The Last Supper is an important event in the life of Jesus Christ where he shared a final meal with his disciples before his arrest. The bread and wine point to the body and blood of Christ to be sacrificed for our salvation on the cross. As believers, we remember this event in the Lord’s Supper and Holy Communion.
Use these free Sunday School lessons, craft ideas, and coloring pages to help children learn the importance of the Last Supper. Download them for your kids church, children’s ministry, or Sunday School class. Matthew 26:20-29, Mark 14:17-25, Luke 22:14-20.
Do This in Remembrance of Me: Sunday School Lesson on the Last Supper and Arrest of Jesus from Luke 22
In Remembrance of Me… Sunday School Lesson on the Last Supper and Arrest of Jesus: This lesson takes a look at some of the final hours of the life of Jesus. A lot happened on Thursday and Friday. Here, we explore the events of the Last Supper, the meal that Jesus shared with His disciples before He went to the cross. In this passage we see the institution of Communion, which we still receive to remember Christ. Following that blessed event, unfortunately, Jesus is betrayed and sent to the cross.
Holy Week is an especially essential time to study and celebrate Scripture. As we approach Easter and consider the final events in Christ’s life, there are many ways to bring these important stories to life. Make it meaningful and make it your own, depending on the needs and ages of your audience.
Lesson focus: Jesus came to Earth to serve, and gave up His very life for our sins. The ideas in this lesson cover the Last Supper He shared with His disciples, visiting the importance of this special meal. The lesson also covers the agony of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane, and concludes with the betrayal and arrest of Jesus.
Passage: Luke 22 (select verse segments). *Note: other Gospels feature these stories, as well, and it can be particularly insightful to compare the versions given by various authors (the John account is especially detailed). Here we examine the story as told by Luke, highlighting select verses. Read more of the story as time and attention allow.
Target Audience: Kindergarten-6th grade
Materials Needed: Paper or plastic cups, paper, crackers, juice, communion cups, paper plates, egg carton, bucket, towel.
Game Activities to Introduce the Lesson
Lesson Opening: Here are some activity ideas to incorporate with your experience of the Passion. There are many methods and additions that you can use as you see fit! Most of these lend themselves to the Last Supper (in church holidays we call the day “Maundy Thursday), and can be used in the beginning of the lesson or throughout discussion. Select what will bring extra emphasis to the story for your kids.
- Foot bath! Practice serving each other as Jesus did, and carry out His act of washing feet. Hopefully our feet aren’t quite as dirty as those of the disciples, but you can still enjoy washing and maybe even massaging one another’s feet!
- Read through the final talk that Jesus had with His disciples (in the John version of the story). Consider His instructions to love one another. Take some grapes and discuss how He is the “vine” and we are “branches” connected to Him.
- Taste the last supper! Look at Passover meal ideas and history. Try horseradish, unleavened bread, or even lamb.
- Experience a garden prayer. Go outside, especially in the evening, to pray.
- Taste the Last Supper! Describe and review the methods by which your church receives Communion. If appropriate, taste crackers and/or juice to celebrate.
- Watch a movie, or clips of movies, about the life of Christ.
Prepare kids to dive into some of the Biblical specifics in these stories. Before Jesus went to the cross, He communicated His love to the disciples and encouraged them to share love with others. He explained how He gave His own body and blood for our sake. His actions prepared others, and us, to love and serve one another.
Ask: How do you feel when you know something hard is going to happen? What is a time or event that has been especially difficult for you?
Sunday School Lesson (Luke 22) The Last Supper and Arrest of Jesus
Bible Lesson: How you choose to experience the story will vary according to the ages and abilities of your children (and how many are participating). For younger children, you may wish to use a children’s or storybook version of the Bible, and explain details as you go. Older kids can take turns helping to read the story. You can also turn this into a skit and have children act out the various parts as you are reading the narrative. You might find a short video version to reinforce it. Make the reading experience interactive by describing and experiencing some of the elements as you read. Set the “stage” by describing how Jesus and His disciples met to share the Passover meal together. This was a tradition celebrated by Jews each year, to recall how God delivered the people of Israel from Egypt.
And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. 15 And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. 18 For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” -Luke 22:14-18
Jesus cared deeply for His friends and followers. He wanted to enjoy His last moments with them, while making effort to communicate who He was and what He was going to sacrifice. In this passage, Jesus instituted our practice of Communion…
And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. -Luke 22:19-20
What does this mean? Jesus wanted His disciples to remember Him. Not just recalling who He was, but remembering all that He did in His sacrificial actions. Every time we take Communion, we can remember who Jesus was and what He did and does.
These words may sound familiar if your church regularly participates in the practice of Communion. Jesus wants us to remember that He gave Himself for us. In sharing the bread and wine, He described that He was giving His own body and blood for us.
