Rotation.org Writing Team
Jesus in Gethsemane
Video & Music Workshop
Summary of Activities
After participating in a "sour cup" demonstration that will help students remember the "cup" Jesus spoke about in the Bible story, students will view and discuss Jesus' plaintive "climb and cry to God" in the famous Gethsemane scene from the movie, Jesus Christ Superstar. After discussion, students will enjoy a "sweet" cup reflection.
Another video is suggested for younger children, under adaptations.
Scripture for the Lesson
Mark 14:32-42 (NIV)
Key/Memory Verse: 36 “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”
Lesson Objectives
See the Bible Background at rotation.org for this set's complete list of objectives.
Preparation and Materials
- Read the Bible Background and scripture.
- White board or large sheet of paper and appropriate marker.
- Preview the Gethsemane song (seen below and on YouTube, and then purchase a copy of Jesus Christ Superstar (the DVD can be ordered on Amazon. Get the 1973 movie version starring Ted Neeley as Jesus.)
- Print the Lyrics to the song (below), including the "notes."
- A stack of drinking cups, one per student, and a marker to write on them.
- A pitcher of sour lemonade. You can make it extra sour by adding one of several edible ingredients, such as, a tablespoon or two of white vinegar, or baking soda. Test your recipe!
- Optionally: Have a pitcher of sweet juice and new labeled cups ready for the close of the lesson.
- To prep DVD. Go to Scenes, select Chapter 13 (Gethsemane), STOP, then do a fast-reverse for a couple of seconds until you see the moon, then hit STOP. Now you're all set when the lesson says show the video clip.
Here's a low-res and darkened version of the clip posted on YouTube for previewing purposes:
(if this YouTube preview link goes dead, please let us know.)
About the Jesus Christ Superstar Video
Few modern portrayals of Jesus, outside of the crucifixion, show such raw emotion as Jesus Christ Superstar's depiction of Jesus in Gethsemane. Check your pulse if Christ's song and pathos doesn't make the hair on the back of your neck stand up. It will definitely provide a strong impression to hang your lesson content on in the memories of your students.
The video portrayal starts out sweet, with Jesus lamenting the sleeping disciples, but picks up musical and visual steam to portray what we in the Church used to call, Jesus' "AGONY" in the Garden. The Gospels condense and subdue this agony by giving it a one-liner, "...remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.” (Mark 14:36) But like the movie scene portrays, we know Gethsemane is not a one-liner Sunday School Jesus. We know human Jesus had plenty to agonize over that night, and that it was undoubtedly not over so quickly. The clip begins contemplative, rises to plaintive, and ends in obedience. Jesus climbs up rough terrain as if he's looking for God. Prayer is sometimes like that. The Mount of Olives is rocky and steep, and so is the terrain of faith and obedience.
Andrew Lloyd Weber's music builds to a powerful crescendo as do Tim Rice's plaintive lyrics. You might think they were harsh, but only if you forget Jesus was truly struggling, and that Jesus was as fully human as was fully God. His agony was so great that Luke's Gospel added that Jesus' sweat was like drops of blood.
Jesus "has to know"
- Why do I have to die?
- What will this death accomplish?
- Is there another way to achieve salvation?
- Can I argue with you? Can I refuse?
In a profound way, these are the questions every human struggles to answer. "Why is following God full of tough choices? What must I give up? What will happen after I die? Will my life have mattered?
Lesson Plan
Open
Welcome your students, and explain how today's lesson will unfold.
Opening Demonstration: "Take This Cup Away from Me"
As you describe what the cup was that Jesus refers to in the Bible story, you will pull out a stack of cups, write on them (see below*), then pour sour juice into them and invite everyone to drink from their cup. The taste of the sour juice is the kind of memory hook the brain loves. (Note: You'll re-visit the "cup" demonstration in the Reflection using sweet juice.)
Say something like this:
(1) Do you remember what Ursula the Witch told Ariel about "life" in the Little Mermaid movie? It's "full of tough choices, isn't it!" Some choices seem hard, like choosing between playing and doing your homework. But in today's lesson, we're talking about difficult choices, like...
*write these on the empty cups as you pass them out)
- Are you going promise God to get out of bed every Sunday and go worship him?
