John the Baptist as the Forerunner of Jesus for JSS 2

Class: JSS 2
Term: First Term
Week: 8
Age: 13 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Christian Religion Studies
Topic: The baptism and temptation of Jesus
Subject Matter: The fore runner of Jesus; Mark1:1-8, Luke3:1-20
Previous Lesson: Jesus’ Obedience to His Parents and Understanding of Family

Specific Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils/students should be able to:

Cognitive Domain

• Define the term ‘forerunner’.
• Identify John the Baptist as the forerunner of Jesus.
• State the main message preached by John the Baptist.
• Recall the circumstances surrounding the baptism of Jesus.

Affective Domain

• Appreciate John the Baptist’s obedience to God’s call.
• Value the importance of humility as demonstrated by John.

Psychomotor Domain

• Locate and read the Bible passages Mark 1:1-8 and Luke 3:1-20.
• Participate actively in class discussions about John the Baptist.

Social Domain

• Discuss the importance of preparing for God’s work in one’s life.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

• 2025 Revised 9 Years Basic Education Curriculum
• Relevant State Unified Scheme of Work
• A suitable Christian Religion Studies textbook for JSS 2
• The Holy Bible

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

• Bible story book showing pictures of the baptism of Jesus.
• The Holy Bible.
• Whiteboard or blackboard.
• Markers or chalk.

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps students understand the crucial role of John the Baptist in preparing the way for Jesus Christ. It connects Old Testament prophecies with New Testament fulfillment, highlighting themes of repentance, baptism, and divine purpose. Understanding John’s ministry provides a foundational context for Jesus’ public ministry.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Students should have basic knowledge of biblical stories and an understanding of the concept of prophecy from previous lessons.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

The baptism and temptation of Jesus

John the Baptist: The Forerunner of Jesus

A forerunner is someone who goes ahead to prepare the way for another person or event. John the Baptist was the forerunner of Jesus Christ.

1. John’s Mission: His main mission was to prepare the way for the Lord, making His paths straight (Mark 1:3).
2. John’s Message: He preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Mark 1:4). He urged people to change their hearts and turn to God.
3. John’s Lifestyle: He lived in the wilderness, wore clothes made of camel’s hair, and ate locusts and wild honey (Mark 1:6).
4. John’s Description of Jesus: John stated that someone more powerful than him was coming, who would baptize with the Holy Spirit, not just with water (Mark 1:7-8; Luke 3:16).

The Baptism of Jesus

Jesus came to John at the River Jordan to be baptized by him. John initially felt unworthy to baptize Jesus, but Jesus insisted it was necessary to fulfill all righteousness (Matthew 3:13-15).

1. After Jesus was baptized, the heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in the form of a dove.
2. A voice from heaven declared, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased” (Luke 3:21-22). This affirmed Jesus’ identity and God’s approval.

The Temptation of Jesus

Immediately after His baptism, Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness for forty days, where He was tempted by Satan (Matthew 4:1-11, Luke 4:1-13).

Memory Verse

Mark 1:3 – “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'”

Bible Reading

Mark 1:1-8, Luke 3:1-20

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Explanation, Question and Answer, Bible Reading, Guided Practice.

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Activating prior knowledge

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher asks students if they know what a “forerunner” is or if they have ever prepared for an important visitor or event. The teacher then introduces the lesson topic.

Pupils’ Activity: Students respond to the questions and listen attentively to the introduction.

Learning Point: Concept of preparation

Step 2: Meaning of Forerunner

Time: 8 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Definition

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the meaning of a ‘forerunner’ and introduces John the Baptist as the forerunner of Jesus, using simple examples.

Pupils’ Activity: Students listen, ask questions for clarity, and offer their own understanding of the term.

Learning Point: Definition of forerunner

Step 3: John’s Message and Role

Time: 8 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Reading/Discussion

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads students to read Mark 1:1-8 and Luke 3:1-20 from their Bibles. The teacher then leads a discussion on John’s message of repentance and his role in preparing the way for Jesus.

