Matthew 26:30-35

Mark 14:26-31

John 15-17

After the Last Supper, when Jesus held the feast of the passover with his disciples, he led the remaining eleven apostles down from Jerusalem, across a valley, to the Mount of Olives.  It may have been as they were walking, or maybe they stopped to discuss things before they got to Jesus’ destination, but he taught them one last time before he finished the great work his Father gave him to do before he was captured and taken away.

Jesus repeated his message of love and told them again to “love one another, as I have loved you.”  Jesus told them that “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.  Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.”

Jesus told the disciples that he had more things to tell them but they were not ready to hear them yet.  So after he was gone, the Spirit of Truth, the Holy Ghost, would teach them what they needed to know.

Jesus told them again that he would soon leave them and that they would be very sorrowful, but their sorrow would be turned to joy.  The disciples again wondered what that meant. Then Jesus clearly told them that he came from the Father and that soon he would “leave the world and go to the Father.”  The disciples understood that clear statement and knew Jesus was telling him he was going to die.

Jesus then prayed for his disciples that they may be purified and have joy.  He prayed also for those of us who would believe in Jesus through the words of these disciples.  He prayed that all of his believers would be one, as he and his Father are one, that we all may be united together  in love.

Jesus told them of a scripture that applied to him that is in our Old Testament:  “I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered abroad.” Jesus knew that this scripture was a prophecy of what was about to happen to them.  Jesus was going to be taken away and his disciples would scatter. But, said Jesus, “after I am risen again I will go before you into Galilee.” Even though they didn’t fully understand, he was telling them he would gather them together again after they would be scattered that night.

What do you think?

• Why do people sometimes repeat things they have already taught?  Why does Jesus teach so much about loving each other?
• What do you think about being a friend of Jesus?
• If Jesus were to die and the disciples would be sorrowful, how could that sorrow be turned to joy?
• If Jesus prayed for those who believe the words of those apostles, do you feel that he has prayed for you?
• Why would Jesus tell the disciples they were going to be scattered?  Wouldn’t that make them afraid of what was going to happen?

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