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This forum is part of Rotation.org's Palm Sunday to Easter Morning forum of resources. In addition to the public lessons and ideas posted below, be sure to see our Writing Team's extra special lessons: Last Supper ~ Lord's Supper Lesson Set.

The image pictured right is from Rotation.org's Annie Vallotton Bible Illustrations Collection.

Game Lessons, Ideas, Activities, and Resources for Teaching the Last Supper, Communion, and Seder.

Included: Last Supper, Upper room, Judas, Bowl, Feet, This is my body, broken, cup, Do this in remembrance of me, Lord's Supper, Passover, Seder, Matthew 26:17-30; Mark 14:12-26; Luke 22:7-23; John 13:1-17, 21-30; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32; Exodus 11:4-8, 12:3-13, 37-39, etc.

Bible lessons for the Last Supper, Communion, and Seder -with Games, Bible memory, Games that teach the Bible, Bible Activities, Bible Books, etc.


List of all our Bible Lesson Forums

Many of the quiz and discussion questions found in the following lesson plans are interchangeable. Most of the quiz questions and gameplay is broadly graded for readers but can easily be adapted for younger students.

Last edited by Neil MacQueen
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Passover/Last Supper

A "Words of the Last Supper" Bible Games Workshop

from Irvington Presbyterian Church


Summary:

Students will play "Password" -- a party game in which they give clues to each other to help their team or partner guess the word from the Last Supper story they clue-giver has been given. See and adapt the word list below!

The game of "Password" is a "word association" game in which one player gives single word clues to another to help them guess the word they are giving clues about.  In this case, all the words are from the Last Supper scripture text and students must come up with the clues. In traditional Password, the clue-giver can only speak clues using a single word, but you may adjust this rule for your students.

A helper on each Team can help the clue-giver think of associations/synonyms to say aloud. For example, if the password is "bread," the helper might say, "Think of an ingredient in bread and say that to your team."

Scripture Reference:

Luke 22:14-20

Key Bible Verses:

"This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in memory of me."
"This cup is God's new covenant sealed with my blood."


Preparation:

  • Read/print the Password Game Rules found on various game websites, such as this one. Adapt as needed!
  • Write the words from the word list on index cards.
  • Create a "gameshow set."  In Password, the clue-giver sits next to the clue-receiver, but in "group Password," the clue-giver steps forward to a podium or sits in a chair in front of their team.
  • A timer (such as your cellphone).


Lesson Plan


Opening

Greet the children, introduce yourself, and explain what they'll be doing today and what you hope they'll learn.

Open with prayer.

Play a quick game of "Password" by seeing if the class can guess what word you are thinking of.

  • The first answer is: "Jesus."  Possible single word clues to give:  Christ, Savior, Bethlehem,
  • The second answer is: "Bible."  Possible clues:  Scripture, Book, Word
  • The third answer is: ______ (name of a student)  Possible clues: (their last name, something about their appearance)

Study the Story:

Read the story of the Lord's Supper -- the version from which you have created your Password List.

Follow up questions:

  1. Why was this going to be Jesus' "LAST" Supper?  Was it really his "last"?
  2. What message did Jesus give his disciples when he tried to wash Peter's feet?
  3. What message did Jesus give his disciples about The Bread on the table that night?
  4. What message did Jesus give his disciples about The Cup that night?  He called it, "The New Covenant," what did he mean?
  5. He said the New Covenant was "sealed in his blood." What did he mean by that?
  6. During the Passover Meal they were eating for Jesus' "last" supper, they raised their cups several times to pray a prayer of thanksgiving to God.  What was JESUS thankful for?
  7. What are YOU thankful for about the Last Supper and Jesus' messages?


Let's Play Password!

See the word list below. Keep in mind that many of these words are opportunities to share insights or ask a quick follow up question!

Below are Irvington Pres' rules for playing password. Adjust to your situation.

