VERSES: Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22; John 1:29-34
MEMORY VERSE: Matthew 3:17 "...This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
BOOK TO REMEMBER: 2 Corinthians. Write "2 Corinthians" on small slips of paper and hand out at the end of class, so the students may memorize another book of the New Testament at home. Since this may be a shorter lesson than usual, practice saying all the books learned this far out loud as a class.
PRAYER: Thank God for sending His only begotten Son to this earth, so that we might be saved if we obey Him.
SPECIAL SONG: Jesus Loves Me (see February - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #2 on this blog. Click the orange circle to hear tune.)
VISUAL AID: Large Activity (see below). Bible map, showing Nazareth and the Jordan River.
LESSON POINTS:
- As John was baptizing people for the remission of their sins, Jesus came from the city of Nazareth in Galilee to the Jordan River. When John saw Jesus, he called Him "The Lamb of God" and said that He was going to take away the world's sin. When John found out that Jesus wanted him to baptize Jesus, John objected and said, "I should be baptized by you, and yet you come to me for baptism?" Jesus answered, "Allow it now to fulfill all righteousness."
- Then John baptized or immersed Jesus in water, so that he was completely covered in water. When Jesus came up out of the water and was praying, the heavens opened up to Him and he saw the Spirit of God in the shape of a dove coming down and lighting or resting on Him. Then, a voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." God was very pleased with the obedience of His Son.
- Jesus was perfect. Jesus wanted to be baptized because it fulfilled all righteousness or right doing, not because he had sins to wash away (1 Peter 2:21, 22) Today, unlike Jesus, we have sins that need to be washed away in baptism (Acts 22:16). Jesus did everything that He was required to do and more and was pleasing to God, His Father.
Materials needed: 9"x 12" light blue construction paper, 8" x 12" dark blue construction paper, two pieces of 4" x 6" tan construction paper, scrap white paper, marker, scissors, tape, crayons, glue.
- Hand out light blue paper. This is the background.
- Write "John Baptizes Jesus" and "Matthew 3" at the top of the paper.
- Hand out one piece of tan paper.
- Fold one piece of tan paper lengthwise, not quite in half.
- Unfold.
- Turn light blue paper over to the back.
- Tape larger folded side to the back of the light blue paper.
- Fold the remaining side up and tape the two sides. This is the pocket where John, Jesus, speech bubble, and the dove are stored when not in action.
- Hand out dark blue paper.
- Cut three inches off of dark blue paper.
- Glue larger dark blue paper to the bottom of the light blue paper. This is water.
- Tear the top edge of the smaller dark blue paper.
- Glue ONLY the bottom and sides of the smaller blue paper and attach to the bottom edge of large dark blue paper to form a 'water pocket.'
- Hand out one piece of tan paper.
- Draw John in his camel's hair clothing and leather belt and Jesus.
- Color John and Jesus.
- Cut out John and Jesus. (John's arm can be cut to 'help' Jesus while he is being baptized. See picture.)
- Hand out white scrap.
- Write "This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." in the middle of the white paper.
- Cut out a speech bubble that points upwards.
- Draw a dove.
- Cut out dove.
- DO NOT glue John, Jesus, the dove, and the speech bubble. They are removable.
- Place John and Jesus standing inside the blue water pocket; John baptizes Jesus by placing him totally under the water; John helps Jesus stand, the dove rests on Jesus, the speech bubble is placed pointing towards the sky. This can be repeated many times to reinforce the lesson.
- Before leaving class, place John, Jesus, the dove, and the speech bubble inside the pocket on the back of the light blue paper.
