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Jesus Was BaptizedDear Parents,
Thank you for continuing this journey of The Gospel Project® for Kids. Today’s Bible story focuses on Jesus’ baptism by John. John the Baptist grew up in the wilderness. John’s ministry began when God’s word came to him, and he began preaching near the Jordan River. John got people ready for Jesus’ ministry, fulfilling the Old Testament prophecy, “A voice of one crying out: Prepare the way of the Lord in the wilderness” (Isa. 40:3). John called the people to repent of their sins, and he baptized them in the Jordan River. Jesus came from Galilee to be baptized by John in the Jordan River. Wait a second. John was calling people to a baptism of repentance. Sinners need repentance, but Jesus never sinned. (See Heb. 4:15; 2 Cor. 5:21.) So why did Jesus come to be baptized? John was right when he said, “I need to be baptized by You, and yet You come to me?” (Matt. 3:14). Jesus answered John, “Allow it for now, because this is the way for us to fulfill all righteousness” (Matt. 3:15). Jesus never sinned, but He was baptized like sinners are baptized. Baptism reminds us of Jesus’ death and resurrection. It reminds us that when we trust in Jesus, we turn from sin and start a new life—a life lived for Jesus. |
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Jesus Was Baptized
Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:1-11; Luke 3:21-22; John 1:19-34
John the Baptist lived in the wilderness. He wore camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey. When John was an adult, he began speaking to the people around him. “Repent and be baptized, for God’s kingdom is almost here,” he said.
Some of the people asked John, “Who are you?”
John said, “I am not the Messiah.” John also said he wasn’t Elijah, and he wasn’t the Prophet.
“Who are you, then?” the people asked.
John said that he was the person Isaiah the prophet was talking about when he said, “There is someone shouting in the wilderness. He says, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord; make His paths straight!’ ”
John was born with a very important job. He was supposed to get people ready for Jesus, God’s promised Messiah.
People started to repent; they turned away from their sins and turned to God for forgiveness. Then John baptized them in the Jordan River. Baptism was a picture that the people’s sins had been washed away. John preached: “Someone more powerful than I will come after me. I am not worthy to bend down and untie His sandals.”
Then John said, “I baptize you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
By this time, Jesus was an adult. He was in Galilee, and He left to see John the Baptist. John was at the Jordan River, and Jesus came up to him. When John saw Jesus, he said, “Here is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
Jesus told John that He wanted to be baptized. John the Baptist didn’t think he should baptize Jesus, and he tried to stop Him.
“I need You to baptize me,” John said. “Why do you want me to baptize you?” John was confused because he baptized people who confessed their sins. Jesus never sinned!
Jesus said, “Allow me to be baptized. God says this is right.” So John agreed, and he baptized Jesus. Jesus immediately went up from the water. Suddenly, the heavens opened for Jesus, and He saw God’s Spirit coming down on Him. The Spirit was like a dove. And a voice came from heaven. “This is My Son,” the voice said. “I love Him, and I am very pleased with Him!”
Christ Connection: Jesus never sinned, but He was baptized like sinners are baptized. Baptism reminds us of Jesus’ death and resurrection. It reminds us that when we trust in Jesus, we turn from sin and start a new life—a life lived for Jesus.
Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:1-11; Luke 3:21-22; John 1:19-34
John the Baptist lived in the wilderness. He wore camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey. When John was an adult, he began speaking to the people around him. “Repent and be baptized, for God’s kingdom is almost here,” he said.
Some of the people asked John, “Who are you?”
John said, “I am not the Messiah.” John also said he wasn’t Elijah, and he wasn’t the Prophet.
“Who are you, then?” the people asked.
John said that he was the person Isaiah the prophet was talking about when he said, “There is someone shouting in the wilderness. He says, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord; make His paths straight!’ ”
John was born with a very important job. He was supposed to get people ready for Jesus, God’s promised Messiah.
People started to repent; they turned away from their sins and turned to God for forgiveness. Then John baptized them in the Jordan River. Baptism was a picture that the people’s sins had been washed away. John preached: “Someone more powerful than I will come after me. I am not worthy to bend down and untie His sandals.”
Then John said, “I baptize you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
By this time, Jesus was an adult. He was in Galilee, and He left to see John the Baptist. John was at the Jordan River, and Jesus came up to him. When John saw Jesus, he said, “Here is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
Jesus told John that He wanted to be baptized. John the Baptist didn’t think he should baptize Jesus, and he tried to stop Him.
“I need You to baptize me,” John said. “Why do you want me to baptize you?” John was confused because he baptized people who confessed their sins. Jesus never sinned!
Jesus said, “Allow me to be baptized. God says this is right.” So John agreed, and he baptized Jesus. Jesus immediately went up from the water. Suddenly, the heavens opened for Jesus, and He saw God’s Spirit coming down on Him. The Spirit was like a dove. And a voice came from heaven. “This is My Son,” the voice said. “I love Him, and I am very pleased with Him!”
Christ Connection: Jesus never sinned, but He was baptized like sinners are baptized. Baptism reminds us of Jesus’ death and resurrection. It reminds us that when we trust in Jesus, we turn from sin and start a new life—a life lived for Jesus.