Joy: John points to the light

Teacher background

The third Sunday of Advent is a Sunday of joy. In many churches the third candle on the Advent wreath is pink, and the day has an old name, Gaudete Sunday, from the Latin word that begins its ancient opening chant: “Rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4). Isaiah promises good news for the humble and “the oil of joy for mourning” (Isaiah 61:3), and Psalm 126 remembers a time when God’s people laughed and sang.

The Gospel is John 1:6–8, 19–28. The Gospel of John never calls him “the Baptist.” It gives John one job: to be a witness who points to the light. When leaders in Jerusalem send priests and Levites to ask who he is, John answers no three times. He will not claim to be the Christ, Elijah, or the prophet. He calls himself a voice and says someone greater is already among them. In this passage the Gospel’s phrase “the Jews” means the leaders in Jerusalem; John, Jesus, and all their first friends were Jewish, so the retelling below says “leaders.”

In Matthias Grünewald’s Crucifixion for the Isenheim Altarpiece (early 1500s), John stands beside the cross with a long finger pointing to Jesus. The theologian Karl Barth kept a copy of it in his study to remind himself that his own work was to point to Christ.

The main idea for children: John was glad to point to Jesus, the light, and we can share that joy too.

Welcome activity

Good news circle (5 minutes). Set an Advent wreath with battery candles, or a picture of one, in the middle of the table. Switch on the candles of hope and peace again, then the third candle. Many churches name the four candles hope, peace, joy, and love, and the third candle is often pink. Say: “Today we light the candle of joy.” If the children made paper Advent wreaths in the first lesson of this series, remind them to glue a flame on the JOY candle at home this week.

Then go around the circle. Ask each child to share one piece of good news from their week: a lost tooth, a visit from someone they love, a new pet, a good day at school. After each one, everyone says “Hooray!” and waves jazz hands. Any child may pass.

Say: “When we have good news, we want to tell everyone! Today we will meet a man named John. He had the best news of all, and he could not wait to share it.”

Telling the story

10 minutes. Open your Bible to John 1 and show the children where the story is. Then read this version aloud, or tell it in your own words. Pause where the notes in italics suggest. Before you begin, teach the children to shout “No!” each time John answers a question.

Long ago, God sent a man named John. John lived out in the wilderness. The wilderness was a wild, dry place with rocks and bushes. (Shade your eyes and look around.) John wore rough clothes made of camel hair. He ate bugs called locusts, with wild honey! (Make a funny face.)

John stood by the Jordan River and called to the crowds. “Get ready! Someone wonderful is coming!” Many people came to hear him. John baptized them in the river. (Make splashing motions.)

Soon everyone was talking about John. Leaders in the big city of Jerusalem heard about him. They sent priests and temple helpers to find him. The helpers walked a long way to the river. (Walk in place.)

They looked at John. “Who are you?” they asked.

John said, “I am not the Christ.” The Christ was the special king God had promised to send.

“Then who are you?” they asked. “Are you Elijah?” Elijah was a great prophet from long ago.

“No!” said John. (Children shout, “No!”)

“Are you the prophet we are waiting for?”

“No!” said John. (Children shout, “No!”)

The helpers scratched their heads. (Scratch your head.) “Well, who are you? We have to tell the leaders something!”

John said, “I am a voice calling out in the wilderness. Make the road straight for the Lord!” (Cup your hands around your mouth.) John meant: Get ready! God is coming. Get everything ready, like fixing the road for a special visitor.

The helpers asked one more question. “If you are not the Christ, why do you baptize people?”

John said, “I baptize with water. Someone is standing among you right now. You do not know him yet. He comes after me. He is so great that I am not worthy to untie his sandals.” (Point to your feet.)

Who was John talking about? He was talking about Jesus!

John knew his job. His job was to point. (Point far away.) The Bible says John was not the light. God sent John to tell everyone about the light. And the light was Jesus. Jesus brings God’s love to everyone, like a light shining in the dark.

Did John wish that everyone would look at him? No! John was glad to point to Jesus. Later, John said that Jesus made his joy full.

John had been joyful for a long time. Before he was even born, Mary came to visit his mother, Elizabeth. Mary was going to be the mother of Jesus. And baby John leaped for joy! (Jump once.)

So today we light the pink candle, the candle of joy. Christmas is getting close. God’s light is coming for everyone. And we can be like John. We can point to Jesus and share the good news. (Point up and smile.)

Wondering questions

5 minutes. Wondering questions have no wrong answers. Ask one at a time and give the children time to think. Welcome every answer without correcting it, and repeat back what a child says so they know you heard them.

