“Luke 22; John 18,” New Testament Institute Teacher Manual (2025)
Christ Praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, by Hermann Clementz
Luke 22; John 18
After the Last Supper, Jesus Christ suffered in Gethsemane. He was betrayed and arrested. Jesus was smitten, mocked, and questioned before the Jewish leadership. Peter denied knowing Him. Jesus was accused before Pilate, who found no fault in Him. Jewish leaders called for the release of Barabbas instead of Jesus. Pilate complied with their demands and sentenced Jesus to death.
Additional Resources
Scripture Helps: New Testament, “Luke 22; John 18”
Note: The “Introduction to the Course” provides guidance on how to use the four standard lesson elements that follow.
Encouraging Personal Study
Before class, consider sending students one or more of the following messages or some of your own:
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Who has helped you increase your faith in Jesus Christ? With this person in mind, read Luke 22:31–32. Think about how one person’s conversion can influence others.
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As you read Luke 22:39–46, record some questions you have about the Savior’s suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross. Be prepared to discuss your questions in class.
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How do you respond to suffering? As you read Luke 22:63–71, consider what you can learn from the Savior’s example about suffering.
Questions and Sharing
Provide time for students to ask questions and share insights and truths they discovered in their personal study of Luke 22; John 18.
Skill Training
Luke 22:39–46 might be a helpful place to use the skill “Using Restoration Scripture to Understand the Bible” in Scripture Study Skills.
Learning Activity Options
Multiple learning options are provided for you and your students. Prayerfully choose which option or options will be most meaningful for your class.
How can my conversion to Jesus Christ bless myself and others?
Improving Our Teaching and Learning
Help learners recognize the Lord’s love, power, and mercy in their lives. It is good to know about the Savior’s love, power, and mercy, but we also need to experience it. Carefully consider ways to help students identify the Savior’s influence in their lives. If some students feel unsure about whether they have felt His influence, allow them time to reflect and discuss what it means to feel the Lord’s love, power, and mercy. Invite students to pray for these types of experiences.
Display the following pictures, and invite students to share some important experiences Peter had with the Savior.
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What did Peter come to know about the Savior through these experiences?
Christ Calling Peter and Andrew, by James T. Harwood
Finisher of Faith, by J. Alan Barrett
The Transfiguration, by Greg K. Olsen
Read together Luke 22:31–32, looking for what more needed to happen in Peter’s life before he could strengthen others. Help students identify the following truth: As we become truly converted, we increase our capacity to strengthen others in their faith in Jesus Christ. (If students need help understanding verse 31, refer them to “Luke 22:31. What does it mean to be sifted as wheat by Satan?” in Scripture Helps: New Testament.)
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Why is it important to know that the Savior prayed for Peter’s faith? How do you feel knowing that the Savior also prayed for you? (see John 17:20).
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In what ways might personal conversion affect your ability to strengthen others?
Consider sharing the following statement from President Dallin H. Oaks or watching “Strengthen Thy Brethren” (1:48).
In order to strengthen his brethren—to nourish and lead the flock of God—this man [Peter] who had followed Jesus for three years, who had been given the authority of the holy apostleship, who had been a valiant teacher and testifier of the Christian gospel, and whose testimony had caused the Master to declare him blessed still had to be “converted.”
Jesus’ challenge shows that the conversion He required for those who would enter the kingdom of heaven (see Matt. 18:3) was far more than just being converted to testify to the truthfulness of the gospel. To testify is to know and to declare. The gospel challenges us to be “converted,” which requires us to do and to become. If any of us relies solely upon our knowledge and testimony of the gospel, we are in the same position as the blessed but still unfinished Apostles whom Jesus challenged to be “converted.” We all know someone who has a strong testimony but does not act upon it so as to be converted. (“The Challenge to Become,” Ensign, Nov. 2000, 33)
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Why is it important to understand the difference between knowing about Christ and being converted to Him?
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What actions have helped you become more converted to the Savior? (Remind students not to overlook the small and simple things that foster conversion.)
Consider inviting students to think about a person they know who is truly converted to the Lord. Divide students into partnerships or small groups, and invite each student to talk about the person they identified. They could discuss how that person’s conversion to the Savior has influenced them.
Encourage students to record how they can deepen their conversion to Jesus Christ and His gospel so they can be better prepared to strengthen others.
Luke 22:39–46; Matthew 26:36–41; Mark 14:32–38
What did the Savior do for me in the Garden of Gethsemane?
