YEA Lesson Library
Betrayed
About This Lesson
This lesson teaches about the suffering and death of Jesus so that each person who believes in Him might have forgiveness of sin.
Scriptures
Isaiah 53:3-6
Matthew 26:26-28
Matthew 26:69-75
Luke 22:15-20
John 13:3-10
John 19:33-34
1 Corinthians 11:29
Hebrews 2:17
Words to Know
BIASED- mentally leaning or inclination, bent, partiality, prejudice
SCOURGE- whip, flog, inflicting severe punishment
The Lesson
Lilly was heartbroken. Just last week she had told her best friend, Beth, something she didn't want anyone else to know. Today, her whole class was talking about that very thing. Lilly was so hurt, so angry, so. .. lonely. She just wanted to crawl into a hole and die. How could Beth do this to her? She was her best friend! They'd been best friends since third grade! She had no one else to talk to. What would she do? That night she sat by her bed, her head on her knees, and prayed. "Dear God, I'm so angry at Beth. How could she do this to me? I'm so hurt. I know she didn't mean to hurt me this wav. I know no one is perfect but I feel so Betrayed. Help me to forgive her. Oh Lord, please comfort me. In Jesus' name. Amen”. Sobbing, she crawled into bed and fell asleep.
Lilly felt deserted, angry, alone, and Betrayed! Her best friend had broken her promise to keep her secret and now she didn't feel like she could trust her. Jesus also experienced betrayal from one of His friends.
Last year you learned about the first recorded Passover when God delivered the Israelites from Egyptian slavery. Today's lesson is about Jesus' last Passover when He was Betrayed by His friends.
Before this Passover, Judas went to the High Priest and asked him, "What are you willing to give me if I hand him [Jesus] over to you?" They agreed on 30 pieces of silver. From that time on, Judas looked for an opportunity to betray Jesus.
The Passover was prepared that evening for Jesus and the 12 disciples. While they were eating a meal, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.” Eleven of the disciples said to Jesus, "Surely not I, Lord?" Jesus explained that it was the disciple who dipped his hand in the bowl with Him who would betray Him. And Judas said, "Surely it's not me?" But Jesus answered, "Yes, it is you."
Jesus then used new symbols for the Passover. He took bread, gave thanks, and broke it. He said, "Take and eat; this is my body." What did He mean? And why did He break the bread? The unleavened bread in the Passover represents Jesus' body that was broken for you - for your healing. He was beaten within an inch of His life, scourged with a cat-of-nine-tails, and experienced every type of pain known to man so that we can be healed. Isaiah 53:5 says, "But he was pierced for our transgressions [sins], he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed” (NIV). This part of the Passover should not be overlooked, nor misunderstood. I Corinthians 11:29 says: "For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.”
Then Jesus took the second new Passover symbol, which was a cup of wine. He gave thanks and offered it to His disciples with instructions for them to drink all of it. Jesus explained that this represents his “blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."
They sang a hymn and went to the Mount of Olives. Jesus told Peter that he would deny Him three times that very night, before the rooster crowed. Peter wasn't the only one. Jesus said that all of them would fall away that night on account of Him. Lilly was betrayed by one friend. But now we see that all 12 of Jesus friends would forsake Him in one night - the most awful night of His life.
Things went from bad to worse. Jesus left His disciples three times to go pray because He knew that the next day He would be beaten to the point of being unrecognizable. Each time He came back from praying, He found His disciples asleep. One time Jesus prayed so fervently, that His sweat became as great drops of blood. He asked His Father if He could find another way for you and for me to have forgiveness of our sins, so He wouldn't have to go through this horrible ordeal. But Jesus was so obedient to His Father that He always said, "Not my will, but your will be done.”
Judas found his opportunity to betray Jesus and showed up with a large crowd armed with swords and clubs. These men were sent by the highest religious leader of the day - the High Priest. By Judas kissing Jesus on the check, the men had the signal that identified who He was so they would know who to arrest. Peter got all frantic and took a sword and cut off the ear of the High Priest's servant. Jesus performed His last miracle before His death and put the ear back on.
Jesus stood trial all night long before a biased jury. He was beaten, insulted, humiliated, and scourged so that we can be healed. Then He was told to carry His stake to Golgotha where He was crucified. Late in the day a Roman soldier pierced His side and Jesus' blood poured out for our sins. He did this so that you can be forgiven and have eternal life. Even the Father turned His back on His Son so that He could die for you and for me. Christ’s sacrifice is extremely important. More than that, its's essential. Words can’t express the depth of love behind His death. Without His death, His suffering, His pain, you would be hopeless. But you have hope because of Him. You have a choice between life and death because of what He did for you.
Judas Betrayed Jesus. Peter did deny Christ three times before the rooster crowed. Are you going to betray Jesus as Judas did in the things you do? Every day we have a choice either to stand up for the truth and what is right or follow the world and reject our Lord. Judas chose death. Will you choose life? It's the choice only you can make. Will you accept the sacrifice of the Lamb of God for your sins and change your life to live by His every Word?
Student Prayer
Dear Father in heaven,
Every day I have a choice to follow you or reject you. I pray for your Spirit to guide and strengthen me. Please help me to make the right decisions and honor you with my life.
In Jesus' name I pray.
Amen.
