At the River Jordan

Jesus and John the Baptist

(See Mathew 3:13-17, Luke 3:21-21, John 1:32-34)

Jesus was a grown-up man now.  His little-boy days were past. Many things had happened in all that  time.  He had young brothers and sisters in Mary and Joseph's house. Joseph was a carpenter.  Jesus was a carpenter.  He helped to earn money and food for the family. There had come a sad day when Joseph had died. Then Jesus took care of his mother and brothers and sisters.  But all through these years Jesus knew that there were special things that he must do.  He knew that God, the heavenly Father, had sent him to helps others.  These years were the getting-ready years for Jesus.

One day word came to Nazareth, that John was preaching in the country near the Jordan River. John's mother and Jesus' mother were cousins.  Jesus knew that John was a man who loved Godand who had spent many years thinking about Him.  Jesus listened to the news about John.

"If anyone has two coats, let him share with him who has none," said John, "and he who has food, let him do likewise."

Tax collectors came to John and asked what they should do.

John said, "You must take no more money than you are supposed to take.  Eveyone must be fair and honest. You must ask God to forgive you if you have done wrong."

So John preached to the people.  When the people understood, John would baptize them in the river.  Some of the people wondered if John were the great Messiah, the Savior. John said. "No, one is coming who is greater than I.  I can baptize you with water, but he will help you to have the Holy Spirit in your lives.  He will give you the power to do right."

Jesus came to the place wher John was baptizing. He waited untill all the people were baptized.  Jesus went into the water where John was. John was surprised to see him there.

Joahn said, "I need you to baptize me. Why have you com to me ?"

Jesus said, "I want you to do it.  It is God's will."

Then John baptized Jesus. While Jesus prayed a wonderful thin happened. A voice came from heaven, sayin: "Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased."

After this Jesus went away for forty days.  It was necessary for him to face a difficult time of testing.  He had to decide to do only what God wanted him to do. Then Jesus began to go about to help people.  He began to tell them about God and his way of living.  Jesus was about thirty years old at this time.

Story by Ethel M. Phillps, 1948