• I wonder which part of this story you like best.
• I wonder how John felt when people kept asking, “Who are you?”
• I wonder why John was so happy to point to someone else.
• I wonder what it feels like to wait for someone you love.
• I wonder what good news makes you want to shout.
• I wonder how you could point someone to God’s light this week.

After the wondering questions, play the quiz on the slides, or ask the questions aloud and let the children call out the answers.

Craft: a joy lantern

10 minutes. Each child makes a paper lantern to remember that Jesus is the light John pointed to.

You will need a sheet of yellow or pink construction paper and a paper strip about 1 by 6 inches for each child, crayons or markers, pencils, rulers, safety scissors, and tape. Battery tea lights make a nice extra. Use battery lights only, never real candles.

1. Decorate one side of the paper with stars, hearts, and the words “Jesus is the light!”
2. Fold the paper in half the long way, with the colored side out.
3. Draw a line about 1 inch from the open edges. Help children who need it.
4. Cut straight slits from the fold up to the line, about 1 inch apart. Stop at the line each time.
5. Unfold the paper. Roll it into a tube so the short edges meet, and tape them together.
6. Tape the paper strip across the top for a handle. Set a battery tea light inside if you have one.

When everyone is done, dim the lights a little and let the children hold up their lanterns. Say together: “Jesus is the light!”

Game: shine the light

7 minutes. Before class, tape 8 to 10 paper stars around the room, some high and some low, where the children can see them. Write “Jesus” on one star. Gather the children in a circle on the floor, and dim the lights a little. Leave enough light on for everyone to see.

1. Give the flashlight to the first child.
2. The child shines the light on any star. Everyone points to it and says, “Get ready!”
3. The child passes the flashlight to the next person in the circle.
4. When someone finds the Jesus star, everyone shouts, “Jesus is the light!” While the children cover their eyes, move that star to a new spot.
5. Keep going until everyone has had a turn.

Everyone stays seated, and the flashlight points only at walls and stars, never at anyone’s eyes. The game has no winners; everyone cheers for every find.

Memory verse

3 minutes. Teach the memory verse with motions. Explain that many Bibles print “LORD” in capital letters where the Hebrew has God’s own name.

The LORD has done great things for us, and we are glad.

Psalm 126:3

• “The LORD”: point up.
• “has done great things”: spread your arms wide.
• “for us”: hug yourself.
• “and we are glad”: smile big and wave jazz hands.

Say the verse together softly, then louder, then with your biggest smile. The memory verse coloring page lets children color the words in bubble letters.

Snack idea

Optional. Serve a sunshine snack: clementine or orange slices and star-shaped crackers. Check for food allergies before class, and serve water or juice. As you eat, invite each child to name one thing that makes them glad.

Closing prayer

Ask the children to fold their hands or hold their lanterns. Read each line and let them repeat it after you.

Dear God,
thank you for John,
who pointed to the light.
Thank you for Jesus,
the light for everyone.
Fill us with joy,
and help us share it
wherever we go.
Amen.

Take-home note for families

Send this note home with the lanterns and the activity sheets. It also prints by itself on the printables page.

Today in Sunday school

Today was the third Sunday of Advent, the Sunday of joy, when many churches light a pink candle. Your child heard the story of John the Baptist (John 1:6–8, 19–28). When leaders asked John who he was, he said he was a voice calling, “Get ready!” John was glad to point everyone to Jesus, the light who brings God’s love to all.

Talk about it

• What good news made you happy this week?
• Why do you think John was so glad to point to Jesus?
• Who helps you see God’s love?

Try this at home

Put the joy lantern on your table. Each evening this week, turn on a lamp or a battery candle at dinner, and take turns naming one thing that made you glad today.

Pray together

Dear God, thank you for the joy of Advent. Help us point to your light and share your love. Amen.

Adapting for younger or older children

Younger children (ages 4 to 6). Tell the story with a flashlight in your hand, and let the children shout “No!” to each question. Skip the crossword and the word search, and use the maze and the coloring pages. Cut the lantern slits ahead of time, or let the children decorate a paper star instead. Teach only the memory verse motions.

Older children (ages 10 to 12). Read John 1:6–8 and 19–28 together from a Bible, taking turns. Then read Isaiah 61:1–3 and Luke 4:16–21, where Jesus reads the same words from Isaiah in his hometown. Talk about what a witness does, and who has pointed them toward God. Use the crossword without the word bank, and invite them to write a short news report announcing that the light is coming.