- Are you always going to do the right thing, even if it means losing friends?
- Are you willing to love and be a friend to someone nobody else likes?
- Are you willing to forgive someone who has hurt you?
- Are you willing to be a follower of Jesus, if it requires you to change how you talk, dress, give, and who you hang out with?
- Would you be willing to give up your life for someone?
(2) In today's movie clip, we are going to see a famous scene from a movie in which Jesus sings to God on the night before he was going to be crucified. In the Bible story and in the movie, Jesus refers to a "cup" that he doesn't want to drink from. Do you know what's in that cup? (Obeying God, even if it means losing everything.) Doing the right thing doesn't always taste good! 
Pour the sour juice into everyone's cups. And for Jesus, it was a cup of God's judgment (punishment for sin) that he was being asked to drink, so that we could live.
(3) As I read the story from the Bible, sip from your cup.
Now read the story together from the Bible.
Showing the Video
Before you watch the video clip, share the following questions by writing them on the board. Let your students know they will be asked after the video. (These questions pertain to both the scripture reading and video.) You might even divide the questions and write student names by them (2 per question is about right). If shorter class time pre-write out the questions on the board.
- What was Jesus upset about?
- What did God want from Jesus?
- What did Jesus want from God?
- What made Jesus decide to obey God?
- Could you have made the same choice as Jesus? What would you need?
- How can prayer strengthen you for tough decisions?
Start the Video starting with the scene of Jesus and the Disciples celebrating the Last Supper. Note to the kids that the movie portrays the supper in the Garden, which is not correct.
Stop the Video when the "Have to Know" song is finished (the camera will pan to the sunset), then have them answer the questions written on the board.
Additional comments/questions:
♦ Did it surprise you to see and hear Jesus cry out in agony? How do we normally think of Jesus or portray him in church? like this? Do you think he may have acted like that?
♦ Question about the Lyrics #1: Jesus sings "I Have to see, I'd have to see, my Lord, If I die what will be my reward?" What "reward' do you think Jesus wanted?
♦ Question about the Lyrics #2: How do you think God "felt" about his son pleading with him, even being a bit angry?
♦ What does this story say about being disciples of Jesus?
An answer: It is easy to shake our heads at the sleeping disciples, but they are a metaphor for all disciples, including each one of us. None of us can "stay away," or "keep watch." Only Jesus can do what God needs done. Only Jesus brings salvation to sleeping disciples.
The Mystery of the Trinity and Incarnation
Older students may ask, "If Jesus was God with us, wasn't he praying to himself? And how can Jesus question God's judgment? Doesn't he know it because he is God?" And if they don't ask, bring it up!
Complicated and unknowable answers aside, what we can say with 100% accuracy is that Jesus was not a puppet. He was fully human. God obviously had the power to be fully "in" Jesus without crowding out Jesus' human mind. In other words, Jesus had free will, just like every human does. He could have chosen to refuse God, but he didn't. That's how amazing he was, and what makes Jesus such a great example to us.
A Sweet Reflection
This is the "grace point" of the story: While we are asleep, Jesus chooses to save us.
Repeat the opening "Cup" demonstration but with sweet juice and different words that reflect the RESULT of Jesus making the difficult choice on our behalf –to save us from the penalty of our sins, to show us God's love by removing the punishment we deserve as disobedient children.
You might write on those cups:
Jesus saves, Jesus forgives, Jesus paid the price for our sins, Jesus showed us how to obey God, Jesus showed us to pray for strength! Jesus showed the world that God so loved that he gave his only son." etc. He gave us a New Cup, a New "Sweet" Promise, that God is ready to hear our prayers and help us with our tough decisions, ...and to not be afraid of messing up or falling asleep in our faith.
If possible, show the Video Clip a second time as you sip on the sweet juice to sear the scene into their memories.
Finish with a prayer that we might be as brave as Jesus was to pray to God about our difficult decisions, and remember that God listens and gives strength.
Adaptations
For Younger Students:
The JCS clip might be too intense for K's and 1's. Use Gracelink.net's video retelling of the story found on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eanDGSjxYsM. If you don't have internet access in your classroom, download the video by following the instructions found here at rotation.org.
