Bible Blossom - Storyteller's Handbook

196 • T HE S TO RY OF G OD I N C H R I S T : T HE F ULLNESS OF T I ME

The Passion: Prayer in the Garden Matthew 26.36-46

70

Key Verse

Matthew 26.39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass fromme; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”

Theme

Christ submits completely to the will of the Father and his kingdom purposes.

Setting

The Garden of Gethsemane

• Jesus • Peter, James, and John

Major Characters

Plot

Introduction and Rising Action 1. Late at night, Jesus took his disciples to Gethsemane to pray. 2. He took Peter, James, and John with him and asks them to stay awake with him while he prays. Climax 3. He goes off alone, falls on his face, and cries out to the Father to let the cup of suffering pass from him. 4. Jesus, however, submits to the will of the Father saying, “Not as I will, but as you will.” 5. When he returned to the disciples they were sleeping. He urges them again to stay awake. 6. He returns and prays in the same way two more times.

Falling Action and Resolution 7. When he finishes, he rouses the disciples. His betrayer is arriving at Gethsemane as he speaks.