Daily Devotions
Sunday - Matthew 26:26-28
Monday - 1 Corinthians 11:29
Tuesday - Isaiah 53:3-6
Wednesday - John 13:3-10
Thursday - John 19:33-34
Friday - Hebrews 2:17
Saturday - Matthew 26:69-75
Objectives
At the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
1. Tell the story of the last Passover Jesus kept before His death.
2. Explain the difference in the two Passover symbols (bread and wine), and what each means.
3. Make a commitment to be prepared for next year's Passover.
Topics & Themes
Betray
Bread and Wine
Covenant
Forgiveness
Jesus, Death of
Jesus, Suffering of
Judas
Passover
Symbols
Materials Needed
Bible, YEA Students' and Teacher's books, attendance and memory verse charts, CD or cassette, music player, songbook, basin, water, towel, plate, unleavened bread, wine or grape juice, very small glass for the play
How to Teach This Lesson
Open the class with prayer. Explain to the students that they are to act out the part for the name(s) on their tag as you read the story aloud from the Bible (so it will include the foot washing). After the play has been acted out, bring the class back to sit in a semicircle.
Debrief - Ask: How did you feel about acting out Jesus' last Passover, betrayal, trial, scourging, and death? How did you feel about Judas betraying Jesus for a mere 30 pieces of silver? Would it have made it right had he asked for more money? Why was it wrong for him to betray Christ? Who knows what happened to Judas in the end? How did you feel about Peter denying Jesus three times before the rooster crowed? How did you feel about all of the disciples going to sleep while Jesus went to pray? What do you feel was the worst thing about this story? Why?
Foot Washing - How was this story like or unlike other aspects of your life? Why do we wash each other's feet at the Passover? Ask a student to read John 13:3-10.
The Bread - What part does unleavened bread play in the Passover service? Why do you think it is necessary for the bread to be unleavened? What does the Passover bread picture or symbolize? Ask a student to read Isaiah 53:5,6. What happens if we don’t recognize that the Passover bread symbolizes Christ’s body being broken so that we can be healed? Ask a student to read I Corinthians 11:29. Why is it important for you to understand the different part the bread plays in the Passover from that of the wine?
Cup of Wine - Why did Jesus pass a cup of wine around for the disciples to drink during the Passover service? What does this wine represent or symbolize? Why was it necessary for the soldier to pierce Jesus' side? How would you compare Jesus with the lamb in the first Passover?
Application - After all the suffering Christ went through for you, how do you think He feels when you betray Him? In what ways do you see us betraying Christ? Say: Peter never thought that he would ever deny Christ. In what ways do you think that we deny Him? What things can we do that cause us not to deny or betray Christ? How do you see partaking of the Passover every year will help us not to deny or betray Christ? Who can partake of the Passover? What do you have to do before you take the Passover? What can you do to come to repentance earlier in your life? Why should you want to repent and be baptized? Is it a form of betrayal of Christ not to repent and be baptized? Will you betray Christ? Will you deny Christ? Will you make a commitment to seek repentance and be baptized before next Passover?
Teacher-Directed Activity
Allow the students to share what they wrote in their Activity about an instance where they were betrayed, rejected, or hurt by a friend or sibling. You should have yours ready so that you can share it first.
REACH Activity
Memory Verse Spotlight: Hebrews 2:17
Look up the word “atonement.” Write down the Greek word and its meaning. Then find three other Scriptures where this word is used. Are you surprised to find this verse as you’re studying Passover?
Where in the World? Mount of Olives
Do some research. Where was the Mount of Olives. Where was Jerusalem? Where was the Garden of Gethsemane. Where did the crucifixion occur? What was the Via Dolorosa?
They Did What Back Then? Flogging
Do some research into the Roman practice of flogging. They were not as merciful as the Jews who “only” did 39 stripes. Research how the whip was made. Find out how cruel it was and what often happened to the victims. This is hard to read because you know it’s what happened to Jesus Christ so that my sin debt - and your sin debt - could be paid. Write a prayer to God expressing your feelings.
Making It Mine: Betrayal
Betrayal hurts! The person (or people) closest to you is supposed to always have your back. He is supposed to look out for your best interest. He is supposed to to be trustworthy. When you are betrayed, it hurts worse than if the person had punched you. Have you been betrayed? Write about it in your Bible notebook. Then read the scriptures listed in your YEA lessons. Think about how Jesus, the Creator and innocent Savior of the world was betrayed. He understands how you feel.
Worldview Collisions: Do What?
A secular worldview says that you are the most important person in your world. So you should do what feels good and right to you. You put yourself first; your actions are all about doing what’s going to make you gain power, prestige, and money.
A Biblical worldview says that, if we claim Jesus as our Lord and Master, then He gets to call the shots in our life. That’s kinda the definition of being Master! So we put others first, thinking more highly of others than ourselves. We seek the glory of God - not self-glory. We seek advancement of the Kingdom - not self-advancement. We seek to God’s will always - not our will.
Write this worldview collision in your Bible notebook. Then write your reaction. Do you agree with this worldview? Do you think it’s too strict? Too unrealistic? Too hard? Do you think God has the right to direct our lives? Why or why not? How are you doing learning to submit to His will?
Questions
As you’re working through the YEA lesson, Daily Devotionals, doing the activity, or reading the Bible, be sure to write down any questions you have. That way you’ll remember to ask someone. Also remember to share the really interesting things you’re learning with family and friends.
Song
“I Believe in Jesus" is on page 24 of The Group Songbook.
Closing Prayer
Have the students form a circle and join hands. Start with yourself, and have every student go around the circle and give one way that it is easy for teens to either betray Christ or deny Him. Ask for a volunteer to lead in prayer thanking God for the supreme sacrifice of His Son for our sins.
Printable Pages