(If you're unfamiliar with the game "password" and its simple rules lthere are many websites you can consult. It's a clue/guessing game in which the clue-giver is given a secret word (aka the "password") and then says a single word clue/synonym  in an effort to get their partner/team to guess the password.

Divide into 2 or 3 teams of two to three players each. Children take turns being the "clue giver" to their own team.

One child from each team will give the rest of his/her team clues; the clue-giver should sit opposite his/her team, facing them.

Each team's clue-giver is shown the same password (see attached word list). Team A's clue giver begins by giving his/her team ONE word that should help them figure out the password. If Team A guesses correctly, give them one point and switch clue givers for both teams. Proceed with the next word. If Team A guesses incorrectly, Team B's clue giver offers ONE word as a clue to his/her team. If Team B guesses correctly, they receive one point, the clue givers are switched, and so on. If Team B guesses incorrectly, Team A gets another turn, with turns switching back and forth until someone gets the password/answer right.

Use a timer to limit the amount of time each team has to try and come up with the correct word. You can start with 10 seconds and adjust from there.

Feel free to prompt, hint, and encourage as needed. If children clearly don't remember the details, give them a chance to re-read the stories and then continue the game.

Suggested PassWord List:
All words from the scripture passage. A couple are from the broader story which you may or may not have shared during your discussion. 

table
apostles/disciples
Passover
meal
God
cup
wine
share
bread
broke
body
remember
covenant
blood
drink
suffer
evening
feet
Peter
God
saved
Israelites
slavery
Egypt
sacrifice
lamb
door post
Jesus
sin
death
pain
Christians
eat
celebration
thanks
forgiveness
love
communion

Closing:

Close by PANTOMIMIING or drawing CLUES to the following words of prayer. If time, give each word to your students and have them present their word in order.

God
in Heaven
We
Love
You
Thank you
(for) Jesus
(for) the Last Supper
(for) forgiveness
and love.
Amen!


A lesson written by Irvington Presbyterian Church
Indianapolis, IN and adapted and expanded by members of the Rotation.org Content Team

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Last Supper

A Bible Skills and Games Workshop

Using either a Bowling Game or a "Toss Across" game

bowling-game


Summary:

Students play a Bible Bowling or Toss Across Quiz Game to review, discuss, and remember the story and meaning of the Last Supper.

Use either "Toss Across" or the Bowling Pins game to determine the "point value" a correct answer gets awarded. If using the Toss Across Game, label the X's and O's with numbers 3 to 10. When a player/team gets an answer correct, they toss to see how many points they win. if using the Bowling Game, they toss the ball to see how many pins they knock down. Each pin = 1 pts.

Scripture Reference:

Luke 22:7-20

Memory Verse:

Luke 22:19b: "do in remembrance of me"

Editor's Note:
The questions here could be used in any type of quiz game. The Commmunion FAQ's are very interesting, and they could be questions (or a quiz) that the kids have to answer.


Supplies:

  • 10 plastic bowling pins and a plastic bowling ball OR a Toss Across game with the X/O's replaced with numbers 3 thru 10.
  • Chalkboard/flipchart scoreboard.
  • Masking tape (to mark where the game goes and line the kids must roll or toss from


Lesson Plan


Opening

Greet the children, and explain what they'll be doing today and what you hope they will learn.

Bible Bowling/Toss Across Quiz Rules:

  • Divide into teams (2 or 3 teams works best)
  • Each team answers a question. You can decide if the question has to be answered by one person or the whole team.
  • Players should try to answer from memory, but may opt for "a hint."
  • If they get it right (from memory), one person from that team gets ONE ROLL to knock down the pins or ONE TOSS of the beanbag.
  • If they get it right with help of a hint, they get one chance to knock down the pins but must do so with their hands over their eyes (or throwing backwards) to make it more difficult).
  • If they get the answer wrong, no chances, and the next team can try and answer.
  • Alternate between teams.
  • Let each person have a chance to bowl or toss. Have the non-bowling/tossing team manage the pins.

Scoring:

  • They win however many pins they knock down, or whatever number on the Toss Across board they flip with their beanbag.

