Mark 14
Explanation and Bible story for toddlers and preschoolers (ages 3-6)
The Explanation
It was evening. Very quiet in the room. Jesus sat at the table with his friends. There was bread. And there was a cup of wine.
Jesus took the bread. He broke it in pieces. He said: "Take some. This is my body." Then he took the cup. "This is my blood. I give it for you."
The friends listened. But they did not really understand.
After the meal they walked outside. It was dark. They went to a garden. The garden was called Gethsemane.
Jesus was very sad. He said: "Stay here. Wait for me." Then he walked a little further, all alone.
Jesus knelt down. He talked to his Father in heaven. "Father," he said. "It is so hard. Please, does it have to be like this?" But then he said: "Father, I will do what You want."
Jesus came back to his friends. They were sleeping. They had not stayed awake.
Suddenly there were lights. And loud voices. Soldiers came into the garden. With sticks and swords. Judas walked in front. Judas gave Jesus a kiss. That was the sign. The soldiers grabbed Jesus tight.
All the friends ran away. They were so scared.
The soldiers took Jesus to a big house. Many angry men sat there. They shouted mean things at Jesus. But Jesus stayed quiet.
Outside stood Peter. Peter was one of Jesus' best friends. It was cold. Peter warmed himself by a fire. A girl looked at him. "Hey, you know Jesus!" Peter shook his head. "No. Not me."
Three times someone asked. Three times Peter said: "No. I do not know Him."
Then a rooster crowed. Cock-a-doodle-doo. And Peter remembered. Jesus had said this would happen. Peter cried. He cried and cried.
What Does This Mean?
Jesus was so brave. He did not run away. He knew it would be hard. He was even scared. But he still said yes to his Father.
Jesus did that for you. And for me.
The Common Thread
The bread and the wine. Do you remember? Jesus said: "This is my body. This is my blood." Jesus was going to give everything. All of himself. Like a big, big gift.
Peter did something wrong. Very wrong. But Jesus still loved Peter. Even when Peter said: "I do not know Him." Jesus still loved him.
Jesus loves you too. Always.
For You
Sometimes something is hard. Then you can do what Jesus did. You can talk to God. Just say it. "God, this is hard." God listens. Always.
And sometimes you do something wrong. Like Peter. Then you may come back. Jesus is not angry forever. Jesus loves you. Really.
Talk About It
Jesus was sad in the garden. What do you do when you are sad?
Peter did something wrong. What do you think Jesus said to Peter later?
Praying Together
Dear Jesus. Thank You that You were so brave. Thank You that You did it for me. When I am sad, will You listen? And when I do something wrong, will You still love me? I love You too. Amen.
Questions about Mark 14
Short answers for anyone reading about this for the first time.
What is Mark 14 about?
What does Mark 14 say?
What does Mark 14 teach us about God?
What can toddlers learn from Mark 14?
Why is Mark 14 an important Bible story?
What others discovered
Mark calls him "one of the twelve." He had walked the dusty roads, watched the blind see, eaten from the same bowl. And still he "went away to the chief priests, that he might deliver him to them." Nearness to Jesus is not the same as surrender to him. One woman poured out everything; one friend went out to bargain. Which movement is your heart making today?
Notice how Jesus says, "The Teacher says, 'Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?'" He calls it *my* guest room, though it belongs to another. Everything the host owned was quietly at Jesus' disposal.
What room in your life does He call His own today? He is not asking for space you have left over. He is claiming what is already His.
Notice the timing. "On the first day of unleavened bread, when they sacrificed the Passover, his disciples asked him, 'Where do you want us to go and prepare that you may eat the Passover?'"
Lambs were being slaughtered all over Jerusalem. And the true Lamb was quietly making dinner plans with his friends. He knew. They didn't. Yet he still sat down to eat with them.
He still does.
Silence. When lies were hurled at Him and His life hung in the balance, Jesus said nothing. "But he stayed quiet, and answered nothing."
Then the high priest asked the real question, and Jesus would answer that one. He doesn't waste words defending Himself against noise. But when the truth of who He is comes up, He speaks.
Maybe you're tired of defending yourself today. Some accusations don't deserve your voice. Save it for what matters.
Looking for something for slightly older children?
We also have dedicated versions for elementary age (7-12) and teens (12 and up).
Open in the Children's Bible tool
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