Jesus’ Baptism

Food – Locusts and a Skit

Summary of Lesson Activities:

Make "honey bugs" and learn the lesson through the use of a skit.

Scripture Reference:
Mark 1: 1-11

Supplies List:

• crescent roll dough,
• pretzel sticks,
• raisins,
• honey, 
• honey butter,
• cookie sheets,
• spatula,
• napkins

Leader Preparations:

• Preheat the ovens.
• Gather the materials.
• Read the scripture ahead of time.

Presentation

Opening-Welcome and Lesson Introductions:

Greet the children and introduce yourself.

Open with a prayer.

Dig-Main Content and Reflection:

Explain: Some places today and in the past, there are people who have to scrounge for food or they would go hungry. They get their food from anywhere they can find it – kind of like survival training in the forest or desert. One source of food is bugs and insects.

Maybe John was not all that weird – if you were in the wilderness, what would you eat? Wild onions, leaves, berries, roots, insects, rodents, etc.

Where might you find the food? Dig in the dirt, under bark, around a dead tree, on bushes, etc.

Make ‘Honey Bugs’ (Idea from St. Mary’s Anglican Church, Regina – rotation.org )

We are going to make a ‘Honey Bug’ to remind us about what John the Baptist ate in the wilderness. Have each child make a Honey Bug.

• Unroll dough and divide into precut triangles. Shape each crescent roll triangle into a body and head of a bug (could roll it up, use scissors/knife to cut ‘wings’ and neck.)
• Add raisins for eyes.
• Break stick pretzels in smaller pieces and add for legs. (3 per side for insects, 4 per side for spiders.)
• Bake as instructed on crescent roll package
•  Either:
  • Brush with honey or honey butter (mixed ahead of time) after baking.
  • Serve with a cup/bowl with a dab of honey to dip their ‘bug’ into.

While the Honey Bugs are baking, have the kids perform the skit.

When the bugs are done baking, eat and enjoy!

Discussion: While eating, if time/desired. (Written by Rachel Haugland)

• John was a special messenger from God. Who from the Old Testament told of this person coming? Isaiah
• Was John the first person to ever baptize people? No, the Jews had a ritual washing for purification of the body and spirit. But Yes, John was the first person to baptize to forgive sins.
• Many feel as if the beginning of Jesus’ ministry started when John baptized him. About how old was Jesus? 30 years old
• Why do we baptize people now? Jesus told us to, a way to make more disciples for Jesus, include people in the Christian community, forgiveness of sins
• Should we baptize babies, children or adults? God didn’t tell us what age, he just told us to do it, the Bible talks about baptizing families-which probably included all ages.
• Should we ‘dunk’ or ‘sprinkle’ when we do a baptism? God didn’t tell us how, just to do it

Skit - "Prepare The Way!"

Characters: Isaiah, John, Person 1 & 2, baptized person, group, narrator, God, Jesus
Props: camel hair clothes, leather belt, rubber grasshopper, dove/bird

Isaiah: I am Isaiah from the Old Testament. God says there will be a special person to prepare the way for the Messiah! This messenger will live in the wilderness. He will tell everyone to shape up and make the right decisions.

John: (John- with camel hair clothes and leather belt - standing with person to be baptized. Group of people watching) I am John the Baptist. Turn away from your sins.

Person 1: (Standing off to the side, pointing at John) Look at John. He wears camel hair for clothes. His hair is long.

Person 2: Yah, but people come from all over to listen to him. They say they are sorry for their sins and John baptizes them in the river.

Person 1: Have you seen what he eats? Locusts and wild honey! Yuk!

John: Be baptized. (Pretend to dunk the person under the water and come back up) God forgives you!

Narrator: (Baptized person moves to the group. Enter Jesus) One day Jesus came and was baptized by John in the Jordan River. (John baptize/’dunk’ Jesus) The moment Jesus came up from the water, the heavens opened up. The Holy Spirit came down on Jesus, like a dove. (Bird flies down and rests on Jesus) A voice from heaven said,

God: (Heard, not seen) “You are my son, I love you, I am very pleased.”

Narrator: Christ told us to baptize people.

Jesus: Go and make disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

A lesson written by: Rachel Haugland

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