The Last Supper Trivia (Game) Questions
(Luke 22: 7 –20)

1. The bible story we read today was from what book in the bible? (Luke)

2. Is this book in the first half or last half of the bible? (Last)

3. Is the book of Luke in the Old or New Testament? (New)

4. Jesus and the disciples were getting ready to celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread. What’s another name for this celebration? (The Passover) –Luke 22: 7
a. Birthday party
b. The Passover
c. Baptism

5. What is unleavened bread? (Bread made with out yeast)
a. Bread made without yeast
b. Yeast bread that has been flattened
c. Bread made to dip into soup

6. Jesus sent two disciples into the city to prepare the Passover meal to eat. Name one of those disciples. (Either Peter or John – don’t give away the second answer) – Luke 22: 8
a. Bartholomew
b. Andrew
c. Peter

7. Name the second disciple who went to prepare the meal. (Either Peter or John)
a. James
b. John
c. Judas

8. How did Peter and John know where to go? (Jesus gave them instructions – They were to find a man carrying a jar of water and follow him to a house) – Luke 22: 10
a. Jesus gave them instructions
b. They walked until they saw someone that looked friendly and asked to use his house.
c. They prayed

9. The owner of the house showed Peter and John a room where they could have the Passover meal. Where was this room located? (Upstairs) – Luke 22: 11-12
a. Basement
b. Living Room
c. Upstairs

10. At the first Lord’s Supper, who sat at the table with Jesus? (The disciples, the apostles, or name each one – Simon Peter, Simon, Thomas, Thaddeus, James, John, James Judas, Matthew, Andrew, Phillip, Bartholomew – They may use a “helper” to get the names – 2 S’s – 2 T’s - 4 J’s – and Map B) – Luke 22:14
a. Saul
b. David
c. The disciples or apostles

11. When did Jesus say He would eat His next Passover meal? (When the Kingdom of God comes) – Luke 22:16
a. When the Kingdom of God comes
b. When He got hungry
c. Tomorrow

12. Why was the Last Supper eaten in secret? (Because the religious leaders were trying to arrest and kill Jesus) Luke 22: 2

13. During the Passover meal, Jesus took a piece of bread, gave thanks to God, broke it and said, - what? (This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in memory of me.) – Luke 22: 19 (This is the memory verse)
a. A table grace prayer
b. Eat up
c. This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in memory of me.

14. After supper, he gave the cup of wine to his disciples and said, “This cup is God’s new covenant sealed with my _____, which is poured out for you.” What was it sealed with? (Jesus’ blood) – Luke 22:20
a. Glue
b. Wax
c. Blood

15. When Jesus said God’s new covenant was sealed with His own blood, what did He mean? (Jesus, himself, would die to save our sins)
a. He cut his finger to show us He cared
b. Jesus would die to save our sins
c. Jesus gave blood at the hospital for a sick person

16. What is a covenant? (A promise – a binding agreement)
a. A blanket
b. A promise – a binding agreement
c. A game

17. (Hard) What is the new covenant that Jesus talks about? (The new covenant replaces the old covenant. The old covenant was with Israel through Moses. It dates back to when God freed the Israelites from Egyptian slavery – which is why the Jews celebrate Passover – the same celebration that Jesus was having with His disciples at the Last Supper. Jeremiah predicted the new covenant in the Old Testament. -(Jeremiah 31:31-34)- It said God would write His law on our hearts, to be our God and we His people, forgive us and remember our sins no more) – Simplified - The Last Supper signified the replacement of the old covenant (set free from slavery) with the new covenant (set free from sin), which was sealed solely by the blood of Jesus.

