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Sunday School Lesson

Jesus Gets Baptized

by John the Baptist

"And a voice came from heaven: 'You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.'"

Mark 1:11

The Story in Four Beats

From Wilderness to River

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John in the Wilderness

The Forerunner · Elijah's Echo

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"Before Jesus begins His ministry, God sends a wild, wilderness prophet to wake everyone up."

→ John lives in the desert, wears camel hair, leather belt

→ His diet: locusts and wild honey — a prophetic statement (see below)

→ He's the fulfillment of Isaiah 40:3 — the voice crying in the wilderness

→ John = the new Elijah, pointing to One who is coming

"Prepare the way of the Lord." — Isaiah 40:3 / Mark 1:3

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Jesus Comes to John

Jordan River · Obedience + Identity

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"John is confused — Jesus has no sin to wash away. But Jesus says: this is what God wants."

→ John says "I need to be baptized by You!"

→ Jesus: "Let it be so now — it fulfills all righteousness" (Matthew 3:15)

→ Jesus is baptized not for forgiveness, but as example and obedience

→ Baptism = the official public launch of Jesus' ministry

"Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John." — Matthew 3:13

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The Dove & the Voice

Heaven Opens · The Trinity Revealed

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"As Jesus comes up from the water — the sky splits open. A dove lands. A voice speaks."

→ The Spirit of God descends like a dove

→ God the Father speaks: "This is my beloved Son"

→ All three persons of the Trinity present at once — a rare moment

→ God publicly approves and launches Jesus' ministry

"The heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove." — Matthew 3:16

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Locusts & Honey

Prophetic Diet · Why It Matters

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"John's weird diet isn't random — it's a living sign pointing to who God is sending."

→ Locusts = judgment, chaos (Joel 1–2), symbols of what's broken in Israel

→ Honey = covenant blessing, the promised land "flowing with milk and honey"

→ John eating both = he carries judgment AND blessing in his mouth

→ Connects to Elijah (1 Kings 17) — wilderness prophet fed by God

→ The chaos of locusts is being transformed: the Messiah brings the honey

→ Both foods are ceremonially clean under Torah (Lev. 11:22)

"John wore camel's hair, and ate locusts and wild honey." — Mark 1:6

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God Speaks

The Launch · The Son Revealed · Heaven Approves

"And a voice came from heaven: 'You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.'"

MARK 1:11

→ Jesus needed no forgiveness — He was already perfect

→ He got baptized for us — to show us the way

→ God's affirmation comes before Jesus does anything miraculous

→ We are loved before we perform — that's the gospel

"God didn't say 'well done' after the miracles — He said it at the river, before Jesus did anything. That's how God loves."

Explore the Lesson

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Teacher Hub

Full lesson plan with timing

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Drawing Activity

The Path of Obedience

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Marble Jar

Class participation tracker

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Obedience Course

5-station indoor obstacle course