This animated Bible story for kids tells the story of John the Baptist.
Biblical passages: Luke 1:5-7, 39-44,80, 3:1-22
As John the Baptist prepared the way for the coming of the Messiah, he also preached a message of repentance. This was to show that people could be forgiven for their sins.
The message of repentance was simple. People would turn their hearts back to God. However, people did not believe. They responded to the preaching of John.
When Jesus came to be baptized, he identified himself with a sinful man. Later, he would identify with a sinful man on the cross. His baptism would be public. It was a way for everyone to recognize that Jesus was the Son of God.
Before his birth, his father was a priest. He had been prophesied before he was born.
Before his ministry, John the Baptist preached a message of forgiveness to a group of people. During his ministry, many people were turned away. Although he was a powerful preacher, he was a humble man.
At the beginning of his ministry, the Father approved of Jesus’ baptism. Yet, many did not understand the full gospel of salvation. So, John began his ministry by giving practical ways to demonstrate repentance.
The term “gospel” refers to the full provision of salvation for sins that will be provided through faith in the Messiah. The kingdom of God will overturn the normal flow of society until the throne of Christ is established.
To prepare the way for the Messiah, it is important to turn away from the world’s way of life and follow the way of Jesus. To do this, it is necessary to obey the word of God, to fill in valleys and to straighten crooked roads.
