Sunday – Two False Witnesses: Matthew 26:57-62; Mark 14:53-60; Luke 18:12-14
From the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was led away captive to the palace of Annas, and then to Caiaphas, the high priest, who had purposed long before that Jesus must die (John 11:47-54). They felt justified (despite Deuteronomy 19:16-21) in using false witnesses to testify against Jesus, but although there were many available, none of their claims coincided (at least two with the same testimony were required by Moses’ law, Deuteronomy 19:15). Finally, two were found using the same twisted story, accusing Jesus of speaking against the Temple. Fulfilling

Primary Texts: Matthew 26:57-27:10; Mark 14:53; John 18:12-28

Memory Verses: But He kept silent and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” Jesus said, “I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “What further need do we have of witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy! What do you think?” And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death. Mark 14:61-64

Sunday – Denial & Resurrection Foretold: Matthew 26:30-35; Mark 14:26-31
Upon leaving the upper room where Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper memorial, and entering into the Mount of Olives, the Lord forewarned His disciples that His arrest was near. He also warned that they would be offended (specifically, scandalized, “skandalidzo,” in the Greek, or ensnared) and that they should quickly scatter (Zechariah 13:7). In usual fashion, Peter quickly protests (as do the others), promising constant devotion, but Jesus again foretells Peter’s threefold failure.

Monday – Praying in Gethsemane Matthew 26:36-39; Mark 14:32-36; Luke 22:39-42; John 18:1
Taking His three “inner-circle”

Primary Texts: Mark 14:26-52; Luke 22:39-53

Memory Verses And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. Luke 22:41-44

Introduction:

Jesus took the three disciples of His inner circle, Peter, James, and John, with Him into the Garden of Gethsemane

Sunday – To Glorify the Father: John 17:1-5
Jesus began this intimate prayer to His Father by praying for Himself, asking that the “Son be glorified,” showing His desire that the Jews come to realize that He was the promised Messiah. Then He acknowledged His imminent death by making the connection that in the Son being glorified, the Father would be glorified and through His sacrifice all men would be availed the opportunity to be saved. Having been born of both the Spirit and of man, His death, resurrection and ascension would overcome His humanity, reveal His divinity, and establish

Primary Texts: John 17:1-26

Memory Verses: “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me.” John 17:6-8

Introduction:

The great prayer of Jesus Christ, recorded in John

Sunday – Persecuted for Christ: John 15:26-16:3
Jesus foretells the persecution the body of believers will face after His crucifixion. He warns His disciples about zealots who believe they are doing the will of God in condemning Jesus’ followers, but don’t understand the revelation of who Jesus really is, hinting to the role that Saul (the Apostle Paul) played in the persecution of the early church. Jesus points out the persecution to come so that when His disciples are faced with these trials, they will remember that He not only predicted the circumstances, but prepared them to face the hardships.

Primary Texts: John 15:26-16:33

Memory Verses “Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:32-33

Introduction:

Persecution and rejection is natural for the dedicated follower of Jesus Christ. If the world rejected the Messiah, and put Him to death through a

Sunday – The Living Vine: John 15:1-3
The four key elements in this parable are the true Vine (Jesus), the branches (His disciples), the Vinedresser (the Father), and the Word of truth (Greek = logos). The importance of each element is clearly seen in their purpose in the vineyard: the Vine to supply life to the branches; the branches to bear fruit; the Vinedresser to remove unfruitful vines and maximize the fruit of producing vines, and the Word to cleanse and purify.

Monday – Abiding in Christ: John 15:4-8
What is the only way for a believer to lead a

Primary Texts: John 15:1-27

Memory Verses “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” John 15:4-5

Introduction:

The parable of the vine and the branches teach absolute dependency, total trust, and abundant fruitfulness. These are the essential themes in Jesus’ teaching on the true vine and the branches. Each one taken alone