John 14:1–6; 15:1–11

“I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life”

Jesus Christ is standing on a hill over looking a river

During His final evening with His disciples, Jesus Christ taught them about His nature and mission. He taught that He is the way back to Heavenly Father, and He compared His disciples’ relationship to Him to branches on a vine. This lesson can help you reflect on your relationship with Jesus Christ and on how you can follow Him and receive His strength and support.

Helping students teach. When students are given opportunities to teach the gospel to others, their own knowledge and testimonies are strengthened. Look for opportunities to invite students to teach each other in formal and informal ways.

Student preparation: Invite students to find or take a picture of a pathway or of a vine or tree with branches. Ask students to think about ways their picture reminds them of Jesus Christ and to bring their picture to class.

Possible Learning Activities

Consider the following options to start the lesson:

Invite students to share the pictures they took as part of the student preparation.
Create a pathway through the classroom that students need to follow.
Show students a branch as an object lesson. Discuss the branch’s connection to the tree or vine it came from, and ask what will happen now that the branch is no longer connected to the tree or vine.
Share a personal experience that relates to the lesson.
Display the pictures in this lesson about the pathway or the vine.

Discuss with students how a pathway is useful and how a branch receives strength from the vine. Consider asking students how Jesus Christ is like a pathway or a vine.

Some of the Savior’s final teachings to His disciples were meant to help them understand their relationship with and dependence on Him. The Savior compared Himself to a pathway, as well as to a vine or tree with branches. Take a moment to think about areas in your life that you may need help with. Perhaps you feel like you need help as you strive to return to Heavenly Father. You might feel the need for greater strength to face challenges in your life. As you study the Savior’s teachings, look for what you learn about Him and how He can help you.

Think about students’ needs and abilities when deciding how to adapt the content of this lesson. Students could benefit from having personal time to study and reflect on one or both of the following study options.

It may also be beneficial to give students an opportunity to share their thoughts and testimonies with one another. This can be done in a variety of ways. Students could be asked before class to prepare to teach part of this lesson. Another option is to assign, or allow students to select, one of the following study options and ask students to prepare to teach another classmate or the entire class.

Students could use the following handout to study and prepare to teach.

New Testament Seminary Teacher Manaul - 2023

Jesus Christ is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6)

Read John 14:1–6, looking for how the Savior promised to help those who follow Him.

What truths did the Savior teach in these verses?
What did the Savior call Himself in verse 6?
What does each of these titles teach you about Jesus Christ and your relationship with Him?

If you created a list of the various titles and roles of Jesus Christ in a previous lesson, you may want to add to it what you discovered in John 14.

The Book of Mormon can increase your understanding of what you are studying in the New Testament. Read Mosiah 3:17, and think about how this verse helps us better understand John 14:6.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, then of the First Presidency, taught:

God wants you to find your way back to Him, and the Savior is the way [see John 14:6]. God wants you to learn of His Son, Jesus Christ, and experience the profound peace and joy that come from following the path of divine discipleship.

(Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Receiving a Testimony of Light and Truth,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2014, 21)

When have you or someone you know experienced the profound peace and joy that come from following Jesus Christ?

To see an example of someone who found the Savior and was blessed by following Him, if possible, watch the video “Jesus Christ Is the Way” (5:02), available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

5:2

What are some ways we can follow the Savior back to Heavenly Father?
How can we tell if we are on the right path?

Jesus Christ is “the vine” (John 15:5)

Jesus Christ used a comparison to teach His disciples about their relationship with Him. Read John 15:1–11, looking for this comparison.

If you created a list of the various titles and roles of Jesus Christ in a previous lesson, you may want to add to it what you discovered in John 15.

What do you think Jesus Christ is teaching with this comparison?
What truths can you learn from this comparison about our relationship with Jesus Christ?

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained that the Savior’s invitation to abide in Him is an invitation for us “to remain, to … stay forever” (“Abide in Me,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2004, 32). Elder Holland explained why it is so important for us to accept the Savior’s invitation to abide in Him. You may want to watch the video “Abide in Me” from time code 13:26 to 14:23, or read the following statement.

2:3

Jesus said, “Without me ye can do nothing” [John 15:5]. I testify that that is God’s truth. Christ is everything to us and we are to “abide” in Him permanently, unyieldingly, steadfastly, forever. For the fruit of the gospel to blossom and bless our lives, we must be firmly attached to Him, the Savior of us all, and to this His Church, which bears His holy name. He is the vine that is our true source of strength and the only source of eternal life. In Him we not only will endure but also will prevail and triumph in this holy cause that will never fail us.

(Jeffrey R. Holland, “Abide in Me,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2004, 32)

The Book of Mormon can help you increase your understanding of what you are studying in the New Testament. Read Alma 26:12, and think about how it relates to John 15:1–11.

What are some of the fruits (results or blessings) you have seen in your life as you have tried to abide in Jesus Christ?
What are some actions you can take to help you abide in Jesus Christ?

If students taught one another, invite them to share with the class the truths they identified, what they learned from their classmates, and their testimony of Jesus Christ. Compliment students on their teaching, and encourage them to share with their families what they taught and learned.

Give students time to reflect on what they felt about how the Savior can help them with their current needs and circumstances. Consider bearing testimony of the Savior or sharing a personal experience.

Commentary and Background Information

What does it mean that there are many mansions in Heavenly Father’s house?

The Prophet Joseph Smith (1805–44) taught:

[The statement] “In my Father’s house are many mansions” [John 14:2] … should be—“In my Father’s kingdom are many kingdoms,” in order that ye may be heirs of God and joint-heirs with me. … There are mansions for those who obey a celestial law, and there are other mansions for those who come short of the law, every man in his own order.

(Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 219)