As recorded in John 3, Jesus taught Nicodemus about His atoning sacrifice when He said that “the Son of Man [would] be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:14–15). President Russell M. Nelson taught, “As we invest time in learning about the Savior and His atoning sacrifice, we are drawn to participate in [a] key element to accessing His power: we choose to have faith in Him and follow Him” (“Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ into Our Lives,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 40). This lesson will give you opportunities to strengthen your faith in Jesus Christ as you learn more about His Atonement.
The Atonement of Jesus Christ. President Russell M. Nelson taught: “It is doctrinally incomplete to speak of the Lord’s atoning sacrifice by shortcut phrases, such as ‘the Atonement’ or ‘the enabling power of the Atonement’ or ‘applying the Atonement’ or ‘being strengthened by the Atonement.’ …“There is no amorphous entity called ‘the Atonement’ upon which we may call for succor, healing, forgiveness, or power. … The Savior’s atoning sacrifice—the central act of all human history—is best understood and appreciated when we expressly and clearly connect it to Him” (“Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ into Our Lives,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 40).
Student preparation: Invite students to find a scripture passage or statement from general conference that teaches them something meaningful about the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
Possible Learning Activities
What is the Atonement of Jesus Christ?
Consider displaying the following images of the Savior and the following incomplete statements. Invite students to either complete the statements in their study journals or discuss with partners how they would complete each statement. Afterward, allow time for willing students to share their completed statements with the class.
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Jesus Christ praying in the Garden of Gethsemane
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Christ hanging on a cross at Calvary
Look at the images of Jesus in Gethsemane and on the cross and think about what you know about the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
Complete the following statements in your study journal.
Heavenly Father sent Jesus Christ to the earth to atone for us so that …
Some things Jesus experienced in Gethsemane include …
Jesus died on the cross because …
If Jesus had not suffered in Gethsemane and died on the cross, then …
In this lesson, you will learn more about Jesus Christ’s Atonement and the love that Heavenly Father demonstrated when He sent His Son to the world. As you study, pay attention to promptings of the Holy Ghost that can help you better appreciate Jesus Christ’s sacrifice for you and increase your faith in Him.
Consider giving a copy of the following handout to students and allowing time for them to work quietly on their own through the material. Consider playing quiet instrumental hymn music in the background to help students focus their thoughts on the spiritual content they are studying.
The Savior’s Atonement
The following scripture passages and statement teach about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Spend 10 to 15 minutes carefully reading through these sources (or other sources about the Savior’s Atonement that you are interested in learning from or that you found prior to this lesson). As you read, think about how each of these sources helps you better understand what Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ did for you and why.
What then is the Atonement of Jesus Christ? In one sense, it is a series of divine events that commenced in the Garden of Gethsemane, continued on the cross, and culminated with the Savior’s Resurrection from the tomb. It was motivated by an incomprehensible love for each of us. It required a being who was sinless; who had infinite power over the elements—even death; who possessed a boundless capacity to suffer the consequences of all our sins and ailments; and who, in fact, descended beneath it all [see Doctrine and Covenants 88:6]. This was the mission of Jesus Christ—this was His Atonement.
What then was its purpose? It was to make it possible for us to return to God’s presence, become more like Him, and have a fulness of joy. This was done by overcoming four obstacles:
What feelings or insights did you have as you studied about Jesus Christ and His Atonement?
After students complete the handout, consider inviting them to share their answers to the final question with the class or in small groups. It might also be beneficial to give students the opportunity to ask any questions they may have had as they studied the material on the handout.
How is the Father’s love shown in sending His Son?
John 3:16is a doctrinal mastery passage. Consider marking doctrinal mastery passages in a distinctive way so you can locate them easily. You will learn more about this doctrinal mastery passage in the next lesson.
One of the truths the Savior emphasized as He taught Nicodemus about His Atonement (see John 3:14–17) is that Heavenly Father loves His children so much that He sent His Only Begotten Son to atone for us.
President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency taught about how Heavenly Father’s love is manifest through the Savior’s Atonement:
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President Dallin H. Oaks
There is no greater evidence of the infinite power and perfection of God’s love than is declared by the Apostle John: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son” (John 3:16). Another Apostle wrote that God “spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all” (Romans 8:32). Think how it must have grieved our Heavenly Father to send His Son to endure incomprehensible suffering for our sins. That is the greatest evidence of His love for each of us!
(Dallin H. Oaks, “Love and Law,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2009, 26)
What did you learn from this statement?
Watch the video “For God So Loved the World” (4:48), located at ChurchofJesusChrist.org, and look for how the love of Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father is shown.
Consider giving students time to record their thoughts about or testimony of Jesus Christ in their study journals. After they have finished writing, a few volunteers could share with the class what they wrote.
Commentary and Background Information
How can I access the power Jesus Christ gives me through His Atonement?
President Russell M. Nelson taught the following about inviting the power of Jesus Christ into our lives:
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President Russell M. Nelson
As Latter-day Saints, we refer to His mission as the Atonement of Jesus Christ, which made resurrection a reality for all and made eternal life possible for those who repent of their sins and receive and keep essential ordinances and covenants. …
… Our covenants bind us to Him and give us godly power. As faithful disciples, we repent and follow Him into the waters of baptism. We walk along the covenant path to receive other essential ordinances. …
Covenant-keeping men and women seek for ways to keep themselves unspotted from the world so there will be nothing blocking their access to the Savior’s power.
How do I know if Jesus Christ and His power are working in my life?
President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency taught:
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President Henry B. Eyring
If you have felt the influence of the Holy Ghost today, you may take it as evidence that the Atonement [of Jesus Christ] is working in your life. For that reason and many others, you would do well to put yourself in places and in tasks that invite the promptings of the Holy Ghost.
Where can I learn more about the Atonement of Jesus Christ?
Consider deepening your understanding of the Savior and His Atonement by using scripture study helps such as the Gospel Topics entry entitled “Atonement of Jesus Christ” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org) or by looking up “Atone, Atonement” in Guide to the Scriptures (scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org). These scripture study helps contain valuable insights, scriptures, talks, videos, and other resources that teach about the Savior’s Atonement.
Supplemental Learning Activities
Prepare a missionary lesson
Invite students to imagine that they are missionaries and need to prepare to teach someone about Jesus Christ and His Atonement. Invite students to study the section entitled “The Atonement of Jesus Christ” on pages 51–52 of Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Missionary Service (2019). Invite students to prepare a 5- to 10-minute lesson outline based on what they learned from that resource. After students have finished preparing their outlines, consider dividing the class and inviting students to take turns teaching their lessons to a partner or a small group. Alternatively, a few volunteers could share their lessons with the class.
How can my faith in Jesus Christ allow Him to influence my life?
Invite students to create a pamphlet that is designed to help people understand the significance of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Consider inviting students to study “The Atonement and the Journey of Mortality,” by Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (Ensign, Apr. 2012, 40–47) to help them prepare for this activity. Students could use content from Elder Bednar’s article to create headings and content for their pamphlet.
Jesus Christ can heal those who look to Him
Consider displaying the following images for this learning activity.
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Christ hanging on a cross at Calvary and Moses pointing to a staff with a brass serpent attached to the top
As recorded in John 3:14–16, Jesus Christ compared His impending Crucifixion to the time when Moses raised up the brass serpent in the wilderness. Invite students to study John 3:14–16, 1 Nephi 17:40–41, and Alma 33:18–22, looking for how this event during Moses’s time relates to the Crucifixion and Atonement of Jesus Christ.