John The Baptist

Mary’s cousin Elizabeth was very old and had never had any children. When the angel told Mary that she would have baby, he told her that Elizabeth would have a child, too. Mary went to visit her cousin.

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s voice, she exclaimed, "The baby inside me jumped for joy when he heard your voice. God has blessed you and the baby you will have."

When Elizabeth’s baby was born, his father Zechariah named him John. John was a special baby, too. God sent him to prepare people’s hearts and minds for his Son, Jesus.

John grew into a man who was never afraid to proclaim the Word of God. "Turn away from your evil deeds and be baptized!" he told the crowds who listened to him. Hi lived in the wilderness, and people all over Judea came out to hear him and be baptized by him in the Jordan River. But when Jewish religious leaders came to hear him, he warned them, "You think you are hold because you say, ‘We are Abraham’s children.’ Unless you follow God with your heart and in your actions, nothing else matters."

John wore a coat made of camel’s hair. He even ate locusts and wild honey. People thought he was strange, but still they wanted to hear the things he had to say.

"You come to hear me now, but another man will come soon who is so great and hold that I am not good enough to untie his sandals. I am baptizing you with water in the river, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." The people marveled at John’s words

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(From Classic Bible Stories, A Family Treasury retold by Lise Caldwell (c) 1998 Standard Publishing.  Used by permission.  This book may be purchased at your local Christian Bookstore or from Standard Publishing (800-543-1301).