Let's Get Started
Theme: Worshiping God - God Sends a Savior
- Matthew 3:17 says that God spoke from heaven and said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Why do you think God said these words to those who were there?
- Jesus came to see John at the Jordan River, where John was baptizing people. He wanted John to baptize him, but John didn’t want to at first, since Jesus, who had never sinned, didn’t need to repent and be forgiven. As you listen to this episode, think about why Jesus tells John to baptize him anyway.
After you listen
Memory Verse
And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
Quiz
A: Turn back to God. The kingdom will soon be here.
Reflect
Can you imagine Jesus, who had never sinned, asking John to baptize him? John couldn’t imagine it either! But, Jesus told John, “For now this is how it should be, because we must do all that God wants us to do.” (Matthew 3:15). Then John agreed and baptized him. So, what does baptism mean?
Baptism is an act of God; it's God's declaration that we are his. Our ceremony is an acknowledgement of God's promises. And baptism recalls all the times God brought his people through waters of judgement, from the story of the Flood to the story of the Red Sea to the story of Crossing the Jordan River. Baptism points to Jesus and affirms God’s promises. The water symbolizes the washing away of sin in God’s forgiveness. Colossians 2:12-14 says that baptism is a symbol of your faith: your old sinful self is gone and you have a new life in Jesus.
Read more about Jesus’ baptism in Matthew 3:13-17. Want to dig deeper on baptism? Check out Romans 6:4,5, Acts 2:38 and 1 Peter 3:21.
Challenge
God spoke at Jesus’ baptism and the Holy Spirit came down in the form of a dove. Make a dove craft to remind you of Jesus’ baptism. Trace your hand on white paper. Add a yellow beak and an eye with markers or paper. Glue on another colored paper. Print the words, “This is my son, whom I love” (Matthew 3:17). Share your picture with an adult. Talk to them about what baptism symbolizes.
