From the Table to the Cross
Month 10: The Upper Room · Family Worship
Today's Scripture
Read together: Luke 22:39-46 & John 17:1-5
39 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed Him. 40 When He came to the place, He told them, “Pray that you will not enter into temptation.” 41 And He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, where He knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me. Yet not My will, but Yours be done.” 43 Then an angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him. 44 And in His anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground. 45 When Jesus rose from prayer and returned to the disciples, He found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. 46 “Why are you sleeping?” He asked. “Get up and pray so that you will not enter into temptation.” — Luke 22:39-46
1 When Jesus had spoken these things, He lifted up His eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son may glorify You. 2 For You granted Him authority over all people, so that He may give eternal life to all those You have given Him. 3 Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent. 4 I have glorified You on earth by accomplishing the work You gave Me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify Me in Your presence with the glory I had with You before the world existed. — John 17:1-5
Memory Verse
“Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.”— John 17:3 (BSB)
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: Luke 2-5
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time. (Luke gives us the manger, the boy in the temple, and the start of Jesus' public ministry.)The Heart of It
The upper room comes to an end. The meal is finished. The songs are sung. Jesus rises and walks out into the night toward a garden called Gethsemane. Before He goes, He lifts His eyes to heaven and prays the most stunning prayer in the Bible. "Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son... I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do" (). The "hour" He had spoken of all His life is finally here. It is the hour of the cross. Then in the garden He kneels in agony, His sweat falling "like great drops of blood." He prays, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done" (). He saw the suffering coming. He felt every ounce of it. And He chose to go anyway, for us.
This is where everything in the upper room was always heading. Not just to a beautiful meal and tender words. It was heading to a real cross, where real love would be proved. Remember the memory verse. Eternal life is knowing God. Jesus prayed that we might have exactly that. Then He walked out to purchase it with His own blood. He did not love us with words only. He loved us all the way to death. And notice this. Even in His deepest distress, He did not run from the Father's will. The Son who taught us to abide now shows us what trusting the Father looks like when it costs everything. From the table, to the garden, to the cross, every step says the same thing. He really does love you. And He really did finish the work.
Around the Table
After supper, Jesus went to a garden to pray. It was very hard and scary. But He still said, "Yes, Father." He did it because He loves us so much.
Let's do it: Whisper a prayer the way Jesus did. "Father, I trust You. Not my way, but Yours."
Jesus knew the cross was coming, and it filled Him with sorrow. Yet He still chose the Father's will over His own. That took real courage and real love.
Let's talk: What's something hard you've had to do even when you didn't want to? How can Jesus' words, "not My will, but Yours," help you?
In , Jesus says He has "finished the work" before the cross even happens. He prays as if it is already done. He knew the Father's plan would not fail.
Let's go deeper: Jesus chose the cross, knowing everything. He wasn't trapped by it. Why does that matter? What does it show about His love and His freedom?
💬 Conversation Starter
When Jesus prayed "not My will, but Yours," He trusted the Father even when it was hard. What's one thing this week you could trust God with instead of insisting on your own way?
🛡️ Defending the Faith
Some people claim Jesus' death was an accident, or a defeat. But He predicted it again and again. He prayed, "the hour has come." He said the work was "finished." He walked into it on purpose. The cross was not Jesus losing control. It was Jesus laying His life down in love ().
For Dad · Go Deeper
Gethsemane guards us from two errors at once. It rebukes any teaching that following God should be easy or pain-free. The sinless Son sweated drops of blood and asked for the cup to pass. Yet it also shows the perfect pattern of surrender. Real anguish is honestly poured out to the Father. And it ends not in a demand but in "nevertheless not My will, but Yours." This is the opposite of a hype-driven faith that promises constant ease. It is the costly, joyful obedience of a Son who trusts His Father in the dark. As you lead your home, let your children see you do both. Let them see you wrestle, and let them see you surrender. Bring your real fears to God, yet still say yes to Him. Children don't learn trust from a father who pretends nothing is hard. They learn it from one who kneels, like Jesus, and means it.
Draws on: D. A. Carson, The Farewell Discourse and Final Prayer of Jesus.
Let's Pray Together
"Father, thank You that Jesus went all the way to the cross because He loves us. Thank You that in the garden He trusted You even when it was hard. Help our family pray like Him: not my will, but Yours. And help us know You more each day. In Jesus' name, amen."
Jesus knew the cost, and He chose the cross anyway. That is how much He loves me.