18. (Hard) How did God bring us the new covenant? (Through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ – The promise of eternal life – The promise of eternal freedom from our sins)

19. What did Jesus serve at the Last Supper? (Wine and unleavened bread)
a. Roast
b. Apples
c. Wine
d. Unleavened bread (without yeast)

20. What did the bread signify according to Jesus? (His body)
a. Food
b. Heaven
c. Jesus’ body

21. What does the wine symbolize? (His blood)
a. Fruit
b. His blood
c. Jesus was thirsty

22. Why do we share the Lord’s Supper now? (To remember Jesus – To remember that Jesus died so we can go to heaven –to remind us that Jesus died on the cross for our sins)
a. To remember Jesus
b. To remember that Jesus died so we can go to heaven
c. Because we’re hungry
d. To remind us that Jesus died on the cross for our sins

23. What do we call the Lord’s Supper today? (Communion)
a. Food
b. Passover
c. Communion

24. Repeat the memory verse now. (And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.

25. What is the text for our memory verse? (Luke 22: 19)




“Communion Questions”

Read the bible story.

  • Tell the kids to get their thinking caps on. We have a guest coming to class this morning. He wants to see if you can think of a question that will stump him about communion.
  • Invite a deacon, pastor, or respected member of the congregation to the class. (If you can’t find someone, that’s ok – you can answer the questions just fine. But it’s nice to give the kids someone else to look up to in their faith.)
  • Have the kids ask the deacon/pastor questions about communion.
  • You can set an “altar” up in your classroom. Piano bench covered with a black or white tablecloth. Place the communion dishes on this. (Or you may want to take the kids up to the front of the church to see the altar and altar rail. This may stimulate more questions.)
  • Talk about different types of bread (loaves of bread, pieces of bread, wafers) and different kinds of cups (small vs. chalice) – have examples of each, if possible.
  • Look at the different kinds/types of communion glasses, common cups, trays & plates. Talk about taking communion by glass and wafer vs. by common cup/intinction.

These questions are meant to stimulate your thoughts and prepare for class. They are just a sample of what the kids might come up with during class. They are not meant to be memorized.

1. Where do you get the grape juice and bread for communion?
a. A member of the church buys the bread/wafer and wine/juice at a grocery store. Some churches have a member bake the bread for them. During the communion service, we pray that God will use these regular foods in a special way to grow closer to God.

2. How do you get the wine/juice in those little cups?
a. We fill a special big cup with the wine/juice to make it easier to pour it into the small glasses.

3. Where did the communion plates and trays come from?
a. Sometimes the church buys their communion plates and trays, but other times people give them as a gift to the church (as a memorial).

4. Why are the communion plates and trays so fancy?
a. Do you ever use special or fancy dishes at your house on holidays or birthdays? That is a way families make those times of celebration more special. We are doing that in the church, too. When we use pretty or fancy communion plates and trays it shows the congregation that this is a special service.

5. Who are the people up front that serve the communion?
a. The leaders of our church are called the deacons. They have been elected by the congregation to make decisions for our church. Only the deacons and the pastor may serve communion.

6. What does the name communion mean?
a. It means, “to share”. When we have communion we are sharing with God and with other members of the church.

7. I heard someone use the word “sacrament” when they talked about communion. What’s that?
a. The word “sacrament” is related to the word “sacred” which means “holy” or “set aside for the worship of God”. When we celebrate communion, we are setting aside the bread and wine/juice as a special way to worship God.

8. Why do we take communion anyway?
a. To remember Jesus and what He did for us. (Died for us).

9. Why did Jesus serve The Last Supper?
a. To remind His follower that He gave His body and blood for the forgiveness of our sins.
b. As a remembrance of The Passover meal. The Passover was a special meal when the Jews gave thanks for the time - hundreds of years earlier - when their ancestors - the Israelites - escaped from slavery in Egypt (Moses’ time). This was about the last plague in Israel. God “passed over” the homes of the people that had blood on their doors – and the first-born son was not killed.

10. Why is everyone so quiet during communion?
a. Being quiet is a way to show respect for something or someone. We are respectful toward God and the other people in church when we are quiet. It gives us time to pray and think about God.

