John the Baptist

John the Baptist - His Ministry
Matthew 3, Mark 1, Luke 3, John 1, 3

In the first and second of our stories of John, we learned of the angel Gabriel's visit to his father Zacharias, and about the visit of Mary, the mother of Jesus and about John's birth.

When John was grown, he was sent by God to be a witness for the Lord Jesus, and he baptized in the wilderness and said "You repent, for the kingdom of heaven is now here." (Repent means to admit they were sinners and to turn away from their sins) And John wore clothes made of camel's hair, and he ate locusts and wild honey. Locusts are like big grasshoppers.

And the priests from Jerusalem came to ask him "Who are you?" and John answered them. He said "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, make straight the way of the Lord." Everyone shall see the salvation of God."

And the next day John saw Jesus come to him from Nazareth, and said "Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.. then John said to Jesus, "I have need to be baptized by you, and you come to me??", but Jesus said to him, "Let it happen, for we are to fulfill all righteousness." And so Jesus was baptized by John too. And when he came up out of the water, he saw heaven open, and the spirit descended upon him like a dove. And there came a voice from heaven saying "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" and John told the people that Jesus is the Son of God.

And after that John was baptizing near Salim because there was lots of water there, this was before John was put into prison. And some of the Jews came to John to talk to him about how all men were going to Jesus. And John said "A man can't receive anything, except it is given to him from heaven.. You yourselves heard me say "I am not the Christ, but I am sent before him....."He must increase, but I must decrease". That means that men must follow Jesus instead of John.

Then John said "He that comes from heaven is above all... for he who God has sent speaks the words of God: for the Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand. He that believes on the Son has everlasting life: and he that does not believe the Son shall not see life, but he shall see the anger of God.

And after that, John was put into prison..

Memory Verse: John 1:29 "....John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."

Questions:
1. What did John tell the people they needed to do?
2. What did John wear? What did he eat?
3. When did John see Jesus?
4. What did John hear when he baptized Jesus?

Answers:
1. they needed to repent
2. Clothes made of camels hair, and he ate locusts and wild honey
3. When John was baptizing people he saw Jesus coming
4. He heard the voice of God saying "This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.

Vicki C. Gross/Jul'02 (redone September '04 because of three more stories being added about John the Baptist.

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