Make Way for Jesus: John the Baptist
Mark 1:1-8; John 1:19-34; John 3:26-30 New Testament PrincipleHumility
God sent John the Baptist to get people ready for Jesus. John lived in the wilderness, wore camel's hair and ate locusts and wild honey. Crowds came to hear him, and people turned from their sins and were baptized. Leaders asked, "Who are you? Are you the Christ?" John said, "No. I'm just a voice getting the way ready. I'm not even worthy to untie His sandals." When Jesus came, John pointed and said, "Look, the Lamb of God!" Later he said, "He must increase; I must decrease." Humility means making much of Jesus, not of ourselves.
Humility means seeing ourselves rightly next to Jesus. We gladly let Him be first and point others to Him, and that brings us joy.
- CreationGod made it
- FallWe broke it
- RedemptionJesus fixes it (this lesson)
- RestorationJesus makes it new
Memory verse
“He must increase; I must decrease.”
John 3:30 BSB
Christ Connection · Promise
Isaiah and Malachi promised a voice in the wilderness who would prepare the way for the Lord. John fulfilled that promise and pointed to Jesus as the Lamb of God, the One the whole Old Testament was waiting for.
Mark 1:2-3; John 1:29; Luke 1:76-77; John 1:1, 14-15
The Big Story · Redemption
For hundreds of years, the prophets promised that a messenger would prepare the way for the Lord. John was that messenger, and he pointed to Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
Teacher Guide
This version includes:
- Background and context for the passage
- Hidden in Plain Sight: the detail most people miss
- The Christ Connection: how this story points to Jesus
- A 45-minute class plan and prep checklist
- A map of where it happened
- Object lesson: Point the light
- Bible Kitchen (taste the story): Locusts and wild honey
- A skit to act out the story
- Review game: Point to Jesus
- Pronunciation help, tips for every age, song ideas and a note for parents
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Preschool (ages 3–5)
Jesus is greatest! I point to Him!
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 4-minute Bible story written for this age
- 3 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Big and small, Color John pointing
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at home, at church
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
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Free preview · Kindergarten – 2nd grade
God sent John the Baptist to get people ready for Jesus. John lived in the wilderness, wore camel hair and ate locusts and wild honey. Many people came, said sorry for their sins and were baptized. Leaders asked, "Are you the Christ?" John said, "No! Someone much greater is coming. I'm not even good enough to untie His sandals." When Jesus came, John pointed and said, "Look, the Lamb of God!" He said, "He must become greater. I must become less." That is being humble.
Start here
Ask, "Do you like being the star? Being first?" Let a few kids share. Say, "Today we'll meet a man who had big crowds coming to him. But he wanted someone else to be the star."
Bible story 6 min
Long ago, God promised to send a helper. The helper would get people ready for the Lord. That helper was John the Baptist.
John lived out in the wilderness. It was dry and rocky. He wore clothes made of camel hair. He ate locusts and wild honey. Locusts are big bugs!
Big crowds came out to hear John. He said, "Turn away from your sins! Get ready! The Lord is coming!" People said sorry to God for their sins. John baptized them in the Jordan River.
The rest of the story, discussion questions, songs, Live It and prayer are for members.
Try an activity
Act it out 10 min
You’ll need: A brown towel or blanket (camel's hair), A flashlight
- Choose John, two priests, Jesus and two disciples. Everyone else is the crowd.
- Act out the skit. John points the flashlight at Jesus when he says, "Look!"
- Switch so more kids get a turn.
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3rd – 4th grade
God sent John the Baptist to prepare the way for the Lord, just as Isaiah promised. John lived simply in the wilderness, and crowds came to confess their sins and be baptized in the Jordan. When leaders asked if he was the Christ, John said no; he was only a voice, not worthy to untie the sandals of the One coming after him. When Jesus came, John pointed to Him as "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world." John's humility shows us how to make much of Jesus.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 8-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 5 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Who is John? Who is Jesus?, Point to Jesus
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at school, with friends, at church
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
5th – 6th grade
John the Baptist was the messenger Isaiah and Malachi had promised, a voice in the wilderness preparing the way for the Lord. Crowds came, and John could have built his own following. Instead, he denied being the Christ, called himself unworthy to untie Jesus' sandals and pointed his own disciples to "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world." When people worried that everyone was going to Jesus, John said his joy was complete, because "He must increase; I must decrease." True humility is joyful, clear-eyed delight in Jesus being first.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 10-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 6 discussion questions
- 2 activities: The voice and the Lamb, Increase and decrease
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: online and on screens, at school, with friends
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
More lessons on Humility
The same principle in other Bible stories.
Kings and ProphetsNaaman Is Healed2 Kings 5:1-19Naaman, a proud army commander with a serious skin disease, was healed when he humbly obeyed God and washed seven times in the muddy Jordan River.Old TestamentHumility
Kings and ProphetsGod Chooses David1 Samuel 16:1-13God sent Samuel to Bethlehem to anoint a new king, and instead of the tall older brothers, God chose David, the youngest shepherd, because the LORD looks at the heart.Old TestamentHumility
In the BeginningThe Tower of BabelGenesis 11:1-9; Genesis 12:1-3People tried to make themselves great without God, but God brought their tower down and began His own plan to bless every nation.Old TestamentHumility
The Writing on the WallDaniel 5:1-31King Belshazzar of Babylon threw a huge party. He drank from the gold cups taken from God's temple and praised idols. Suddenly, the fingers of a hand appeared and wrote on the wall! No one could read it, until old Daniel came. Daniel said, "You knew how God humbled King Nebuchadnezzar, but you did not humble yourself." The words meant God had ended the king's rule. That very night, Babylon fell. God is the true King, and He wants us to walk humbly with Him.Old TestamentHumility
Just Say the Word: The Centurion’s ServantLuke 7:1-10A Roman army officer in Capernaum had a servant who was very sick. The town leaders told Jesus, "This man is worthy of Your help." But the officer sent word, "I am not worthy for You to come to my house. Just say the word, and my servant will be healed." Jesus was amazed at his faith, and the servant was healed. When we come to Jesus humbly, we can trust His powerful word.New TestamentHumility