LESSON 12: Jesus and John

(Luke 3:21-25, John 1:6-8, 29-34)

You have heard about the prophets in the Old Testament. Their job was to tell people what God wanted them to know. John was one of those prophets. He was born just before Jesus. His mother, Elizabeth, was a relative of Jesus’s mother, and his father, Zachariah, was a priest. John is known as the last prophet before Jesus came.

Why did God send John to the world? What was his job? We can learn about it in the book of John. In John 1:19-28, some people asked John if he was a prophet, Elijah or Jesus. John said, “No”. He explained, “I am just a voice calling in the desert: ‘Make a straight path for the Lord.’”

John was chosen by God to get people ready for Jesus, the King and Savior of the world. Many people listened to John’s strong words, said sorry for their mistakes, and were baptized. Because John helped people change their hearts and forgive their sins, he was called John the Baptist.

One day, while John was baptizing people in the River Jordan, Jesus came to him and asked to be baptized. When this happened, something amazing happened. The heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit came down like a dove and rested on Jesus. Then, a voice from heaven said, “He is my Son, and I am very pleased with Him.”

Jesus also said that John was the greatest person ever born. John spoke out against Herod for living a sinful life. Because of this, Herod had John killed. John became a martyr, someone who died for his beliefs.

The Holy Church celebrates the festival of Jesus’s baptism, and it is called Danaha. This festival is celebrated on January 6th. The word “Danaha” means “Rising.” When Jesus was baptized, God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit were all present, showing the Holy Trinity. They all rose during this special event.