Ask: What do you think about Communion? Do these verses make you understand more about why we do this in church every (week/month/etc. depending on tradition)?
But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. 22 For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” 23 And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this. -Luke 22:21-23
There is a bit of a turn here…Jesus acknowledges the importance of being with friends, but also admits that He knows a traitor is in the crowd. Some might wonder why Jesus would have even allowed Judas to be one of His followers, knowing that he would ultimately betray Him. It is difficult for us to understand this, but we know that it was part of God’s will. Jesus had to die, and this was the prophecy-fulfilling way it happened.
After the dinner, Jesus went out to pray. We see Jesus praying a lot at critical points in His life. This reminds us of the importance of prayer, especially before or during big events. In this prayer, we see that Jesus is in deep anguish. Even though Jesus is God, He struggled with the enormity of the task ahead. He didn’t want to have to suffer.
And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. 40 And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” 41 And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” 43 And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 45 And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, 46 and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.” -Luke 22:39-46
Explain to students how significant this prayer is. Jesus prays for there to be another way for Him to fulfill God’s plan without the pain of the cross. In the end, though, He submits to God’s will. He knows that this is the necessary path He must take, and He accepts it despite the agony He knows will come. The disciples, though, fell asleep. They would have liked to say they’d stay with Jesus and keep watch or come to His aid, but in His darkest hour, Christ felt alone.
Ask: Have you ever had a hard decision or big event coming up? What do you do to prepare for things like that?
While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” 49 And when those who were around him saw what would follow, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. 51 But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him. 52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders, who had come out against him, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? 53 When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.” -Luke 22:47-53
Many things are happening in this passage. One of the key elements to note is how Jesus behaves through it all. He could have easily fought back, disappeared, or started a riot. But “this is the hour”, and He knows the time has come. He encourages the disciples not to take up arms in His defense. Yet when one of them does, cutting off the ear of a soldier, Jesus heals Him. This man has come to arrest Him, and Jesus heals Him instead! He came to save everyone, even those who were out to hurt Him. Now, it would seem that this miracle might have given a clue to the soldiers as to just who it was they were coming after! But perhaps they had blinded themselves and refused to recognize it.
You might also want to note that the kiss with which Judas was to betray Jesus was a typical friendly greeting. Men and women would kiss on the cheek as a way to say hello or show familiarity.
Ask: Do you understand why Jesus let Himself be arrested and taken away?
You might make this lesson part in a series for Holy Week, leading into the Good Friday crucifixion and ultimately Easter Sunday. At this point in the story, things look pretty bleak. The disciples didn’t fully realize what was happening and certainly didn’t know what was going to happen. But through the events of the Last Supper, garden prayer, and arrest, Jesus was demonstrating that He came to serve and to give Himself for us. This is what the whole Bible leads up to and points towards! We can rejoice because we know that the darkness will not triumph, but the glory of Easter morning will shine soon.
Close with prayer. Thank God for the remarkable sacrifice of Jesus. Pray for mindfulness of the severity of that gift. Ask God for ways to serve others, just like Christ served us.
Children’s Sermon: Do This to Remember Me
Jesus shared bread and wine with his friends, inviting them to remember that he gave His body for the sins of humanity. We need God’s grace in our spiritual nourishment just as much as we do physical food which sustains us bodily life-styles . This message describes how Christians practice Communion by celebrating Christ’s saving work at church; it also notes why this tradition has origins dating back centuries ago when people were being spiritually hungry despite knowing about its rewards!
Last Supper Crafts for Sunday School Class
Craft: Consider crafts that celebrate the Lord’s Supper, or the Garden of Gethsemane. You might also focus on the cross. Ideas include:
- Decorative cup in honor of the wine shared
- Footprint or sandal for foot washing
- “Stained glass” cross with tissue paper
- Decorative flower or mini garden.
- Cross covered in sensory decorations (pom-poms, beads, gems, glitter, etc.)
- Plate with cracker pieces and small cup to represent the Last Supper elements
- Egg carton “diorama” of disciples at the Last Supper
Learn about the reasons we practice Communion and what Jesus did on His last night with friends during The Last Supper. Christ commands us to remember Him, as well as all that He has done for us! We are able recall how our Lord gave His body (and blood) in order satisfy mankind’s sins—a long time ago when they crucified him upside-down just outside of town so everyone could see its Power at Work . These crafts recollect important aspects from within this story; namely how you can make your very own “last supper” plate using elements found inside it: metal cutters/scissor.
Bible Story Videos about the Last Supper
More Bible Study Resources on Communion and the Lord’s Supper
The Lord’s Supper is a covenant meal, and as such, it is to be taken seriously. It is a time for us to remember the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and to covenant with him to obey his commands. In order to help facilitate this covenant, we offer the following Bible study resources on Communion and the Lord’s Supper. We hope that these resources will be helpful as you prepare to take part in this sacred meal.
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