Pupils’ Activity: Students read the Bible passages aloud and participate in the discussion, identifying John’s message.

Learning Point: John’s message and role

Step 4: John’s Description of Jesus

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Clarification

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains how John the Baptist humbly pointed to Jesus as the one who would baptize with the Holy Spirit, highlighting John’s humility.

Pupils’ Activity: Students listen and discuss John’s humility and his recognition of Jesus’ superiority.

Learning Point: John’s humility

Step 5: The Baptism of Jesus

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Storytelling/Visualisation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher narrates the story of Jesus’ baptism by John in the River Jordan, using the Bible storybook to show pictures. The teacher explains the significance of the Holy Spirit descending and God’s voice.

Pupils’ Activity: Students listen to the story, observe the pictures, and ask questions about the event.

Learning Point: Jesus’ baptism

Step 6: Introduction to Jesus’ Temptation

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Introduction of concept

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher briefly introduces the concept of Jesus being led into the wilderness by the Spirit immediately after His baptism, where He was tempted by Satan.

Pupils’ Activity: Students listen and understand that temptation followed baptism.

Learning Point: Temptation after baptism

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

1. Who was John the Baptist?
2. What was John’s main message?
3. Who baptized Jesus?
4. What happened immediately after Jesus’ baptism?

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Understanding John’s role

Step 8: Note-Taking

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Writing

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides pupils/students to copy the essential Board Summary notes about John the Baptist, Jesus’ baptism, and temptation into their notebooks.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils/students copy the notes carefully into their notebooks.

Learning Point: Recording lesson notes

Step 9: Conclusion

Time: 1 minute

Teaching Skill: Summarisation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher briefly reminds students of John the Baptist’s important role in preparing the way for Jesus and encourages them to always be ready for God’s work.

Pupils’ Activity: Students listen and reflect on the lesson.

Learning Point: Lesson reinforcement

Continuous Assessment/Further Study

Type: Homework

Instruction: Answer the following questions in your notebook:

1. In your own words, explain what a “forerunner” means.
2. Describe John the Baptist’s lifestyle and how it reflected his message.
3. Why do you think Jesus insisted on being baptized by John?
4. Research and write a short paragraph on what happened during Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness.

Lesson Keywords

• Forerunner – Someone who goes ahead to prepare the way for another.
• Repentance – Turning away from sin and towards God.
• Baptism – A ritual of washing with water, symbolising purification and new life.
• Holy Spirit – The third person of the Trinity, God’s active power.
• Jordan – The river where John baptized people, including Jesus.
• Temptation – An enticement to do something wrong or unwise.

Differentiation

For weaker learners, provide simplified Bible storybooks and pair them with stronger students for guided reading. For faster learners, encourage them to research and present on the Old Testament prophecies that foretold John the Baptist’s coming.

Suggested Lesson Videos

For further understanding, students can search on YouTube for:

• “John the Baptist forerunner JSS 2”
• “Baptism of Jesus for JSS 2”

Teacher Guide for Using This Lesson Plan

Before the lesson, ensure you have Bibles (or Bible storybooks) for all students or enough for group sharing. Begin by engaging students with the concept of ‘preparation’ to introduce the idea of a forerunner. Guide students to read the Bible passages actively, pausing to explain key verses and concepts. Emphasise John’s message of repentance and his humble attitude towards Jesus. When discussing Jesus’ baptism, highlight the significance of the Holy Spirit and God’s affirmation. Briefly introduce the temptation of Jesus as a subsequent event. Allow sufficient time for questions and discussions. Students should copy the Board Summary notes into their notebooks during Step 8. Check for understanding throughout the lesson by asking questions and providing immediate feedback. Encourage weaker learners with simpler language and visual aids, while challenging faster learners with additional research tasks.