For Home Use:
Invite participants to watch the entire Jesus Christ Superstar movie, or the last few chapters of the movie covering Holy Week. Here is a link to Rotation.org's Jesus Christ Superstar movie outline and questions for discussing the movie at home.
Song: Gethsemane (I Only Want To Say)
Notes on Some of the Lyrics
"If I die what will be my reward" -- Was Jesus seeking a reward for himself? For who? Have you ever wondered what your life means, if it will make any difference?
"I will drink your cup of poison." -- This is the lyricist's reference to a famous dramatic metaphor based on the account of Socrates' death who was forced to drink of cup of hemlock as his sentence for blasphemy. This story was famous in Jesus' day.
"You're far too keen and where and how, but not so hot on why." -- This is a great song line, but not especially true regarding Jesus. He questioned God, probably already knowing the answer. It's something children do -asking when already knowing the answer. God's response is not heard, but how do you think he spoke to Jesus in that moment?
"Now I'm sad and tired." -- I mean, who wouldn't be! Jesus was often exasperated with his disciples and the religious authorities. He often went off to pray, and you can imagine Jesus expressing his sadness to God.
"Before I change my mind." -- Yes, Jesus had free will. Jesus went off to pray and returned several times. It's shocking to see Jesus portrayed in agony AND anger, but we know from the story of the clearing of the Temple that he could have a temper. In other words, we can relate to him, and he to us.
Lyrics: Gethsemane (I Only Want To Say)
Music by Andrew Lloyd-Weber, Lyrics by Tim Rice, Copyright Leeds Music Ltd.
I only want to say,
If there is a way,
Take this cup away from me
For I don't want to taste its poison.
Feel it burn me,
I have changed.
I'm not as sure, as when we started.
Then, I was inspired.
Now, I'm sad and tired.
Listen, surely I've exceeded expectations,
Tried for three years, seems like thirty.
Could you ask as much from any other man?
But if I die,
See the saga through and do the things you ask of me,
Let them hate me, hit me, hurt me, nail me to their tree.
I'd want to know, I'd want to know, My God,
I'd want to know, I'd want to know, My God,
Want to see, I'd want to see, My God,
Want to see, I'd want to see, My God,
Why I should die.
Would I be more noticed than I ever was before?
Would the things I've said and done matter anymore?
I'd have to know, I'd have to know, my Lord,
Have to know, I'd have to know, my Lord,
Have to see, I'd have to see, my Lord,
Have to see, I'd have to see, my Lord,
If I die what will be my reward?
If I die what will be my reward?
Have to know, I'd have to know, my Lord,
I'd have to know, I'd have to know, my Lord,
Why should I die? Oh why should I die?
Can you show me now that I would not be killed in vain?
Show me just a little of your omnipresent brain.
Show me there's a reason for your wanting me to die.
You're far too keen and where and how, but not so hot on why.
Alright, I'll die!
Just watch me die!
See how I die!
Then I was inspired.
Now, I'm sad and tired.
After all, I've tried for three years, seems like ninety.
Why then am I scared to finish what I started,
What you started - I didn't start it.
God, thy will is hard,
But you hold every card.
I will drink your cup of poison.
Nail me to your cross and break me,
Bleed me, beat me,
Kill me.
Take me, now!
Before I change my mind.
Copied here under the right of "Fair Use" for use in a non-profit, face to face teaching situation. Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Lyrics by Tim Rice
Extended Option
If you have time, Mercy Me's song "EVEN IF" sounds like the kind of "response" Jesus would have given to God that night in the garden. It's a great song. Youtube Video Link. Full lyrics can be found on the web. NOTE: "Even If" is at the center of the Computer Workshop lesson in this set.
I know the sorrow, I know the hurt
Would all go away if You'd just say the word
But even if You don't
My hope is You alone
Written by the Rotation.org Writing Team
with contributions from members Julie Burton and Neil MacQueen
Lesson Copyright Rotation.org Inc.
Video copyright Universal. Lyrics and Music as noted above. Used under the Fair Use statute, referencing for the purposes of non-profit teaching and commentary, Section 101, US Copyright Law.
