About This Lesson Plan on St. John the Baptist
This Cry Out lesson plan on St. John the Baptist will help youth understand who this prophet was and the role he played in making the way for Jesus.
Opening Game for Cry Out
Start by playing Noisy Circle Game. In this game people try to deliver information in a loud environment, see Noisy Circle Game.
Follow up with a couple of questions:
- How did the noise of others impact your ability to hear your partner?
- Were there any methods you could use to help you communicate?
Our world is full of noise and distractions. This can make it difficult to hear and deliver the message of Jesus Christ. This was true in the days when Jesus walked the earth also. Many people were too distracted by the noise of life to hear his message. So God sent someone to break through the noise.
Scripture Reading for Cry Out
Read the Gospel:
Luke 3:1-6 (St. John the Baptist is a voice in the wilderness) - the Gospel Reading for the 2nd Sunday in Advent – Year C
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert.
John went throughout the whole region of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah:
A voice of one crying out in the desert:
“Prepare the way of the Lord,
Luke 3:1-6
make straight his paths.
Every valley shall be filled
and every mountain and hill shall be made low.
The winding roads shall be made straight,
and the rough ways made smooth,
and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”
Discussion about St. John the Baptist
We tend to think of St. John the Baptist as a crazy man, like someone out of a good story. Long hair and strange clothes. Out in the desert living on locusts and honey. But his life had a purpose.
The first part of the Gospel makes it clear that St. John the Baptist was a real person. This is not a fairy tale. He lived in a specific time, when specific rulers were in charge. He had real parents. And he lived in a specific place.
God chose this one man for a mission. He had sent His beloved Son into the world, and John was selected to be a person who cried out in the desert. This was the moment John was born for. He was to prepare the way for Jesus.
And he wasn't supposed to do it halfheartedly. He was to cry out and boldly proclaim the coming of the Lord to everyone he encountered. Everyone needed to be ready to hear the Good News.
Like St. John the Baptist, God has a mission for us. Right here and right now. We are living in a time and place where somebody needs to be ready to encounter Jesus.
We don't have to go out to the desert or wear crazy clothes or let our hair go wild. But we do need to be bold. We might need to say "no" when someone asks us to do something we shouldn't. Or we might be called to invite one of our friends to join us at Mass. There are opportunities in our lives to help those around us see Jesus.
You might find yourself in the right time and place to do that today. Recognize God's hand in that. And then cry out "Here comes Jesus!"
Reflection Questions for Cry Out
- Have you ever had an opportunity when you felt like you were in the right time and place to encounter Jesus? What did you do?
- What makes it difficult to be bold in spreading the Good News?
- Are there ways we can support each other when we need encouragement to speak up and say the right thing?
Challenge for this Lesson Plan on St. John the Baptist
This week, be on the lookout for opportunities to spread the Gospel. At some point, you will be where you should be to do that. When it happens, seize the opportunity, big or small, and point someone in the right direction to encounter our Lord.
Prayer
Conclude by praying the Litany of St. John the Baptist.
Related Resources
Litany of St. John the Baptist
A litany is a prayer which includes requests and repetition. Usually a leader says the first part of a line and everyone responds with the second part.
Noisy Circle – A Listening Game
This listening game will teach youth how hard it is to hear above the din.
Five Quotes to Bring you Closer to Saint John the Baptist
The words of St. John the Baptist can help us know Jesus the man better.
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