038 John the Baptist - A Bible Story for Children

Matthew 3; Mark 1:1-11; Luke 3:1-22; John 1:19-34

John, Jesus' cousin, left his home and went to live in the wilderness. For food, he ate locusts and wild honey, and he wore a coat of camel's hair, tied with a leather belt. There, in the wilderness, John heard the word of God. So John went from that lonely place out into the towns and villages of Judea, traveling the dusty roads with the message from God.

"I am a voice crying out from the wilderness," he said, like the prophets of years before. "Give up your evil ways. Prepare the way for the Lord. Make a straight path for him."

From Jerusalem and all of Judea, people came to hear John and ask him how to prepare for the Lord. "If you have two coats," he said, "give one to someone who does not have any. If you have food, give it to the hungry." He told the tax collectors not to cheat the people, and the soldiers not to bully them. Those who heard his words and wanted to turn away from evil, he baptized, washing away their wrongs in the Jordan River so they could lead better lives.

People began to wonder whether John was the Savior the prophets had said would come to lead the people of Israel and bring peace back to the world. For hundreds of years the Jews had been waiting for the Savior, and now they saw before them this wild and strange man who warned them to be ready for the Lord. Some priestly Sadduccees and some Pharisees came to listen to John. The Pharisees were men who studied the laws of the Jews that God gave to Moses very carefully and were proud that they followed them closely. Because of this, some of them thought they were better than other men.

"Who are you?" the people asked, gathering around John. "Are you a prophet? Are you the Savior?"

"I baptize you with water," he answered, "but someone is coming who is mightier than I. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. I am not fit to touch the straps of his sandals."

One day, as John was baptizing people, a young man stood quietly in the crowd, watching him. When the man stepped forward to be baptized, John could only stare. Suddenly, everyone was looking at the two men.

"It is you who should baptize me," John said to the other man, who was Jesus.

"Let it be this way," Jesus told him, and waded into the river. As John baptized Jesus, a dove appeared over Jesus' head, and a voice from heaven was heard, saying, "This is my beloved Son. I am well pleased with him."

So John knew that Jesus was the true Savior, the Son of God, who would teach the people and show them God's way.

Category: Children's Bible Stories