotal exchange.

• The kitchen backdrop and Table: Use patterns to create a setting for the meal. You’ll need wooden spools for legs. (This backdrop was also used in the Monday memorial of Mary)

• Plates and bread: I used 1½-inch circle disc from Hobby Lobby and glued miniature bread to them, which I sourced from a miniature doll house store or Amazon.

• Wine bottle: This can be made from jewelry findings, available at Hobby Lobby. Add a drop of paint inside the vase and swirl, then glue on lid. I also found them on Amazon.

• Water bowl: Wooden disks with swirls in the center and a lip on the edge can be painted blue to resemble water. I found this also at Hobby Lobby and they are called wooden stack checkers (1.25″).

• Garden of Gethsemane: For this scene, you’ll need two trees, a rock, Jesus and optionally an angel figure to complete the moment.
• For the arrest of Jesus: 2 Soldiers and Judas. To make 2 soldiers, you’ll take the 1.5 inch diameter round 1/8 inch thick wood circle, or foam, or cardboard. Paint and glue to top of head. Make 2 of these. Be so careful. I used pliers to hold the wood. Using foam and cutting it is a safer option to create these helmets for the soldiers and what I would recommend.

• Chair (optional): I used a 1½-inch square cube, routing out a circular space approximately 1 and 1/16 inches wide and ½ inch deep.

My daughter also added one of the two angels to this scene, a touching reminder of heavenly presence during Jesus’ agony in Gethsemane.