John the Baptist - Bible story for kids

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Even before John was a baby, his parents knew God had a special plan for him. Zachariah and Elizabeth were too old to have a baby. His birth was a miracle. He was Jesus’s cousin.
Zachariah and Elizabeth were good parents and taught John what it meant to obey God.
They thought, when he was old enough, John would also become a priest.
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But God had a special mission for John.
Instead of working at the temple as a priest, he moved to the desert.
He wore clothes made from camel’s hair. He ate locusts and wild honey (Matthew 3:4).
He began to preach an important message.
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John taught people they needed to repent.
Many people came to listen to him.
Some people thought he was crazy. Some religious people told him off.
But others believed his message and repented of their sins.
They said sorry for the bad things they have done and began to obey God.
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John baptised them in the Jordan River.
It was a way to show they really meant what they said.
It was like washing the bad things away.
Many people repented of their sins and were baptised by John.
John was preparing the way for Jesus.