LESSON 6: JESUS IS BAPTIZED BY JOHN THE BAPTIST

UNIT 3: JESUS PREPARES FOR HIS MISSION SECOND QUARTER SY 2012-2013

THINK PAIR SHARE

1. Look for a partner. 2. Answer the following questions with your partner: Give three things that you do to prepare for school. Why do I need to do these things before going to school? 3. Share your answer and listen to your partner

SHORT CLASS DISCUSSION

Why is it important to make preparations? Who helps you prepare your things? What does he or she do to help you? Before going to his public ministry do you think Jesus also needed to make preparations? Why?

WE CONNECT
Today we will know what Jesus did before He went on His public ministry. Jesus knew that he couldnt fulfill his mission without making such necessary preparations. Like us, He was also helped by someone to prepare Himself for his mission. John the Baptist, His cousin, had a very important task to do so that the work of Jesus could be fulfilled.

THE BAPTISM OF JESUS

Watch

the video.

DISCUSSION AFTER THE VIDEO

What

is the video all about?

Why

do you think Jesus asked John the Baptist to baptize Him? did God the Father say after Jesus was baptized? What did the God the Father mean when He said that?

What

A. Why did Jesus need to be baptized?

People

came to John to be baptized as a sign of repentance. To be truly one with us and to be like us even in our weakness, Jesus received the same baptism. He wanted to fully embrace our humanity, our failures, and our struggles.

A. Why did Jesus need to be baptized?

To

be strengthened by the Power of the Holy Spirit and the love of the Father be obedient in following the will of His Father

To

A. Why did Jesus need to be baptized?

To

show us an example of great humility He allowed Himself to be baptized by John. John baptized so that people could admit their mistakes and to repent from their sins. Jesus did not do anything wrong, he did not commit any sin but because he knows his Fathers will, he humbly accepted it for the sake of his mission.

SHORT REVIEW ABOUT JOHN THE BAPTIST

Who

is John the Baptist?

How

can you describe John the Baptist?

is he related to Jesus?

How

 In

due time, John the Baptist appeared. He was...

the

prophet foretold by the prophet Isaiah. the last prophet. a prophet because he spoke in Gods name and foretold the coming of the Messiah. a cousin to Jesus and was entrusted by God to prepare his way.

John

the Baptist is also called the precursor because he came ahead in order to prepare the people for the coming of the Messiah.

 Unlike

the other men during that time who were rich, expensive clothes, he was clothed in camels skin. He stayed alone in the desert for many years, praying and fasting. He lived on locusts and wild honey.

What is the mission of John the Baptist?

The

Mission of John the Baptist was to prepare the hearts of the people for the coming of Jesus. He preached to them and told them to have a change of heart.

What does change of heart mean?

Change of heart does not only mean avoiding bad actions and attitudes but it also involves doing the good, which is the opposite of ones bad behavior.

 Therefore,

John went through all the country around the Jordan preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Many people came to him to ask what they should do so that they can reform their lives and have a change of heart.

How is the mission of John the Baptist connected to the mission of Jesus and to our own mission today?
The

mission of Jesus is to give us eternal life by saving us from sin. However, Jesus cannot force us to accept this gift of eternal life if we do not want it and if we continue to do bad things. the Baptists mission is to show us that if we want to change and reform our lives we should stop our bad habits and start doing good to others.

John

How is the mission of John the Baptist connected to the mission of Jesus and to our own mission today?
He

baptized others as a sign of repentance and grief for the sins that the people had done. Jesus allowed Himself to be baptized by John even if He did commit any sin as a sign of his great humility and obedience to his Fathers will.

However,

the baptism ministered by John the Baptist at the Jordan River was not like our sacramental baptism but closer to our sacrament of Penance because it was baptism of repentance.

Today

we also bear the same mission to spread the Good news and to lead a good example to others. Thanks to John the Baptist we now know what to do so that we can become true followers of Christ.

Will you have the strength and humility to allow Jesus to enter or will you lock the door of your heart so that you can keep your bad habits?

We Respond:
Today,

Jesus asks us to respond to the call of John the Baptist to change our hearts and to open ourselves to Messiah.

We Respond: My Behavior Chart

Bad things that I have done or have been doing: I will replace it with:

1. 2. 3.

Closure
What

is the meaning of the Baptism of Jesus? What is the role of John the Baptist in the mission of Jesus? How can we imitate John the Baptist in showing others the way to follow Jesus? What traits or behaviors does John the Baptist have that I would like to imitate? Why?

We Pray: Give Me Humility and Strength, Lord

Lord, you are Holy above all others, and all of the strength that I need is in your hands. I simply ask that Your will be done in my life. Whatever that means, that is what I want. I know that I can come to you, Jesus, and that you will hear my prayer. Please, Lord, give me the humility to accept my wrong doings and the strength to face the challenges today. Help me to keep away me from sin and to keep my eyes on you. You are the Holy Lord, and all of my hope rests in you. Thank you for hearing my prayer. In Jesus name. Amen