Jesus’ Splashy River Baptism : Hey, kids! This is a super splashy story about Jesus getting baptized in a river! It’s got his wild cousin John, a dove, and a big voice from the sky. Let’s jump in!
John’s River Job
John the Baptist was busy by the Jordan River. He wore his fuzzy camel-hair shirt and ate bugs and honey. People came from everywhere. “Splash me!” they said. John dunked them in the water. “Get ready for someone special!” he shouted.
Jesus Shows Up
One sunny day, Jesus walked down to the river. He wasn’t a kid anymore—he was all grown up! John was his cousin, so they were buddies. “Hey, John!” Jesus said. “Baptize me, please!” John’s jaw dropped. “You? You’re the special one!” he said.
A Little Argument
John scratched his head. “I should be baptized by you!” he said. Jesus smiled. “Nope, it’s okay! Let’s do it God’s way!” he said. John shrugged. “Alright, if you say so!” he said. They stepped into the water. It splashed around their feet.
The Big Dunk
John put his hands on Jesus. “Here we go!” he said. Splash! Jesus went under the water. Bubbles popped up. Then he came up, all wet and shiny. The sun sparkled on him. He grinned big. The crowd watched. Something cool was about to happen!
A Sky Surprise
Right then, the sky did something wild! It opened up—like a big window! A bright light shone down. A dove flew out—flap, flap! It wasn’t just any bird—it was God’s Spirit! It floated down and hovered by Jesus. “Wow!” everyone said.
God’s Loud Voice
Then—BOOM!—a huge voice came from the sky. “This is my Son!” it said. “I love him tons, and I’m so proud!” It was God talking! The crowd gasped. Kids pointed. “Did you hear that?” they whispered. John clapped. “I knew it!” he cheered.
A Happy Moment
Jesus stepped out of the water. He glowed with joy. The dove flew away. The sky closed up. People rubbed their eyes. “That was amazing!” they said. John hugged Jesus. “You’re the one I’ve been waiting for!” he said. The river felt extra special now.
Talking About It
The crowd buzzed. “Who is he?” they asked. John said, “He’s God’s Son—here to help us!” People ran home to tell their friends. “We saw a dove and heard God!” they shouted. Jesus smiled. He was ready for big things!
Summary for Kids
So, kids, Jesus got baptized by his cousin John in the river. God sent a dove and a loud voice to say, “That’s my boy!” It was a wet, wild day that showed Jesus was super special!
Would you cheer like John? What would you say after the dove flew down?
Read More: John the Baptist’s Wild River Party