11. We always go up front to take communion. I visited a church once, and they passed the bread and wine/juice to us while we were seated.
a. There are many ways of sharing the bread and wine/juice. The tradition in our church is to walk up front to the altar and kneel while we take communion. In some churches, they pass the trays along the pews. In others, they walk up front and dip the bread into the wine/juice cup to take communion. This is called intinction. The way we receive the bread and wine/juice is not as important as remembering Jesus.

12. What happens to the little cups after communion?
a. They are plastic and we throw them away. We used to use glass cups. They had to be washed.

13. Who can take communion?
a. It’s different in different churches. Some can be young children. Others have to wait until they are confirmed, but they all have to take some instruction before they take communion. In our church kids as young as 5 take communion.

14. I went to another church one time and they said I couldn’t take communion there. Why not?
a. Some churches have a rule that you must be a member of that particular church to take communion with them. If you are visiting a different church when they are having communion, ask your host, your parents, or the usher if you can share communion there, too. At our church, anyone is welcome to take communion as long as they believe in Christ and have received instructions on communion at their home church.

15. When they pass out the bread, they say, “The body of Christ broken for you”. What does that mean?
a. By saying this we remember that Jesus died on the cross for us – that his body was broken for us. These are also the words that Jesus said to the disciples when he shared bread with them.

16. Why do we call it “bread” when it is a little wafer?
a. This is bread that does not have any yeast in it. This might have been like the kind of bread that Jesus used. When the bread does not have any yeast – it is hard and crunchy, like crackers.

17. How about the wine/juice. Why do they say, “The blood of Christ shed for you”, when we pass the wine/juice.
a. Again this helps us remember that Christ died for us – that his blood was shed for us. This is also similar to what Jesus said to the disciples.

18. Who decides when we will have communion?
a. The pastor, the deacons, and the church council get together and make that decision. Right now we have communion on the first Sunday of every month.

19. Why do we put the bread and wine/juice on the altar?
a. To remind us that Christ is the ultimate sacrifice and was placed on the altar for us.

20. Why do we have both wine and juice to choose from?
a. Wine was very common at the time of Jesus because it was a way to preserve the juice. They didn’t have refrigerators as we do. We offer both so there is a choice. Some people prefer wine – because that’s what Jesus drank. Others prefer juice. (Alcoholics, children, etc) We feel it’s more important to take communion, than what liquid you drink.

21. I think it would be neat to have communion at home. Could we borrow the cups and plates to do that?
a. No. Not just anyone is allowed to offer communion. Communion needs to be led by a pastor. They have been given special training and authority to offer this sacrament to us. The pastor could come to your house. In fact, he does offer communion to the shut-ins – the people that can’t get out to church very easily.

22. How has communion changed over the years?
a. In many churches, communion has become more open. It used to be that many churches would refuse to let anyone other than their own members take communion. Now many churches offer communion to whoever comes to worship. It also is more open to younger children than ever before. This is all good, because communion is a gift of Grace from God. And as many people as possible should celebrate God’s love.

Closing:

Close with a prayer that we would "Remember what Jesus did for us as well as his story."






A lesson written by Rachel Haugland from: Elim Lutheran Church and updated by the Rotation.org Content Team

Based in part on a quiz posted by Kirk of Kildaire Church

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More Last Supper Words and Questions for Password, Pictionary, Pantomime, and Quiz games

TABLE
DISCIPLES
PASSOVER
JERUSALEM
KINGDOM of GOD
CUP
WINE
SHARE
BREAD
BROKE
BODY
REMEMBER
COVENANT
BLOOD
DRINK
SUFFER
EVENING
SLAVERY
EGYPT
JESUS
EAT
CELEBRATION
THANKS
COMMUNION (Lord’s Supper today)
PETER AND JOHN (meal preparers)
UPSTAIRS (where room was)
SUFFER (what Jesus expected to do)

Note: Some of these are used in the other games in this topic.


