20 - Jesus Is Baptized

Introduction:

Ask the children if they have ever attended a baptism or seen their own pictures when they were baptized. Jesus taught us about baptism. We get baptized as babies to have the Holy Spirit in us and because Jesus was baptized too, like they will hear in the story now….

Lesson Outline:

John lived in the desert land. He wore clothes made out of camel's hair and he had a leather belt around his waist. While John was in the desert, he ate wild honey and other food that he could find. John was teaching the people to look for Jesus who will soon come to help them. People have not known about Jesus yet. John was telling them to stop doing wrong things and to start doing good things and to repent. He was baptizing them in the river. Some of the men and women who met John thought that he was the holy person God had promised to send. John told everyone, "No, I am not the Holy One. I am only preparing the way for Him." One day, Jesus came to the river and asked John to baptize Him. John was very surprised. He knew that Jesus was the Holy One. "But you should baptize me," John said. Again, Jesus said He wanted to be baptized. John did as Jesus asked and that is why he is called John the Baptist. As soon as Jesus came out of the water, there was a beautiful white dove that came down from heaven and rested on Jesus. That was the Holy Spirit. Also, heaven opened and God the Father said: “This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased.”

Jesus was baptized because He wanted to teach us to also be baptized. Do you know that all of you were baptized when you were babies? Abouna puts the baby in and out of the water three times, and says: “In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” When we are baptized, we become the children of God. We get the Holy Spirit in our hearts and that is what helps us to do the right things and be happy. So now, since we were all baptized when we were babies, we are all God’s children.

Memory Verse:

“This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17

Movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vfwq4tD-cv4   (Minutes from 5:25 -18:00)

Activity: If anyone would like to share a picture of their baptism or that of a sibling or a relative you are welcomed to do so.