The Baptism of Jesus for JSS 2

Class: JSS 2
Term: First Term
Week: 9
Age: 13 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Christian Religion Studies
Topic: The baptism and temptation of Jesus
Subject Matter: The baptism of Jesus: Matthew3:13-17,; Mark1:9-11, Luke3:21-22
Previous Lesson: John the Baptist as the

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain

• Recount the story of Jesus’ baptism from the Bible.
• Identify the key figures involved in Jesus’ baptism.
• State the biblical passages that describe Jesus’ baptism.

Affective Domain

• Appreciate the significance of Jesus’ baptism as an act of obedience.
• Recognise God’s affirmation of Jesus as His Son.

Social Domain

• Discuss the importance of baptism in Christian 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 HeadTeacher Scheme of work

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

• The Holy Bible
• Bible storybook or drawing showing pictures on the baptism of Jesus

Rationale for the Lesson

Understanding the baptism of Jesus is fundamental to Christian doctrine, as it marks the beginning of His public ministry and reveals His divine identity. This lesson helps students grasp a core event in Jesus’ life, fostering a deeper appreciation for His mission and relationship with God the Father and the Holy Spirit.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Students should have prior knowledge of basic Bible stories and the concept of John the Baptist’s ministry of repentance.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

The Baptism of Jesus

The baptism of Jesus is a significant event recorded in the Gospels, marking the beginning of His public ministry. It demonstrates His obedience to God and His identification with humanity.

Biblical Accounts of Jesus’ Baptism

The baptism of Jesus is described in three of the four Gospels:

1. Matthew 3:13-17: Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan River to be baptised. John initially hesitated, feeling unworthy, but Jesus insisted it was to fulfill all righteousness. After Jesus was baptised, the heavens opened, the Spirit of God descended like a dove, and a voice from heaven declared, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
2. Mark 1:9-11: Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptised by John in the Jordan. Immediately, as He came up out of the water, He saw the heavens torn open and the Spirit descending on Him like a dove. A voice came from heaven, saying, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
3. Luke 3:21-22: After all the people had been baptised, and as Jesus also had been baptised and was praying, heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in bodily form, like a dove. A voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

Key Elements of Jesus’ Baptism

1. The Baptiser: John the Baptist, who was preaching a baptism of repentance.
2. The Location: The Jordan River.
3. Jesus’ Purpose: To fulfill all righteousness and identify with humanity.
4. Divine Manifestation: The heavens opened, the Holy Spirit descended like a dove, and God’s voice affirmed Jesus as His beloved Son.

Significance and Moral Lessons

1. Obedience: Jesus’ baptism shows His obedience to God’s will.
2. Identification: He identified with humanity, even though He was sinless.
3. Affirmation: God publicly affirmed Jesus as His Son, endorsing His ministry.
4. Revelation of the Trinity: The event reveals God the Father (voice), God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit (dove) working together.
5. Example for Believers: It serves as an example for Christians to follow in baptism.

Memory Verse

Matthew 3:17: “And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.'”

Bible Reading

Matthew 3:13-17

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Explanation, Guided Reading, Question and Answer

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Recalling/Engaging

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the students and reviews the previous lesson briefly. The teacher then introduces the new topic by asking students what they know about baptism or John the Baptist.

Students’ Activity: Students respond to questions and share their prior knowledge.

Learning Point: Prior knowledge activation

Step 2: Introduction to Jesus’ Baptism

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explaining/Setting Context

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains that Jesus, though sinless, chose to be baptised by John the Baptist. The teacher introduces the biblical accounts that will be studied.

Students’ Activity: Students listen attentively and ask clarifying questions.

Learning Point: Introduction to topic

Step 3: Reading Matthew’s Account

Time: 8 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Reading

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides students to open their Bibles to Matthew 3:13-17. The teacher selects a few students to read the verses aloud, ensuring clear pronunciation and understanding.

Students’ Activity: Students locate the passage in their Bibles and read the verses as instructed.

Learning Point: Matthew’s account reading

Step 4: Discussing Matthew’s Account

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Discussion/Explanation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads a discussion on the key events in Matthew’s account: Jesus’ request to John, John’s hesitation, the descent of the Holy Spirit, and God’s voice. The teacher explains the meaning of “to fulfill all righteousness.”

Students’ Activity: Students participate in the discussion, explaining what they understood from the reading.

Learning Point: Matthew’s account understanding

Step 5: Reading Mark and Luke’s Accounts

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Comparative Reading

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides students to read Mark 1:9-11 and Luke 3:21-22, highlighting the similarities and any unique details in each account.

Students’ Activity: Students read the passages and note similarities and differences.

Learning Point: Mark and Luke’s accounts

Step 6: Significance and Moral Lessons

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Application/Moralising

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher discusses the significance of Jesus’ baptism, including its meaning for obedience, identification with humanity, and the revelation of the Trinity. The teacher also introduces the memory verse.

Students’ Activity: Students contribute to the discussion and repeat the memory verse.

Learning Point: Baptism significance and lessons

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 baptised Jesus?
2. Where was Jesus baptised?
3. What happened immediately after Jesus was baptised?
4. State one significance of Jesus’ baptism.

Students’ Activity: Students answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Understanding of Jesus’ baptism

Step 8: Note-Taking

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Writing

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides students to copy the essential Board Summary notes on the baptism of Jesus into their notebooks.

Students’ Activity: Students copy the notes carefully into their notebooks.

Learning Point: Recording lesson notes

Step 9: Conclusion

Time: 2 minutes

Teaching Skill: Summarising

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher briefly summarises the main points of the lesson, reinforcing that Jesus’ baptism was a pivotal moment demonstrating His obedience and divine identity. The teacher encourages students to reflect on the meaning of baptism.

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

Learning Point: Lesson consolidation

Continuous Assessment/Further Study

Type: Homework

Instruction: Answer the following questions in your notebook:

1. Explain why John the Baptist initially hesitated to baptise Jesus.
2. Describe what happened when Jesus came up from the water after His baptism, according to the Gospels.
3. Write out the memory verse for this lesson.

Lesson Keywords

• Baptism – A Christian rite of admission and adoption, almost invariably with the use of water.
• John the Baptist – The prophet who baptised Jesus in the Jordan River.
• Holy Spirit – The third person of the Trinity, who descended like a dove upon Jesus at His baptism.
• Jordan River – The river where John the Baptist performed baptisms, including that of Jesus.

Differentiation

For students who struggle, provide a simplified Bible storybook or paraphrase the biblical accounts in simpler language. Encourage them to focus on identifying the main characters and events. For advanced learners, challenge them to compare and contrast the different Gospel accounts of Jesus’ baptism, noting subtle differences in emphasis or detail.

Suggested Lesson Videos

For visual reinforcement, search on YouTube for: baptism of Jesus JSS 2 CRS

Teacher Guide for Using This Lesson Plan

Before the lesson, ensure you have multiple copies of the Holy Bible or a Bible storybook available for students. Prepare visual aids such as a drawing or picture depicting Jesus’ baptism to help engage students. Guide students through reading the biblical passages, encouraging them to identify the key events and characters. Facilitate a discussion on the significance of the baptism, focusing on Jesus’ obedience, identification with humanity, and the manifestation of the Holy Trinity. Ensure students understand that the Board Summary should be copied into their notebooks during the designated note-taking time. Pay attention to students’ understanding during the evaluation phase and provide additional explanations where necessary. Encourage all students to participate in discussions and reading activities.