Jesus is Baptized

Short Talk (SHT186) Jesus is baptised © Jane Hulme 2019 Aim of Short talk: Use of Short talk: Main themes: Biblical references: Lectionary: Props: SHORT TALK: “Jesus is baptised” To teach that baptism is a sign of our repentance and to encourage people to remember their baptism whenever they see something being cleaned. This is a short All Age talk picking out one issue from the Lectionary Gospel reading of the Sunday main service. The talk stands alone and assumes that the Gospel Bible reading may not yet have been read to the congregation. It could be used for example, for the whole congregation before the children go out to their age specific groups, leaving the adults with a full sermon later. Jesus, Baptism, Sin, Repentance, Forgiveness Matthew 3:13-17 Year A – The Baptism of Christ You need the following: • A table on which you place a large bowl full of water • A large jug full of water .................................................................................................................. Inside my bowl today, I have some lovely clean water. • Look at this (Take your jug. Fill it with water from the bowl, then hold it above the bowl and pour water back out into the bowl) • Who can tell me what we use water for? (Receive responses) One of the most important ways we use water is for washing things that are dirty to make them clean again. • So, we have showers and baths to wash our bodies and make them clean again. • We wash up our plates in a bowl of water, after we have eaten a meal, to make them clean again. • We wash our clothes in a washing machine full of water to make them clean again. Water makes things clean doesn’t it? A long time ago a man called John the Baptist told the people in Israel that the wrong things they were doing in their lives had to stop. • They couldn’t possibly have a relationship with a holy God while they were choosing to disobey Him. • It was like the wrong things they were doing were making them dirty on the inside. • John told the people that they needed to turn back to God, say sorry and change their lives, and then they could be part of His family. © Jane Hulme 2019 2 As a sign that they had turned back to God, John told the people to be baptised. • Baptism involves people being sprinkled or immersed in water. (pick up water jug, fill it with water and pour it back into the bowl again) • The water used in baptism is a symbol. • It reminds people that God can wash us clean on the inside and give us a new start. Now can you imagine John the Baptist’s surprise when one day Jesus came to Him to be baptised? • Jesus had never done anything wrong in His life. • Jesus was completely clean on the inside. • Jesus already had a close relationship with Father God. • Surely Jesus didn’t need to be baptised? Jesus insisted that He was baptised because He knew that Father God wanted Him to do it. • So, John baptised Jesus. When Jesus came up out of the water, something wonderful happened. • Matthew tells us in His Gospel that “At that moment heaven was opened, and Jesus saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”” (Matthew 3:16-17) • Wow, wasn’t that amazing? Today, if people want to have a relationship with Father God, like Jesus did, • they need to turn away from doing wrong things and turn to Jesus. • As a sign of that change of heart, they are baptised. Many of you here are baptised, • so, can I encourage you that whenever you see water being used to clean something, • thank Father God that through Jesus, He has cleaned you on the inside too so that you can become His precious child. © Jane Hulme 2019 3