The children are all gathered for Sunday School to begin. 

“Today we will talk about John the Baptist.” said the SCS Teacher.  “Do any of you know who John was?” 

Elizabeth said “I figure from his name that he must have baptized a lot of people.”

“That’s right.” said the SCS Teacher.  “John DID baptize a lot of people.  He came to prepare the way  for . . . ”

At that very moment the door to the SCS room burst open and in rushed Running Chairs.  “Like, you know, I’m late but it is because my cousins are coming and like my mommy had to prepare everything and daddy needed to gather some hay and I had to you know, clean up the barn and then the cows next door to us you know, they were getting to be a problem so daddy had to go talk to them about it and our cousins coming and all and they live far away and this is a special time you know cause my mommy said so like we all have to prepare and that is why I am late. Sorry!”

The Sunday School Teacher used Running Chairs interruption as an example of preparation.  “Preparation for someone coming IS important isn’t it, class?  Do any of you know WHO John the Baptist was preparing for?”

There was a long pause.  Finally Barabas said “Us?” 

“Not quite.” said the Sunday School Teacher.  “Anyone else have a guess?”   Haman raised his hand.  “Jesus?”

“That is exactly right.”  Then the Sunday School Teacher explained how is was that John the Baptist came to “Prepare the Way” for Jesus. 

It is kind of like Running Chairs family who are preparing for company.  Her family is making sure the barn is in order and that food is prepared and that the cows next door are on their best behavior. 

The preparations that John made were a bit different.  Instead of asking the people he baptized to clean up their HOUSES, he asked them to clean up their HEARTS.  Then the people were ready to listen to The Word of God, Jesus, with their HEART.  In that way, God changed the world for the better, when He sent  His son Jesus and people listened with their hearts.

Aiden Christopher’s mommy and daddy have brought him to church this morning that he might be baptized.  Perhaps even now, as a tiny baby, Aiden is already listening to God with his heart!

The baby John the Baptist grew up and changed the world for the better by baptizing people and preparing the way for Jesus! 

Little babies have a way of growing up to be big kids like YOU.

You just never know what YOU may grow up to be.

“I think God has wonderful plans for you.” said the Sunday School Teacher to her class.  And then, it seemed to Barabas that The Sunday School Teacher looked directly at him when she finished by saying “God may already be using YOU to change the world for the better!”

Indeed, God may already be using YOU to change the world for the better!

THE END

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