“June 10–16. Matthew 26; Mark 14; Luke 22; John 18: ‘Not as I Will, but as Thou Wilt’” Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: New Testament 2019 (2019)
“June 10–16. Matthew 26; Mark 14; Luke 22; John 18,” Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: 2019
And It Was Night, by Benjamin McPherson
June 10–16
Matthew 26; Mark 14; Luke 22; John 18
“Not as I Will, but as Thou Wilt”
As you read about the events described in Matthew 26; Mark 14; Luke 22; and John 18, pay attention to any impressions you receive, especially promptings to make changes in your life.
Record Your Impressions
There were only three mortal witnesses to Jesus Christ’s suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane—and they slept through much of it. In that garden and later on the cross, Jesus took upon Himself the sins, pains, and sufferings of every person who ever lived, although almost no one alive at that time was aware of what was happening. But then, eternity’s most important events often pass without much worldly attention. God the Father, however, was aware. He heard the pleading of His faithful Son: “Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him” (Luke 22:42–43). While we were not physically present to witness this act of selflessness and submission, in a sense, we can all be witnesses of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Every time we repent and receive forgiveness of our sins and every time we feel the Savior’s strengthening power, we can testify of what happened in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Ideas for Personal Scripture Study
Matthew 26:17–30; Mark 14:12–26; Luke 22:7–39
The sacrament is an opportunity to remember the Savior.
What do you do to remember people who have been important in your life? When the Savior introduced the sacrament to His disciples, He said, “This do in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19; see also 3 Nephi 18:7). How do the bread, water, and other elements of this ordinance help you remember Him and His suffering? Ponder this question as you read about the first sacrament. Also, note revisions found in the Joseph Smith Translation (see the footnotes and Bible appendix).
Take some time to ponder the experience you have during the sacrament each week. What can you do to make it more meaningful? Perhaps you could write a few things you feel inspired to remember about the Savior—His teachings, His acts of love, times when you have felt especially close to Him, or the sins and pains He took upon Himself in your behalf.
See also 3 Nephi 18:1–13; Doctrine and Covenants 20:76–79; “Sacrament,” Gospel Topics, topics.lds.org; “Always Remember Him” (video, LDS.org).
Matthew 26:36–46; Mark 14:32–42; Luke 22:40–46
The Savior suffered for me in Gethsemane.
President Russell M. Nelson invited us to “invest time in learning about the Savior and His atoning sacrifice” (“Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ into Our Lives,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 40).
Consider what you will do to accept President Nelson’s invitation. You might start by prayerfully pondering the Savior’s suffering in Gethsemane, as described in these verses, and writing impressions and questions that come to mind.
For an even deeper study of the Savior and His Atonement, try searching other scriptures for answers to questions like these:
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Why was the Savior’s Atonement necessary? (See 2 Nephi 2:5–10, 17–26; 9:5–26; Alma 34:8–16; 42:9–26.)
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What did the Savior experience as He suffered? (See Isaiah 53:3–5; Mosiah 3:7; Alma 7:11–13; D&C 19:16–19.)
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How does Christ’s suffering affect my life? (See John 10:10–11; Hebrews 4:14–16; 1 John 1:7; Alma 34:31; Moroni 10:32–33; Dallin H. Oaks, “Strengthened by the Atonement of Jesus Christ,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2015, 61–64.)
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Other questions I have:
As you learn about what happened in Gethsemane, it might be interesting to know that Gethsemane was a garden of olive trees and included an olive press, used to crush olives and extract oil used for lighting and food as well as healing (see Luke 10:34). The process of using a heavy weight to extract olive oil can symbolize the weight of sin and pain that the Savior bore for us (see D. Todd Christofferson, “Abide in My Love,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2016, 50–51).
Mark 14:27–31, 66–72; Luke 22:31–32
Conversion is an ongoing process.
Think about the experiences Peter had with the Savior—the miracles he witnessed and the doctrine he learned. Why then would the Savior say to Peter, “When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren”? (Luke 22:32; italics added). What did Elder David A. Bednar teach is the difference between having a testimony and being truly converted? (see “Converted unto the Lord,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2012, 106–9). As you read about Peter’s experiences in Mark 14:27–31, 66–72, think about your own conversion. What lessons can you learn from Peter? As you continue reading the New Testament, what evidence do you find of Peter’s conversion and of his efforts to strengthen others? What effect did receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost have on his conversion? (see John 15:26–27; Acts 1:8; 2:1–4).
Ideas for Family Scripture Study and Family Home Evening
As you continue to read about the last week of the Savior’s life with your family, the Spirit can help you know what principles to emphasize and discuss in order to meet the needs of your family. Here are some suggestions:
What is your family’s experience like during the sacrament each week? Reading about the first sacrament could inspire a discussion about the importance of the sacrament and ways family members could make their worship more meaningful. Consider displaying the picture Passing the Sacrament (Gospel Art Book, no. 108) and sharing ideas with each other about what you can do before, during, and after the sacrament.
When your family reads these verses, they could share what they learned as they studied the scriptures suggested in the personal scripture study section “The Savior suffered for me in Gethsemane.”
What do we learn about Jesus from this experience?
Suffer Ye Thus Far, by Walter Rane
What do we learn from the Savior’s words in these verses?
For more ideas for teaching children, see this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Primary.
Improving Personal Study
Study the words of latter-day prophets and apostles. Read what latter-day prophets and apostles have taught about the truths you find in the scriptures. For instance, in the most recent general conference issue of the Ensign or Liahona, you could search the topic index for “Atonement” (see Teaching in the Savior’s Way, 21).
Not My Will, but Thine, by Walter Rane