Questions to ask younger children about the Last Supper

Turn these into multiple choice questions by adding possible answers:

  • The Last Supper was a special meal What was it called?
    Passover
  • Which disciples prepared the Passover meal?
    Peter and John
  • Where in the house was the room
    Upstairs
  • What did the Jews give thanks for at Passover?
    Their ancestors’ escape from slavery in Egypt
  • In what city did the Last Supper take place?
    Jerusalem
  • What time of day was the Last Supper?
    Evening
  • What kind of furniture did Jesus and the disciples use at the Last Supper?
    a table (and we use a table today in our communion service)
  • Who was at the Last Supper?
    Jesus and the 12 disciples
  • When did Jesus say he would eat his next Passover meal?
    When the Kingdom of God comes
  • What did Jesus say he would do soon?
    Suffer
  • What kind of prayers did Jesus say during the meal?
    Thanks
  • What was in the cup?
    Wine
  • What did Jesus tell the disciples to do with the wine?
    Share it, divide it among themselves
  • What kind of food is mentioned in the story?
    Bread
  • What did Jesus do to the bread?
    Broke it into pieces and gave it to the disciples
  • What did Jesus say the bread was a symbol of?
    His body
  • What did Jesus say the wine was symbol of?
    His blood, or the new covenant
  • What is a covenant?
    A promise
  • What is the new covenant?
    God’s promise that our sins will be forgiven
  • Finish this verse: Do this in...
    Remembrance of me (or memory of me)
  • What do we remember when we celebrate the Lord’s Supper in church?
    Jesus, Jesus’s death
  • What is another name for the Lord’s Supper today?
    Communion


More Reflection Questions About the Last Supper

What does Jesus want us to "remember" about him?

If you were inviting someone to come to Communion for the first time, how would you explain it?

What kind of people did Jesus eat with during his time on earth? (And what does that say about who is "welcome" to be with Jesus?)

What do you think "Communion" will be like in Heaven?

Last edited by Neil MacQueen

For our rotation on The Last Supper we wanted them to find and learn as much information as possible about the Last Supper, including some of the political, cultural and religious issues at the time and how this experience of the Disciples became our celebration of Holy Communion.  Because of this we used a compilation of the story and information from all 4 Gospels.

For this "Games" Workshop had the students become "Detectives."

  1. First they had to be Detectives to discover the 5 W questions:  Who, Where, What, Why and When.  They do this while the Scripture was read.
  2. After being detectives, the class did a crossword puzzle that I made up and a word search.

The Last Supper Bible Skills and Games Workshop

Scripture Passage:

Matthew 26:17-30

Summary of Lesson Activities:

The students will learn some important things about The Last Supper:  who the main characters are, where and when this event happened, what happened and why it’s important.  They will become sleuths who investigate to find these answers.  They will do a Word Search and Crossword Puzzle to complete their Detective work.

Lesson Objectives:

  • The Last Supper was a Passover celebration
  • The Last Supper was the time when Jesus instituted “Holy Communion”:  When we eat the bread and drink the cup we “Do this in remembrance of him” and in remembrance of the Last Supper (also called “The Lord’s Supper)
  • The Passover meal took place in Jerusalem in an Upper Room because Jesus had to hide from the authorities. Their gathering was a secret.
  • The unleavened bread they ate was the symbol of Jesus’ broken body.
  • The wine was a symbol of the blood of Jesus and was a sign of the “New Covenant”—God had a covenant with Abraham and Isaac that saw the Israelites through the Old Testament.  The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross is the beginning of a New Covenant that God has with His people.
  • Judas is the one who betrays Jesus
  • The United Methodist Church uses grape juice instead of wine so that everyone, even those who can’t have wine, can receive communion.  It’s important that the communion table be open to all.
  • In our congregation we receive communion by “Intinction”—dipping the bread into the wine—because we have too many people to pass a cup around and we know a lot about germs now.
  • The Disciples are also called The Apostles
  • The Foot Washing ceremony that Jesus does for his Disciples is told to teach us that we should be servants of each other.



