I posted a Sunday School lesson online this morning for kids who couldn’t go to Sunday School. The lesson was entitled, John Prepares for Jesus.
Here is the free Family Devotional to go along with the Sunday School lesson this week. [This is an excerpt of Celebrating the Story of Christmas which can be downloaded FREE under Shop and Free on this website.]
Setting the table…
Eat something unique for supper tonight! Try something your family hasn’t
had before or maybe a new recipe for something old.
Digging in…
Jesus would one day be born in the very land Abraham was promised. At
that time, it would have come to be known as Israel. God wanted to be
sure that everyone would have a chance to hear this good news. It would
be easier if many people spoke the same language. Also, the people needed
be able to travel in order to spread the news.
History was unfolding. Eventually, a city called Rome was built. Rome
conquered and united much of the known world (including Israel) in an
empire described as “strong as iron.” (Dan. 2:40) The Romans spoke Greek,
so all of their conquered nations also leaned Greek as a second language. In
addition, Romans built many new roads for their armies.
Through a series of events and the passing of time, a man named Octavian
became the leader of Rome. The Bible refers to him as Caesar Augustus
(Luke 2:1). He tried to make taxes fair through the census, which counted
total population and value of property in each province.
For two centuries, it seemed the world was united and at peace. Almost all
of the known world was under one government. People could travel
throughout the empire freely without crossing through enemy country.
Travel by land or sea was safer and easier than ever before.
If you are wondering what had happened to the Israelites during this time,
they were all scattered again. However, many of them still gathered
together where they were to read from the Old Testament manuscripts.
They read what the prophets had written about a Messiah coming, whom
they believed would free them from the Romans and unite them in their
homeland once again.
Read Luke 1:16 -17. God planned for a special baby to be born who would
one day grow up and “make ready for the Lord a people prepared. “ (Luke
1:17) You see, the people who had been scattered due to their sin were ready for a Savior! But He would do much more than deliver them from the
Romans. He would deliver those who believe in Him from sin and even
death or separation from God.
That baby, who would prepare the way for the Messiah, was named John.
He is referred to as John the Baptist. He was a little unique. He wore
scratchy clothes made from camel’s hair and ate locusts and wild honey!
But God uses all kinds of people in His plan. One day, John would even
baptize Jesus.
The people were now ready to hear and receive the truth and John was
there to tell them.
TAKE AWAY TRUTH: God uses all kinds of people for His purposes. We
should be eager to share the good news of Jesus with everyone we meet!
CHRIST CONNECTION: John was born around the same time Jesus was. He
prepared people for Jesus.
Second Helping…
• Read the story of John the Baptist from each of the Gospel books
o Matthew 3
o Mark 1:1-14
o Luke 1:1-25 & :57-80
o Luke 3:1-20
o John 1:19-36
• Praise God for preparing your heart so you could be ready to hear about
Jesus and follow Him.
Dessert…
Pray – Pray this week for persecuted Christians. Discuss, as a family, how all
Christians don’t have the same freedom to learn about and worship God as
we do. These are our brothers and sisters in Christ. (“So we, though many,
are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” Rom.
12:5)