This Bible study lesson is for people who are learning English (ELL or ESL students). It is made for advanced beginner and intermediate English learners. Children who speak English or adults who prefer easy English may also enjoy it and learn from it.
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Lesson Icebreaker Question
When you feel sad or worried, what do you like to do to feel better?
Lesson Highlight
In this lesson, we will learn how Jesus prayed to God when he was very sad and afraid. We will see that even Jesus felt pain, but he trusted God’s plan. We will talk about how we can pray to God when we feel this way too.
Vocabulary List (GNT)
- Anguish — Strong pain in your heart or mind.
- Angel — A special messenger from God who helps people.
- Appear — To be seen or to show up.
- Arrive — To get to a place.
- Blood — The red liquid inside the body.
- Disciples — The close friends and followers of Jesus.
- Drop — A small bit of liquid that falls.
- Falling — Moving down to the ground.
- Fervently — Doing something with strong feelings and effort.
- Grief — Very deep sadness.
- Ground — The earth or dirt under your feet.
- Heaven — The perfect, happy home of God.
- Knelt — To bend your knees and lower your body to the ground.
- Mount of Olives — A hill outside the city where Jesus often prayed.
- Pray — To talk to God.
- Stone — A small rock.
- Strengthen — To make someone feel strong and brave.
- Suffering — Feeling pain or hurt.
- Sweat — Water drops that come out of your skin when you are hot or upset.
- Temptation — Wanting to do something wrong.
- Throw — To send something through the air with your hand.
- Will — What someone wants to happen.
- Worn out — Very tired and weak.
Summary of the Passage
This passage takes place near the end of Jesus’ life. Jesus was about to be arrested and die on a cross. He knew this would be very painful. He went to a quiet place called the Mount of Olives with his close friends, the disciples, to pray.
When they arrived, Jesus told his friends to pray so they would not do wrong things when life got hard. Then Jesus went a little farther away and knelt down to pray by himself. He asked God if there was another way, but he said he would do whatever God wanted. Jesus felt deep sadness and pain in his heart. God sent an angel from heaven to make Jesus strong. Jesus prayed so hard that his sweat fell like drops of blood to the ground.
When Jesus finished praying, he went back to his friends. He found them sleeping because they were so sad and tired. He told them to get up and pray so they would not fall into temptation.
This passage shows us that Jesus understands how it feels to be sad and afraid. It teaches us that we can talk to God when we are hurting. God listens, cares for us, and gives us strength.
Read The Passage
Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives
Luke 22:39-46 (GNT)
39 Jesus left the city and went, as he usually did, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples went with him.
40 When he arrived at the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.”
41 Then he went off from them about the distance of a stone’s throw and knelt down and prayed.
42 “Father,” he said, “if you will, take this cup of suffering away from me. Not my will, however, but your will be done.”
43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.
44 In great anguish he prayed even more fervently; his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.
45 Rising from his prayer, he went back to the disciples and found them asleep, worn out by their grief.
46 He said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you will not fall into temptation.”
Most English learners should use the New International Reader’s Version (NIRV) or the Good News Translation (GNT) because they are easy to read. If you want to try something harder, you can read one of the other Bible versions:
- Very Easy: New International Reader’s Version: Luke 22:39-46 (NIRV)
- Easy: Good News Translation: Luke 22:39-46 (GNT)
- Medium: New Living Translation: Luke 22:39-46 (NLT)
- Hard: New International Version: Luke 22:39-46 (NIV)
- Very Hard: English Standard Version: Luke 22:39-46 (ESV)
Comprehension Questions
- Where did Jesus go with his disciples?
- What did Jesus tell his disciples to do when they arrived?
- How far did Jesus go from his friends to pray?
- What did Jesus ask God when he prayed?
- Who appeared to Jesus to make him strong?
- How did Jesus feel when he prayed?
- What happened to Jesus’ sweat while he was praying?
- What were the disciples doing when Jesus came back?
- Why did Jesus tell the disciples to get up and pray?
Application Questions
- When you feel sad or afraid, who do you like to talk to?
- Why do you think Jesus prayed when he was hurting?
- How do you feel when you pray to God?
- What can you pray about when life is hard?
- How can we help friends when they feel grief or sadness?
Theological Insights
- Jesus knows what it feels like to be sad, afraid, and alone.
- God hears our prayers, even when we are hurting.
- It is good to pray for God’s will, even when it is hard.
- God can give us strength through hard times.
- We should pray for each other, especially when life is difficult.
Closing Prayer
Dear Father, thank you for listening to us when we are sad and afraid. Please help us to pray like Jesus and trust your plan. Amen.
ELL Resources for the Gospel of Luke
More ELL Resources
You can find more Bible lessons for English learners on the main ELL page.
Scripture quotations marked (GNT) are from the Good News Translation in Today’s English Version- Second Edition Copyright © 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.
Joyful Moments in Christ 