Jesus Is the Way

Children's Sermon: Jesus Is the Way (John 14:1-14)

Today I brought with me four directional signs. Each has different arrows. (Show the signs.) Let’s see how good you are at following the arrows. As I hold up each arrow sign, look the way the arrow is pointing. (Go through each of the four signs slow, then fast to try to catch them not looking the right way.) You did pretty good. Now as I share about today’s Bible lesson, see if you can follow instructions and look the right way when you see a sign.

Stop and imagine how Jesus' disciples felt in our Bible lesson today. Jesus knew that the day of his crucifixion was coming and that He would soon return to His Father in heaven. He was trying to prepare His disciples for the time when He would no longer be with them.

"Don't worry," Jesus said, "I am going to prepare a place for you. When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will be with Me. You know the way to where I am going."

(Show the up arrow sign and have kids look up.)

"No, we don’t," Thomas said. "We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?"

(Show the right arrow sign and have kids look right.)

Jesus answered him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me."

(Show the up arrow sign and have kids look up.)

Philip, another of the disciples spoke up, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied."

(Show the right arrow sign and have kids look right.)

Jesus replied, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me." Jesus wanted his disciples to know He and the Father were one, and that if they put their trust in God and in Him, they would one day join Him in Heaven.

(Show the up arrow sign and have kids look up.)

Sometimes life can be very confusing and we don't know where to turn or what path to take. It seems that every path we take leads to a dead end.

(Show the down arrow sign and have kids look down.)

When that happens, we just need to remember that Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." If we will keep our eyes on Jesus and follow his teaching, we will find the path to our goal -- eternal life in Heaven with him. We can only come to God through Jesus.

(Show the up arrow sign and have kids look up.)

Dear God, help us keep our eyes on Jesus because we know that He is the way -- the only way to You. In Jesus’ name, amen.