The talents of John the Baptist

SCRIPTURES:

Mark 1:1-8; Mathew 3:1-12 ; Mathew 11:7-19; Mark 6:14-29

OBJECTIVES OF THE LESSON:

1. Show that the courage and sincerity of John the Baptist are good qualities to stimulate peaceful cohabitation;

2. Show that society needs sincere and courageous people to survive.

INTRODUCTION:

Start the lesson with a short song and/or a prayer.

PRESENTATION:

For some centuries now, the people had not heard a prophetic voice as before. It was now heard through John the Baptist. He was named as such because he asked people to repent and be baptised in the River Jordan. However, John was different from the other prophets in certains aspects.

Firstly, he did not desire comfort as some men of God these days. John the Baptist didn’t have a family; instead, he lived in the desert, in an isolated place far from people.

Secondly, his life was modest, simple: John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. Looking at this man, it was obvious that he had turned his back on pleasures of the world and decided to concentrate on his God given mission.

In reality, this humble man that seemed less important was a true man of God. He invited people to prepare their hearts and change their behaviour in order to receive the Messiah who was to bring the kingdom of God. He baptised those who wanted to prepare for the coming of the Messiah. Pharisees who thought that they will be saved just because they were Jews also came to him for baptism.

They were hypocrites who thought they could escape from the judgement of God by leaning on their tribe. To such people, John clearly explained to them that they need to bear fruits worthy of their repentance, to show that they have changed, and they should not count on their tribe.

When John saw the hypocrite leaders of the people asking to be baptised, he did not play hypocrite like them; he told them the plain truth by calling them “race of vipers” who seek only to flee the wrath of God, but in reality have not changed their ways. John told them that the only thing that attests of their conversion is their attitude.

Leviticus 20:21 states that a man should not take his brother’s wife. However, Herod thought he could be exempted from this law, maybe because he held power. He sent away his wife and married Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife.

John the Baptist, who feared only God, rebuked the King for this attitude that was contrary to the law. “It is not lawful for you to have her” (Mathew 14:4).

SUBJECTS FOR DISCUSSION:

1. Who is John the Baptist?

2. What is the talent of John the Baptist?

3. Is this talent useful to society?

4. What is the difference between the talent of John the Baptist and that of Nathan?

5. What would happen to society if the most powerful had the right to do what they wanted?

ACTIVITY:

Choose a child to play the role of the King and the others to represent the nobles of the King. Choose another child to play the role of John the Baptist rebuking the behaviour of Herod.

RESOURCE PERSON:

Invite a member of the congregation to talk about the dangers of sexual promiscuity.

ACTION TO ENCOURAGE:

1. Encourage the children to respect established laws;

2. Encourage the children to speak the truth for the survival of the community.

MEMORY VERSE:

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile” (Romans 1:16).

CLOSING:

Close with a short song and or the dominical prayer.