Monday - The Garden

FAMILY CONVERSATIONS

Scripture
When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it. John 18:1 (NIV)

Devotion
The whole story of creation started in a garden, and a huge part of God's rescue plan happened in another garden! Let's talk about the two main gardens: Eden and Gethsemane.
1. The Garden of Eden (The Garden of Disobedience)
  A long, long time ago, God created the first man, Adam, and put him in a beautiful place called the Garden of Eden. God gave Adam just one rule: don't eat the fruit from one special tree.
  Adam had a choice: obey God or disobey God. Sadly, Adam chose to disobey. That one bad choice was like letting a big sickness called "sin" into the world. It messed up everything and separated people from God.
2. The Garden of Gethsemane (The Garden of Obedience)
  Fast forward many years to the night before Jesus died on the cross. Jesus went to a garden- really an olive grove- called Gethsemane to pray. The name Gethsemane means "oil press." Have you ever seen an olive crushed to make olive oil? In this garden, Jesus knew He was about to be "crushed" by suffering to take the punishment for all of our sins—the punishment we got from Adam's first bad choice! Jesus was scared and sad, and He prayed, "Please take this suffering away from me." But then, He made the most important choice: He told God, "Not what I want, but what you want."
Where Adam said “No” to God in Eden, Jesus said a brave, loving “Yes” to God in Gethsemane. Jesus's perfect choice of obedience fixed the problem Adam created. It brought us the chance for a new, wonderful life with God!

Conversation
What does it mean to be obedient? Can you give me an example of a time when it was hard to obey, but you chose to do it anyway?
Adam made the wrong choice in the Garden of Eden. Jesus made the right choice in the Garden of Gethsemane. What was the biggest difference between their choices?
Gethsemane means “oil press,” where Jesus was “pressed” by His suffering. What does it mean to you that Jesus willingly suffered for you?
What challenge or struggle is our family facing right now? How can remembering Jesus’ obedience help us walk through it?
What is one specific way our family can try to be more obedient to God’s will this week?

Prayer
Together as a family, thank Jesus for his willingness to be obedient even when it was difficult. Ask for God’s help, through the Holy Spirit, to follow Jesus’ example and choose to submit to His will even when it’s hard.