JOIN THE JOURNEY JR.
Families Abiding in Jesus together
With shorter reading assignments and kid-specific focus areas, Join The Journey Jr. is designed to help parents disciple their kids and engage with Scripture in the best ways for their age.
This month's memory verse
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
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“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Matthew 3
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
1In those days John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was, 2“Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.*” 3The prophet Isaiah was speaking about John when he said,
“He is a voice shouting in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming!
Clear the road for him!’”*
4John’s clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food he ate locusts and wild honey. 5People from Jerusalem and from all of Judea and all over the Jordan Valley went out to see and hear John. 6And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.
Emergency vehicles like fire trucks and ambulances use flashing lights, bright colors, and loud sirens to get our attention. They announce that they’re on an important mission, and we need to make way and provide room for them to do their jobs. John the Baptist was sort of like those bright lights. He was sent to announce that a big event was about to happen, and people needed to prepare themselves for the arrival of God’s Messiah.
About 700 years before John was born, God used a prophet named Isaiah to tell us that a “voice of one crying in the wilderness” would come to prepare the way for the Lord. By sending John the Baptist, God was fulfilling that prophecy from hundreds of years ago.
When Jesus was born, angels announced his presence (Luke 2:9-14), which is where we get the Christmas carol “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.” After Jesus had grown, his cousin John was also a sort of herald, or messenger. He announced to everyone that Jesus was here and ready to begin his ministry of loving others and teaching them truth.
To do this, John called God’s people to repent from their sin. To repent means “to change one’s mind” or “to turn away from sin.” Just like today, people back then were choosing to follow their own way instead of God’s way. But John knew that God’s way was the only way that truly leads to life. God is always wanting to point us to what is best for us—and that is exactly why he sent John the Baptist to point us to Jesus!
1. Why was John’s message important? How did he prepare people for Jesus’s ministry?
2. How can you prepare your heart for what Jesus wants to do in your life?