John Baptized Jesus
(Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; and Luke 3:21-22; John 1:29-34)
September 27, 2026
Sunday Recap
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Sunday Recap •
Hey Fams!
There is much we don’t know about the early life of Jesus. After Jesus’ trip to the temple as a 12-year-old, we are told that He “increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with people” (Luke 2:52). Luke's Gospel account then fast-forwards to the baptism of Jesus as an adult. This was an important event in the life of the promised Messiah that is recorded in each of the four Gospels.
At first glance, it may seem strange that Jesus would seek to be baptized as even John seemed surprised by this request and tried to stop Jesus. After all, Jesus never sinned and was not in need of God’s forgiveness. Yet, Jesus was fully committed to doing the will of His heavenly Father, which included baptism. Jesus' baptism modeled how His followers are to publicly profess their faith in Him. Jesus’ baptism would also be His next step in beginning His earthly ministry. Indeed, the very next day, Jesus began calling disciples to follow Him.
As Jesus went up from the water, we see a beautiful picture of the Trinity: the heavens opened as the Son prayed, the Spirit descended upon Him, and the Father declared Jesus the Son in whom He is well pleased. Jesus’ baptism represents believers’ death to sin. Just as Christ died on the cross and was raised, so, too, are His followers born again and raised up from the grave into new life.
Lead children to see that Jesus lived a perfect life of obedience and died as the sacrifice for our sins before rising again. Help them understand that though we cannot follow God perfectly, we can place our trust in the One who did. Remind boys and girls that Christians are called to obedience through baptism. While baptism does not have the power to save us, it is an outward expression of an inward reality in the life of the believer.
***Next Week: Jesus Was Tempted (Matthew 4; Mark 1; Luke 4)
Family Discipleship Plan
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Family Discipleship Plan •
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Read Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; and
Luke 3:21-22; John 1:29-34 from the Bible.
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Jesus lived a sinless life, died on the cross, and rose from the dead. The Bible tells us that anyone who believes these truths about Jesus and confesses that He is Lord will be saved. The Bible also says that those who believe should demonstrate their faith in Jesus by being baptized.
Baptism is a beautiful picture of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. Baptism symbolizes a person’s faith in Jesus as the perfect sacrifice for their sin and how His death was the punishment that should’ve been our own. As the person is lowered in the water, they are showing that Jesus’ death was a substitute for their own.
As the person is raised up out of the water, it symbolizes that Jesus’ resurrection guarantees eternal life for all who believe. Just as their sinful life is buried with Christ, the person raised from the water is showing that Jesus has given them new life! Baptism is an outward expression of how the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus brings new life to all who believe in Him!
Jesus obeyed His Father by being baptized. Later in life, He obeyed His Father by dying on a cross for our sins and rising again, so that all who trust in Him will receive eternal life.
***Pray: Jesus, You are the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Help us understand that faith in Your life, death, and resurrection is the only way to have eternal life. Amen.
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Preschool:
“The Word became flesh and lived among us.”John 1:14
1st-5th:
“The Word became a human being. He made his home with us. We have seen his glory. It is the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father. And the Word was full of grace and truth.” John 1:14 NiRV
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Mornings
Take time to think about the symbolism of baptism and the story it tells about Jesus. Thank Jesus for living a perfect life to be our righteousness and for dying on the cross to be our substitute. Thank Him for rising again to show us that we too can have eternal life in Him.
Evenings
Ask God to show you ways you can publicly share your faith with others. Like baptism is a public way of identifying with Christ, think about how your words and actions can point others to Jesus. How is baptism a way of publicly declaring our faith in Jesus? How can our words and actions declare our faith and point others to Jesus?
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For Fun
Share your baptism story with your kids or invite a family member to share their experience. Show pictures of this special time if any are available. Take time to talk with your kids about what it means to believe in Jesus, the symbolism of baptism, and answer any questions they may have about how they can be baptized at your church.
To Serve
If your church has a regular baptism service, volunteer as a family to help with the service. Take pictures, pass out towels, or pray with those being baptized before the service. Remind kids of the symbolism in baptism that reminds us of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.