Supplies List:

  • Make a poster listing the vocabulary words and the 5 W’s
  • Create the three envelopes used in the Opening:  Bible passage, what we will learn, and a pack of "Detective Notepads and Pencils"
  • Creative and make copies of Crossword Puzzle and Word Search (see below)
  • Pencils
  • Purchase or create Detective Notepads, one per student. They will use these to write their Bible story detective notes on them.
    Alternatively, you may give each student a pack of POST IT NOTES, five different colors to use in the Detective Post Game (if you are using that option, see below)




The 5 W’s

WHO?   Who are the main characters in this story?             

WHEN?  When does this story take place?       

WHERE?  Where does this story take place?

WHAT?  What are the major things that happen in this story?              

WHY?  Why do all 4 gospel writers include this story in their book?  What is important about it?               

Vocabulary

  • “Passover” = “Feast of the Unleavened Bread”
  • “Passover” Meal = “The Last Supper”
  • “Last Supper” = “Lord’s Supper”
  • The Last Supper= Holy Communion
  • Foot washing = Servant
  • “Old Covenant” from the Old Testament vs.  “New Covenant” that Jesus creates through his crucifixion


Lesson Plan


Opening:

Introduce yourself to the students in your class.

Tell them that you have HIDDEN THREE ENVELOPES in the classroom that they must find. One has the Bible story for today. The second has "what we hope to learn" written in it. The third larger envelope contains all the "Detective Note Pads" (or post-its) and pencils they will use during their work. Give them a minute to find the envelopes and then open them.

Say:  Today you are all going to be Detectives.  We’re going to do an investigation of the story of The Last Supper.  The Last Supper is the story of Jesus and his Disciples right before Jesus is crucified.

Distribute the notepads/post-its and explain how they are to use them.

Let's Begin!

Ask:  Where in the Bible do we find stories about the life of Jesus?  (New Testament).  Who are the men who wrote about Jesus?  (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John).  What are their books called?  (The Gospels).  What does the word “gospel” mean? (Good news)

Say:  The story of The Last Supper is told by three of the Gospel writers:  Matthew, Mark and Luke.  The Gospel writer, John, doesn’t tell the story of the Last Supper but he tells the story of one thing that happens during the Last Supper. This morning we are going to read bits and pieces of each of their versions.

Detective Activity #1: The 5 W's of the Story

Say:  Instead of me just reading the story to you, you are going to be sleuths.  A good detective will look for facts as well as the meanings of things.  So, while I read this story to you I want you to listen for the 5 W’s:  Who, When, Where, What and Why?  These are also the questions a newspaper reporter asks when writing a story about something. (Pass out paper and pencils)  I’m going to read the story slowly so you can listen for the answers to the 5 W questions. Afterward we can go over it. (Make sure you point out the poster to which they can refer. In the following passages I’ve highlighted where I think the important information is. As well as words that will be used in the games.)

Scripture Reading:

Read slowly and pause after every sentence or two to let students write their answers.

Mark 14:12-16     On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” 13 So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, “Go into the city…Say to the owner of the house …The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 15 He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.” 16 The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.

John 13: 1-5, 12, 15   1-3 Jesus knew on the evening of Passover Day that it would be his last night on earth before returning to his Father. During supper the devil had already suggested to Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, that this was the night to carry out his plan to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had given him everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. And how he loved his disciples! 4 So he got up from the supper table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his loins, 5 poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel he had around him. 12 After washing their feet he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? 15 I have given you an example to follow: do as I have done to you.

Matthew 26:20-25   20-21 That evening as he sat eating with the Twelve, he said, “One of you will betray me.” 22 Sorrow chilled their hearts, and each one asked, “Am I the one?”   23 He replied, “It is the one I served first. 24 For I must die just as was prophesied, but woe to the man by whom I am betrayed. Far better for that one if he had never been born.”  25 Judas, too, had asked him, “Rabbi, am I the one?” And Jesus had told him, “Yes.”

Luke 22: 14-15, 19-20  14 When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15 And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.”

Ask the students to share their answers.

