The Last Supper , Jesus Shares the New Covenant
Scripture: Matthew 26:17-30, Luke 22:7-20
Theme: Jesus’ body was broken and His blood was shed for us
Age Group: 1st-3rd Grade (Ages 6-8)
Overview
Lesson Overview: “Jesus Shares the New Covenant” Theme: Jesus’ body was broken, and His blood was given for us! Opening (5 min): Start with a simple discussion: “Have you ever shared a special meal with someone you love? Maybe with your family or best friend?” Ask kids, “How do you feel when you share food with someone?” (Love, happy, thankful.) Then introduce Jesus: “Today, we’re going to learn about how Jesus shared a big, special meal with His friends, and even though it was sad, it was the most important meal ever!” Lesson (10 min): Jesus took bread and wine and said, “This is my body… this is my blood.” (1 Corinthians 11:24) He didn’t just talk about being broken, He was broken for us. Imagine giving up your favorite toy to help a friend who lost theirs. Jesus gave everything so we could be forgiven. The lesson ends with: “This isn’t just about food anymore, it’s about love! Today, we can thank Jesus for loving us so much!” Application (5 min): Ask kids to share: “What’s one way you can show love to someone today?” (Help a friend, pray for someone, smile.) End with a prayer: “Dear Jesus, thank You for loving us so much! Help us to love others like You do!” Encouragement for Volunteers: Keep it simple and heartfelt! Use visuals (e.g., bread/wine cups) and a short retelling of the story. Emphasize that Jesus’ sacrifice is the best gift ever, and our job is to share His love with others! — Tip: Add a song like “This Little Light of Mine” (adapt lyrics) to reinforce Jesus’ light in our lives! Optional reflection: children can draw a picture of Jesus helping their friends, then share one way they can help someone else this week. This extra activity supports the lesson’s theme and gives teachers a simple, lowprep option for extending the discussion.
Bible Story
The Last Supper: Jesus Shares His Love with Us
One evening, as the disciples gathered together, Jesus sat down with them to share a meal. This was a special time for the family of Israel, it was the time when they ate the Passover, remembering how God had protected the Israelites when they left Egypt. But this was different. Jesus didn’t just eat with His friends; He shared something even more special. He took a loaf of bread, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “Take and eat. This is my body, given for you.” Then He took a cup of wine, blessed it, and said, “This is my blood, poured out for many to be forgiven.” His disciples were surprised but believed Him.
Jesus then took a cup of wine and told them, “This cup is not my will, but yours to do. You will drink it in my presence.” Then He told His friends a big secret: “I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” He also said something important: “This is my body and blood given for you.” The disciples didn’t understand everything at first, but Jesus reassured them that He would be with them always.
After they ate, Jesus left the room, went up to Gethsemane, and prayed. Even though He knew He would soon be arrested, He didn’t give up. He trusted God completely. Later, the disciples would remember this special meal as the Last Supper, a time when Jesus gave them a new way to remember Him. He didn’t just tell them to remember Him with words; He showed them how much He loved them by giving His life for them.
This story is special because it shows us that Jesus loves us so much that He gave His life to save us from sin. The bread and wine at the Last Supper are a reminder of His sacrifice, how He took our place so we could be forgiven. When we eat these things today, we remember that Jesus still loves us and wants to be close to us. Just like the disciples, we can trust Him, even when things are hard.
Why This Story Matters: Jesus’ Last Supper is a sign of His love for us. By sharing bread and wine, He showed us how to remember Him and give thanks. Even though He suffered, He never gave up on His friends, and He never gives up on us! When we eat these foods, we can pray, “Thank You, Jesus, for loving me and saving me.” Would you like to pray together now?
Activities
Supplies:
- Set Up the Story: Start by reading Matthew 26:26-29 or Luke 22:19-20 from the Bible. Ask: “What did Jesus say happened when He shared bread and wine?”
- Act It Out: Divide students into a circle. Have one student pass a cracker (representing bread) and a cup of juice (representing wine) around the circle while others quietly listen.
- Share & Reflect: After passing, ask: “How is sharing bread and wine like how God shares His love with us?” Let students answer in pairs or with the group.
- Connect to Life: Say, “Just like Jesus shared with His friends, we can share kindness with others. Today, let’s look for ways to share God’s love, like sharing a hug or helping a friend!”
- 2. “Cupcake Covenant” (Creative Art & Discussion)
- Introduce the Lesson: Read Matthew 26:26-29 or Luke 22:19-20 again. Ask: “What did Jesus mean when He said, ‘This is my body’ and ‘This is my blood’?”