Consider showing class members one or more of the following pictures of Jesus Christ praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. Explain that in Gethsemane, and later at Calvary, Jesus Christ experienced incomprehensible suffering as part of His atoning sacrifice. Invite a few students to share what they see and feel when they look at these depictions of the Savior suffering.
Jesus Praying in Gethsemane, by Harry Anderson
Christ in Gethsemane, by Carl Heinrich Bloch
Invite students to form small groups of at least three people. Have each group member read either Luke 22:39–46; Matthew 26:36–41; or Mark 14:32–38, looking for what we can learn about the Savior’s experience. Invite students to share with each other what they find. Students might identify insights such as the following: Jesus was strengthened by an angel as He suffered. When in agony, Jesus Christ prayed more earnestly. The Savior’s suffering was so intense that He sweat great drops of blood. Jesus submitted completely to the will of God, even when the suffering overwhelmed Him.
Point out that while these scripture passages teach us about what happened in Gethsemane, Restoration scripture reveals important truths about what the Savior accomplished. To discover these truths, invite students to practice the skill “Using Restoration Scripture to Understand the Bible” in Scripture Study Skills. Students might use footnotes, the search feature in Gospel Library, or the Guide to the Scriptures (see “Blood,” “Atone, Atonement,” or “Gethsemane”). Or you could suggest that students study Mosiah 3:7; 15:9; Alma 7:11–13; and Doctrine and Covenants 19:16–19. Invite students to look for what these scriptures add to their understanding about the Savior’s Atonement.
After allowing time for study, invite students to record on the board truths they found. Students may identify truths such as the following: Jesus Christ suffered incomprehensible pain for my sins so I can repent (see Mosiah 15:9; Doctrine and Covenants 19:16–19). Jesus Christ suffered pains of every kind so He can understand me and help me in my infirmities (see Mosiah 3:7; Alma 7:11–13).
Consider discussing the following questions:
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How do these truths from Restoration scripture influence how you see the Savior?
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What does the Savior’s experience in the Garden of Gethsemane, and later on the cross, mean to you?
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How can understanding and pondering what the Savior suffered for you influence how you feel about Him?
You could display and discuss the following statement by President Russell M. Nelson:
As I have wrestled with the intense pain caused by my recent injury, I have felt even deeper appreciation for Jesus Christ and the incomprehensible gift of His Atonement. Think of it! The Savior suffered “pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind” [Alma 7:11] so that He can comfort us, heal us, rescue us in times of need. (“Think Celestial!,” Liahona, Nov. 2023, 117)
Invite students to ponder how they can show gratitude for the Savior’s suffering on their behalf. They could write down what they think of. Encourage them to act on their promptings. (You could play the hymn “I Stand All Amazed” [Hymns, no. 193] as they ponder or write.)
John 18:1–12, 33–40; Matthew 26:47–50; Luke 22:47–48, 63–71
What can I learn from the Savior about remaining faithful when I face suffering?
Ask students to share examples of suffering that they or people they know have faced.
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How can suffering influence our lives?
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How can suffering affect our willingness to do the will of God?
Explain that in the hours between His suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane and His Crucifixion, Jesus was abused and persecuted by His enemies. You could show some images of these events. (See the images in the “Media” section of “Luke 22; John 18” in Scripture Helps: New Testament.)
Display the following events, scripture passages, and questions. Invite students to form small groups, select one or more of the following events, read the associated verses, and then discuss the questions below:
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Jesus is arrested: Matthew 26:47–50; Luke 22:47–48; John 18:1–12
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Jesus is put on trial before the chief priests: Luke 22:63–71
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Jesus is condemned by Pilate: John 18:33–40
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What thoughts and feelings do you have as you ponder the Savior’s experience?
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What impresses you about how the Savior responded to His persecutors?
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What can you learn from the Savior about facing adversity?
After students have read and discussed the questions, you could display the following truth: When facing great adversity, Jesus Christ remained faithful to His divine mission and calling. As a class, you could discuss the following questions:
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Why do you think Jesus Christ was able to stay focused on His divine mission despite the adversity He faced? (As part of this discussion, you could invite students to study 1 Nephi 19:8–9. They could look for what Nephi taught about why the Savior was willing to endure such harsh and unjust treatment.)
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What can help you stay focused on the purposes God has for you?
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How have you been blessed by choosing to follow Heavenly Father’s will, even when you have faced suffering?
Invite students to consider how they could follow the Savior’s example of accomplishing the purposes of Heavenly Father even when facing adversity. You could give students time to write about their spiritual impressions and the goals they have for themselves.