Powerpoint Pictures: Spider; Puppy; Grumpy Toddler; Clown; Person with the flu; Lion; Darth Vader

If you turned around and in front of you were the following things (Spider; Puppy; Grumpy Toddler; Clown; Person with the flu; Lion; Darth Vader), would you stay or would you go?

Would you run away or would you stay where you were?

[For each things get the children to stand up if they would run away and stay seated if they would stay]

After Jesus and his disciples had finished eating the last supper He would have within them before He died, they went together to the Mount of Olives, and there Jesus began to teach His disciples.

Jesus told them: “You will all fall away.” (Mark 14:27)

What Jesus was saying to them, was that it would be long until He would be arrested and put to death on the cross, and when that happened, all the disciples would run away.  None of them would stay by His side.

When Peter heard this he declared: “Even if all fall away, I will not.”  “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “today – yes, tonight – before the cock crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.” (Mark 14:29-30)

Peter was certain that he would stay by Jesus’ side.  Even if all the other disciples were to run away, he was so sure that he would not.  But Jesus makes it clear He will, even telling him that he would deny Jesus three times before a cock would crow twice.

So will the disciples stay by Jesus’ side or will they run away?  Will Peter deny he knows Jesus three times?  We’ll find out soon enough.