GOLDEN STARS MONTESSORI ACADEMYTOPIC: THE BETRAYAL AND ARREST OF JESUS SUB-TOPIC: The Events at Gethsemane according to Mark 14:43-52 and Matthew 26:47-56 CLASS: J.S.S. 2 TERM: [Insert Term, e.g., Second Term]
After the Last Supper and the intense moments of prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, the most difficult part of Jesus' earthly journey began. The betrayal and arrest of Jesus are not just historical events; they represent the moment when Jesus' mission to save humanity moved from teaching and healing to suffering and sacrifice. In this lesson, we will explore how one of Jesus' own disciples led a mob to capture Him and how Jesus reacted to this act of treachery.
The betrayal was led by Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples. To understand this event, we must realize that Judas was someone who had walked with Jesus for three years. He knew Jesus’ favorite places to pray, which is why he knew exactly where to find Him in the dark.
Judas did not come alone. He arrived with a "great multitude" armed with swords and clubs. These were sent by the Chief Priests, Scribes, and Elders—the religious leaders who were threatened by Jesus' teachings. Because it was dark and many people might have looked like Jesus in the shadows of the olive trees, Judas had given them a specific sign: "Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him and lead Him away safely."
In the Jewish culture of that time, a kiss was a sign of deep respect, love, and greeting between a student and a teacher. By using a kiss to identify Jesus for arrest, Judas committed an act of ultimate irony and hypocrisy. He used a symbol of love to perform an act of hatred.
When the crowd arrived, Jesus did not run away. According to Matthew 26, Jesus even addressed Judas as "Friend," showing that even in the face of betrayal, Jesus maintained His character of grace. However, the disciples did not react with the same calm.
One of those with Jesus (identified in other Gospels as Peter) drew a sword and struck the servant of the High Priest, cutting off his ear. This was a natural human reaction—fighting back when we feel threatened. However, Jesus immediately corrected this. In Matthew 26:52, Jesus says, "Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword."
This teaches us a core Christian principle: Non-violence. Jesus wanted His followers to understand that His kingdom was not to be established by physical warfare or political power, but by spiritual truth and love.
A very important part of this story is Jesus’ explanation of why He allowed Himself to be arrested. He told the crowd that He could have asked His Father for "more than twelve legions of angels" to protect Him. One legion was about 6,000 soldiers, so twelve legions would be 72,000 angels!
Jesus was not arrested because He was weak or because Judas was smarter than Him. He was arrested because He chose to submit to God’s plan. He pointed out to the mob that they could have arrested Him any day while He was teaching in the Temple, but they chose the night because they were doing the work of darkness. Ultimately, Jesus surrendered so that "the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled." This means that everything happening was part of a divine plan predicted hundreds of years earlier.
Activity 1: Reflective Journaling
Activity 2: Group Discussion - "The Choice"
Activity 3: Roleplay (The Confrontation)
The betrayal and arrest of Jesus in Mark 14 and Matthew 26 mark a turning point in the life of Christ. Judas Iscariot, driven by motives the Bible links to greed and Satanic influence, led a mob to Gethsemane. Using a kiss—a sign of friendship—as a signal for arrest, Judas handed Jesus over to the Jewish authorities.
During the arrest, we see three distinct reactions:
This lesson teaches us about the pain of betrayal, the importance of non-violence, and the supreme example of Jesus, who chose to suffer so that God's plan for the salvation of the world could be completed. It challenges us to be loyal friends and to trust in God's plan even when things seem to be going wrong.