Suggested Lesson Development

Attention Activity

As appropriate, use the following activity or one of your own to begin the lesson.

Write the following on the chalkboard, and ask class members if they know what it says:


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Explain that this is the Hebrew word Messiah, which means anointed. The Jews had waited centuries for the coming of the Messiah, who, according to prophecy, would be their anointed King and Deliverer. The Greek word for Messiah is Christ. Jesus Christ was the long-awaited Messiah, and John the Baptist was the prophet sent to prepare the way for him.

Scripture Discussion and Application

Discuss how the teachings in the following scripture passages can help us draw nearer to the Savior. Because it would be difficult to ask every question or cover every point in the lesson, prayerfully select those that will best meet class members’ needs.

1. John the Baptist prepares the way of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Read and discuss Matthew 3:1–12. Display the picture of John preaching, and share the following background information in your own words:

Centuries before John’s birth, many prophets foresaw his ministry and testified of his greatness as the one who would prepare the way for the Messiah (Isaiah 40:3; 1 Nephi 10:7–10). In preparation for John’s ministry, the angel Gabriel announced John’s forthcoming birth (Luke 1:13–19), Zacharias prophesied on the day of John’s naming and circumcision (Luke 1:67–79), and an angel ordained eight-day-old John to his mission (D&C 84:27–28). The crowning statement of John’s greatness came from the Savior himself, who said, “Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist” (Luke 7:28).

John was born about six months before Jesus. Shortly after Jesus’ birth, Herod, feeling threatened by the announcement that a new king of the Jews had been born, “slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under” (Matthew 2:16). To protect Jesus, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and directed him to take Jesus and Mary to Egypt (Matthew 2:13–15). To protect John, “Zacharias caused [Elisabeth] to take him into the mountains, where he was raised on locusts and wild honey” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 261). John began his public ministry many years later, first preaching in the wilderness and then in Jerusalem and “all the region round about Jordan” (Matthew 3:5).

2. Jesus is baptized by John the Baptist.

Read and discuss Matthew 3:13–17. Display the picture of John baptizing Jesus.

3. Jesus withstands Satan’s temptations in the wilderness.

Read and discuss Matthew 4:1–11 (see also the footnotes to Matthew 4:1–2, 5–6, 8–9, and Matthew 4:11, which contain the Joseph Smith Translation of these verses).

4. Some of John the Baptist’s disciples decide to follow Jesus.

Read and discuss selected verses from John 1:35–51.

Conclusion

Testify that the invitation to “come and see” the Savior is extended to each of us. Explain that we can accept that invitation by repenting, being baptized, keeping our baptismal covenants, and withstanding temptation.