Luke 22:47–71; John 18:1–27

“The Cup Which My Father Hath Given Me, Shall I Not Drink It?”

Jesus Christ was fully committed to doing Heavenly Father’s will. This is especially evident in His suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane, His arrest that followed, and the events leading up to and during His Crucifixion. This lesson can help you follow Jesus Christ’s example by choosing Heavenly Father’s will in your life.

Placing Heavenly Father’s will above our own

Imagine that you were standing in front of two doors. By choosing to enter the first door, you would be following Heavenly Father’s will, but you would face a difficult trial. If you chose to go through the second door, you would escape the trial, but you wouldn’t be doing what Heavenly Father wanted for you.

Why might someone choose door one? door two?
What do you know about Heavenly Father that could help you choose to enter the first door?

Take a moment to reflect on Jesus Christ’s life and how choosing the first door is similar to how He chose to live. In today’s lesson, you will have the opportunity to read about the choices the Savior made toward the end of His mortal life. As you study, look for what inspires you about Jesus Christ’s actions.

Jesus Christ is betrayed and arrested in Gethsemane

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus Christ asked His Father to “remove this cup from me,” but He made it clear that He was committed to doing the Father’s will when He said, “Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42). The cup that Jesus talked about refers to His suffering and death.

Read John 18:1–4, looking for how the Savior continued to demonstrate His commitment to doing Heavenly Father’s will.

Make a list of some of the difficult things that Jesus knew would “come upon Him” in the coming hours but that He accepted (verse 4).

Read John 18:5–11, looking for how the Savior responded to the armed mob that had come to take Him.

For additional details not recorded by John that show Jesus Christ’s amazing love and determination, read Matthew 26:52–54 and Luke 22:50–51. You may also want to watch “The Savior Suffers in Gethsemane” from time code 5:55 to 8:30, available on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

The Savior Suffers in Gethsemane
Jesus, Peter, James, and John retire to the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus submits to the Father's will and begins to suffer for the sins and afflictions of mankind. He is then betrayed and arrested. Matthew 26:36–57

What impressed you about Jesus’s encounter with the armed mob?
What does Jesus Christ’s example help you understand about facing opposition?
Why do you think the Savior was able to handle these situations in the way He did? What does this teach you about Him?

Jesus Christ is brought to trial

After Jesus’s arrest, he was brought before the high priest, Caiaphas, and other Jewish leaders. Read Luke 22:63–65 to find out about some of the unjust treatment Jesus received from them. You may also want to watch the video “Jesus Is Tried by Caiaphas, Peter Denies Knowing Him” from time code 0:00 to 1:39, available on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

Jesus Is Tried by Caiaphas, Peter Denies Knowing Him
Jesus is tried before Caiaphas and the chief priests. Peter denies knowing Him and weeps bitterly.

Why do you think the Savior was willing to endure such harsh and unjust treatment?

In the Book of Mormon, Nephi and Abinadi taught about why the Savior willingly submitted to such treatment. Read 1 Nephi 19:8–9 and Mosiah 15:5–7 to find out what reasons they listed.

In your study journal, write down what lessons you can learn about or from Jesus Christ from these verses.

You may want to write down a few reasons why understanding these lessons is valuable or personally meaningful to you.

One lesson that is important to understand from these verses is that Jesus Christ submitted to His Father’s will in all things.

What do you think Jesus understood about Heavenly Father that would make Him perfectly submissive to His will?

Think of a time when you chose to follow what Heavenly Father wanted instead of a personal preference.

What was difficult about choosing God’s desires instead of what you might have wanted?

What blessings have you received by choosing to follow Heavenly Father’s will even when it was hard?

President Russell M. Nelson asked a series of questions about our willingness to submit to God’s will. Take some time to ponder how you can honestly answer these questions. Think about what it might take for you to be able to say yes to each question.

Are you willing to let God prevail in your life? Are you willing to let God be the most important influence in your life? Will you allow His words, His commandments, and His covenants to influence what you do each day? Will you allow His voice to take priority over any other? Are you willing to let whatever He needs you to do take precedence over every other ambition? Are you willing to have your will swallowed up in His?

(Russell M. Nelson, “Let God Prevail,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2020, 94)

Let God Prevail
President Nelson describes latter-day covenant Israel as those who let God prevail in their lives. He invites us to make God our life’s most important influence.

Optional: Want to Learn More?

What can we learn about the Savior from His willingness to submit to Heavenly Father?

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught that the Savior’s meekness was the key attribute that allowed Him to submit His will to the will of Heavenly Father.

The consistency of the Lord’s willing submission and strong self-restraint is both awe-inspiring and instructive for us all. As an armed company of temple guardsmen and Roman soldiers arrived at Gethsemane to seize and arrest Jesus, Peter drew his sword and cut off the right ear of the high priest’s servant [see John 18:10]. The Savior then touched the servant’s ear and healed him [see Luke 22:51]. Please note that He reached out and blessed His potential captor using the same heavenly power that could have prevented Him from being captured and crucified.

… The Savior’s meekness is evidenced in His disciplined response, strong restraint, and unwillingness to exert His infinite power for personal benefit.

(David A. Bednar, “Meek and Lowly of Heart,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 33)

Why would I want to submit my will to God?

Elder Neal A. Maxwell (1926–2004) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

So many of us … mistakenly think that, somehow, by letting our will be swallowed up in the will of God, we lose our individuality (see Mosiah 15:7). What we are really worried about, of course, is not giving up self, but selfish things—like our roles, our time, our preeminence, and our possessions. No wonder we are instructed by the Savior to lose ourselves (see Luke 9:24). He is only asking us to lose the old self in order to find the new self. It is not a question of one’s losing identity but of finding his true identity! …

… The submission of one’s will is really the only uniquely personal thing we have to place on God’s altar. The many other things we “give,” brothers and sisters, are actually the things He has already given or loaned to us. However, when you and I finally submit ourselves, by letting our individual wills be swallowed up in God’s will, then we are really giving something to Him! It is the only possession which is truly ours to give!

(Neil A. Maxwell, “Swallowed Up in the Will of the Father,” Ensign, Nov. 1995, 23, 24)