- Decorate the “Cupcake”: Give each child a small paper cup (or a circle on paper) to decorate with glitter glue, markers, or stickers. They can also draw a small “cake” on a plate underneath.
- Write or Draw a Promise: On the back of their cupcake, have them write or draw how they will share God’s love this week (e.g., “I will smile at someone new!” or “I will pray for my teacher!”).
- Share & Celebrate: Let each child hold up their cupcake and read their promise aloud. End with a prayer, saying: “Thank You, Jesus, for sharing Your love with us!”
- These activities are simple, interactive, and help young children connect the story of the Last Supper to their own lives! Let me know if you’d like any adjustments.
Discussion Questions
- Here are four open-ended discussion questions designed to help early elementary students (ages 6, 8) explore The Last Supper, Jesus sharing the new covenant with His disciples. These questions encourage deep thinking, wonder, and simple application of the story to their lives.
- 1. What Did Jesus Give to His Disciples That Was Special?
- Jesus took bread and wine and shared them with His friends at the Last Supper. He said, “This is my body… this is my blood.” Why do you think He gave them these special things? What might have made the bread and wine special for Jesus?
- (Application: How can we show kindness to others by sharing simple things we have? Maybe sharing a snack or a smile? How does it make you feel when someone shares with you?)
- 2. How Did Jesus Teach Us to Remember Him?
- Jesus told His disciples, “Whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are remembering me.” Why do you think He wanted them to remember Him every time they ate? Do you think we can do the same today?
- (Application: How can we remember God or Jesus in our lives, even if we don’t eat bread or drink wine? Maybe through prayers, songs, or acts of kindness? What would make remembering Him easier for you?)
- 3. What Was the Biggest Lesson Jesus Wanted His Disciples to Learn?
- Jesus said, “This is my new commandment: love one another.” He also told them to do this in memory of Him. Why do you think love was so important to Jesus? How can we show love to others, just like He did?
- (Application: Think of someone who is kind to you or someone who needs a helping hand. How can you show love to them? Maybe by sharing your toys, drawing a picture for a friend, or helping someone carry something heavy?)
- 4. What Happened After Jesus Shared the Last Supper?
- After Jesus shared the bread and wine, He said, “One of you will betray me.” The disciples were very sad and scared. Later, they saw Jesus again after He rose from the dead. How do you think they felt when they saw Him again? What makes you feel happy or excited when you see friends or family?
- (Application: Sometimes we feel hurt or scared, just like the disciples. But we know God loves us and is always with us, even when things are hard. How can we trust that God is still with us, like He was with Jesus? What can you do today to make someone feel loved, just like Jesus wanted His disciples to remember?)
- These questions invite children to connect the story of Jesus with their own experiences, fostering empathy, reflection, and a growing understanding of faith. Would you like any of them adjusted for specific themes or emotions?
Prayer Focus
Here’s a simple, heartfelt prayer for your early elementary lesson on The Last Supper, Jesus sharing the New Covenant with His disciples: — “Dear God, thank You for loving us so much that Jesus chose to share a meal with His friends, just like He did with us! You gave us the bread and wine as a special sign of Your promise: that You will always be with us, no matter what. Just like the disciples remembered the meal, we can remember that Jesus gave His life to be our friend forever. Help us to trust You more today, and always remember how You love us, even when we forget. Amen.” — How to Use This Prayer: – Start the Lesson: Ask the kids to close their eyes and pray together. You could read a short story about Jesus sharing the bread and wine (like a simplified version of Matthew 26:26, 28). – Connect to the Lesson: Say, “Today, Jesus gave this meal to remind us that He loves us so much, He even died for us! What do you think it means to remember His love?” – End with Action: Have kids hold up a hand like a “heart” and whisper, “I remember Jesus loves me!” before praying aloud. This keeps it simple, faith-filled, and interactive for little ones! Would you like a follow-up discussion question too?
Missions Spotlight
Among the Berber (Amazigh) people of North Africa, sharing a meal is a sacred act of community. The Last Supper story resonates deeply , Jesus shared a final meal with His friends before giving His life for them. Many Berber believers are discovering this truth.
To the Cross
At the Last Supper, Jesus took bread and said, ‘This is My body, broken for you.’ He took the cup and said, ‘This is My blood, poured out for the forgiveness of sins.’ The very next day, it all came true on the cross. The Last Supper and the cross are one story.
Family Take-Home
Here’s a simple summary for families: “Jesus and His disciples celebrated the Passover together, sharing bread and wine as symbols of His body and blood. By giving them the new commandment to ‘do this in remembrance of Me’ (Matthew 26:26-28), He established the Lord’s Supper, a way to remember His sacrifice and love for all who believe.”