Single lesson
Jesus Comforts His Disciples and Speaks of the Way
John 14:1–14
Jesus speaks to disciples whose hearts are troubled and gives them reasons to trust him. In this passage, he explains where he is going, who he is, and how his followers should ask in his name.
Before you teach
This part of John records Jesus speaking directly to his disciples. In John 14:1–14, he answers their questions about where he is going, the way to the Father, and what it means to believe him. The passage moves from comfort, to identity, to asking in his name.
Students will be able to explain that in John 14:1–14 Jesus comforts his disciples by calling them to trust him, saying he is the way to the Father, and teaching them to ask in his name for the Father’s glory.
Welcome: Troubled hearts and trust
5 minBegin by asking children what it means to feel troubled, then read verse 1 aloud twice. Explain that Jesus does not ignore their trouble. He tells them not to let their hearts stay overwhelmed, and he calls them to believe in God and also in him. This sets the tone for the whole passage: trust in Jesus when confused or unsettled.
John 14:1
Read and explain: A place prepared and a way known
8 minRead verses 2–6. Explain that Jesus says he is going to prepare a place for his people in his Father’s house, and that he will come again and receive them to himself. When Thomas asks how they can know the way, Jesus answers clearly: he himself is the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through him.
John 14:2, John 14:3, John 14:4, John 14:5, John 14:6
Discuss: Seeing Jesus and knowing the Father
6 minRead verses 7–11 and notice Philip’s question. Jesus replies that knowing him is tied to knowing the Father, and seeing him is tied to seeing the Father. He also says his words are not from himself alone, and the Father living in him does his works. Help children observe that Jesus points to both his words and his works as reasons to believe him.
John 14:7, John 14:8, John 14:9, John 14:10, John 14:11
Make and respond: Reminder card from the passage
7 minChildren choose a key verse or phrase, then make a small reminder card. Inside, they write or draw one teaching response linked to the passage, such as trusting Jesus when troubled or asking in his name. Explain that these are response ideas drawn from Jesus’ words in this passage.
John 14:1, John 14:12, John 14:13, John 14:14
Closing: Prayer shaped by the passage
4 minFinish by reviewing three truths from the reading: Jesus tells troubled hearts to trust him, Jesus is the way to the Father, and Jesus teaches his followers to ask in his name. Invite children to say one sentence each about what they learned before a short closing prayer.
John 14:1, John 14:6, John 14:13, John 14:14
Questions to explore
Why does Jesus tell the disciples not to let their hearts be troubled, and what does he tell them to do instead?
Look closely at the command and the response in the same verse: Jesus speaks about troubled hearts and then calls for belief in God and in himself.
John 14:1
How does Jesus answer Thomas when Thomas says he does not know the way?
Read Thomas’s question and Jesus’ reply together. Jesus does not give a map or a place name. He speaks about himself.
John 14:5, John 14:6
According to Jesus, why should people believe him?
Notice that Jesus points to two things in this passage: what he says about being in the Father, and the works connected with the Father.
John 14:10, John 14:11
Make, think or respond
Key Verse Reminder Card
What you’ll need
- paper or card
- pencils or pens
- crayons or markers
- Bibles
Try it together
- Read John 14:1–14 and let each child choose one key verse or short phrase from the passage.
- Fold a small piece of paper or card and write the chosen words neatly on the front.
- Inside the card, write or draw one realistic response idea drawn from the passage, such as trusting Jesus when troubled or asking in his name.
- Invite each child to show the card and explain how their verse connects to Jesus’ teaching in this passage.
This activity helps children remember Jesus’ words about trust, the way to the Father, and asking in his name from John 14:1–14.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, offer two verse choices only, such as John 14:1 or John 14:6, and let them draw instead of writing a full response.
- For older children, ask them to compare Philip’s question in John 14:8 with Jesus’ answer in John 14:9–11 and add that idea to the inside of the card.
An optional closing prayer
You could pray: 'Lord Jesus, when our hearts are troubled, help us trust you. Help us believe your words about the Father and ask in your name so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. Amen.'
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
John 14
1 “Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in me.
2 In my Father’s house are many homes. If it weren’t so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you.
3 If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will receive you to myself; that where I am, you may be there also.
4 You know where I go, and you know the way.”
5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going. How can we know the way?”
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.
7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on, you know him and have seen him.”
8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.”
9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you such a long time, and do you not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father. How do you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I tell you, I speak not from myself; but the Father who lives in me does his works.
11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me; or else believe me for the very works’ sake.
12 Most certainly I tell you, he who believes in me, the works that I do, he will do also; and he will do greater works than these, because I am going to my Father.
13 Whatever you will ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 If you will ask anything in my name, I will do it.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.