If you are using Post-Its instead of Notepads, have students step forward to "post" their answer to each of the 5 W's on the board under the corresponding "W"  (putting their "who" answer in the "Who" column, and so forth). Remember that each answer/column is an opportunity to add insight and ask follow up questions.

The 5 W’s Answer Key:

WHO?   Who are the main characters in this story?

  • Jesus, the twelve Disciples, Judas the betrayer

WHEN?  When does this story take place?

  • Evening on the first night of Passover, or the Feast of Unleavened Bread

WHERE?  Where does this story take place?

  • In an upper room in Jerusalem so that Jesus is hidden from the authorities who will arrest him.

WHAT?  What are the major things that happen in this story?

  • Jesus and the Apostles have a Passover Seder (which means “order” because the items were eaten in a very specific order )
  • Jesus washes the disciples feet
  • Jesus says Judas will betray him
  • Jesus breaks the bread and says “Take, eat, this is my body.  Do this in remembrance of me.”
  • Jesus takes the cup of wine, shares it and says it is his blood that will create a new covenant

WHY?  Why do all 4 gospel writers include this story in their book?  What is important about it?

  • Jesus shows, through the foot washing, that the master will be the servant
  • Jesus creates our ritual of Holy Communion
  • Jesus tells the disciples that, like the Passover lamb, he will suffer and be sacrificed very soon after the Seder.
  • It reveals God’s plan of a new covenant created by Jesus’ blood—the new covenant replaces the old one that God made with the ancient Hebrews in the Old Testament.


Detective Activity #2:   Crossword Puzzle

Last-Supper-CrosswordHave students complete the puzzle. You can do this as a team competition, Giving each team 10 seconds to come up with the correct answer before the next team gets a chance to complete it.

Note: Cat didn't include a copy of her puzzle, so we created our own at https://www.education.com/. You can create up to 3 for free!  Ours is attached to this lesson along with the answer key.

Detective Activity #3 Word Search

If there is not enough time they can take the Word Search paper home with them.

Cat didn't include her Wordsearch (she used software), but you can easily make one at a number of websites, such as education.com or wordmint.com.

Closing:

Have the Detectives Summarize what they learned about Jesus and the Last Supper. Close with a prayer.




Here are some "additional" Crossword clues you could create a puzzle about at education.com.

  1. Another title for the “Last Supper”          Lord’s Supper
  2. What Jesus gave his blood to create          New Covenant
  3. Passover bread was this          Unleavened
  4. Jesus hung on the cross to ____ us.          Save
  5. In United Methodism we use this instead of wine so everyone can share in the ritual of Communion.           Grape Juice
  6. The Gospel writer whose book is the first in the New Testament    Matthew
  7. During Communion we use a _____ of bread.          Loaf
  8. A Gospel writer                    Mark
  9. We say this at the end of every prayer          Amen
  10. In a foot washing ritual we _____ the feet.          Bathe
  11. Jesus’ death saves us from this          Sin
  12. Gospel Writer          Luke
  13. Homonym for “two”          To
  14. During the Lord’s Supper the bread was _____.          Torn
  15. “Seder” means “_____”.          Order
  16. When Jesus broke the bread he foreshadowed this.          Crucifixion
  17. Jesus knew that Judas would _____ him.          Betray
  18. In United Methodism we use grape juice instead of wine  because it is important to us that we are this:          Open to All
  19. The number of Apostles          Twelve
  20. Jesus’ death created a new _____ of covenant.          Form
  21. Jesus’ sacrifice will make us ______.          Whole
  22. Jesus was __________ on the cross.          Sacrificed
  23. The wine is served in a _____.          Cup
  24. The Last Supper was in an Upper room because Jesus needed to be _____.           Hidden
  25. The fourth Gospel writer.          John
  26. The Passover Seder took place at this time of day.          Evening
  27. The part of the Bible where we learn about the life of Jesus.          Gospels



A lesson written by rotation.org member Cat Blue
and enhanced by members of the Rotation.org Content Team

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