Single lesson
The Promised Helper and the Gift of Peace
John 14:15–31
Jesus teaches his disciples that love for him is shown by keeping his words. He also promises the Counselor and gives his peace, helping children notice both Jesus’ instructions and his comfort.
Before you teach
This part of Jesus’ farewell teaching repeats key ideas within the passage itself: loving Jesus, keeping his commandments, the Father sending another Counselor, Jesus going to the Father, and Jesus speaking beforehand so the disciples may believe.
Students will identify Jesus’ instruction about loving him and name two promises he gives in John 14:15–31.
Welcome: Listen for commands and promises
4 minTell the children to listen for two things as the passage is read: what Jesus tells his disciples to do, and what Jesus promises to give. Introduce the passage words commandment, Counselor, Spirit of truth, and peace.
John 14:15, John 14:16, John 14:17, John 14:27
Read and explain: Love and the promised Helper
7 minRead John 14:15–20. Jesus says love for him is shown by keeping his commandments. He promises another Counselor, the Spirit of truth, who will be with them forever. Jesus also says, ‘I will not leave you orphans’, and tells them, ‘Because I live, you will live also.’
John 14:15, John 14:16, John 14:17, John 14:18, John 14:19, John 14:20
Discuss: Love, words, and remembering
7 minRead John 14:21–26. Judas asks why Jesus will reveal himself to the disciples and not to the world. Jesus answers by returning to the same point: the one who loves him keeps his word. Jesus says the Father and the Son will make their home with that person, and the Holy Spirit will teach and remind the disciples of Jesus’ words.
John 14:21, John 14:22, John 14:23, John 14:24, John 14:26
Make and respond: Peace reminder card
8 minChildren choose a short phrase from the passage, such as ‘keep my commandments’ or ‘Peace I leave with you’. They write it on a small card and add one simple response, such as remembering Jesus’ words or asking for help to obey. Explain that the card is their response to Jesus’ teaching.
John 14:15, John 14:26, John 14:27
Closing: Jesus gives peace
4 minRead John 14:27–31. Jesus says his peace is different from the way the world gives, so their hearts should not be troubled or fearful. He says he has told them beforehand so that they may believe, and he shows his love for the Father by doing what the Father commanded.
John 14:27, John 14:29, John 14:31
Questions to explore
How does Jesus say people show love for him?
Find the repeated link between loving Jesus and keeping his commandments, word, or words.
John 14:15, John 14:21, John 14:23, John 14:24
What does Jesus call the promised Helper, and what will he do?
Use the names in the passage and list the actions Jesus gives there.
John 14:16, John 14:17, John 14:26
What reason does Jesus give for telling the disciples these things ahead of time?
Look at the verse that says why he speaks before it happens.
John 14:29
Make, think or respond
Peace and Helper Reminder Card
What you’ll need
- paper or card
- pencils or pens
- crayons or coloured pencils
- Bible text
Try it together
- Read John 14:15, John 14:26, and John 14:27 aloud.
- Ask each child to choose one short phrase from those verses.
- Have them write the phrase on a card and decorate it.
- On the back, help them write one response, such as ‘remember Jesus’ words’ or ‘keep his commandments’.
- Invite volunteers to share their phrase.
The card helps children remember Jesus’ instruction to keep his words and his promises of the Holy Spirit and peace.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, offer only two phrase choices and let them copy key words.
- For older children, ask them to explain how John 14:26 connects with John 14:15 or John 14:23.
An optional closing prayer
You may pray: ‘Lord Jesus, thank you for your words, for the Holy Spirit, and for your peace. Please help us remember your words and keep them. Amen.’
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
John 14
15 If you love me, keep my commandments.
16 I will pray to the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, that he may be with you forever:
17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world can’t receive, for it doesn’t see him and doesn’t know him. You know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.
18 I will not leave you orphans. I will come to you.
19 Yet a little while, and the world will see me no more; but you will see me. Because I live, you will live also.
20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.
21 One who has my commandments and keeps them, that person is one who loves me. One who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him, and will reveal myself to him.”
22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, what has happened that you are about to reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?”
23 Jesus answered him, “If a man loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
24 He who doesn’t love me doesn’t keep my words. The word which you hear isn’t mine, but the Father’s who sent me.
25 “I have said these things to you while still living with you.
26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said to you.
27 Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, I give to you. Don’t let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful.
28 You heard how I told you, ‘I am going away, and I will come back to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced because I said ‘I am going to my Father;’ for the Father is greater than I.
29 Now I have told you before it happens so that when it happens, you may believe.
30 I will no more speak much with you, for the prince of the world comes, and he has nothing in me.
31 But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father commanded me, even so I do. Arise, let’s go from here.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.