Jesus' Baptism and Children's Ministry

Depending on our denomination and theology, baptism looks very different and can mean very different things to us. Some of us sprinkle, some immerse or dunk. Some of us baptize babies and some wait until a young person is old enough to choose for themselves.

I don’t want to get caught up in these differences, because it is the similarities that bind us together as God’s children. What is important for us as educators is to know, understand and communicate what our church has to say about this holy sacrament, this touchstone in the journey, this opportunity to experience God’s grace.

As I prepared to preach about Jesus’ baptism last Sunday, I was once again amazed at God’s provision. In his shoes, I would probably have felt like John the Baptist – agog that the Messiah, the one I had been telling people about as the Holy Lamb of God, showed up and wanted me to baptize Him just like everyone else. Really? The Word made flesh needs me to do this for Him? But Jesus was right – in front of all those naysayer Pharisees, Sadducees and skeptics, God finished preparing the way for His ministry. He was named, He was washed clean to be the high priest and to therefore be able to take the place for our sin, and He was called God’s beloved Son. There was no grey area here – it was pretty clear who He was.

I find this amazing. My own baptism happened before I was two, so I have no memory of it. What I do know is that not only was I joined to God’s family officially through that moment, but I was also joined to Jesus through common baptism. Not only was I washed clean and claimed by God, but just like Jesus I was named and loved. In front of my faith community, I was presented and cherished. This is true for all of us, regardless of at what age we are baptized.

For children, baptism can be a tricky concept. It’s hard to wrap our heads around original sin and how a tiny baby could be sinful. But, joining God’s family in a special way is something they can understand. Washing away anything bad that stands between God and us is something they can grasp. New beginnings are something they know about. Even God’s grace – that baptism is about God moving towards us first and not about anything we’ve done to earn God’s love – is something powerful.

In some baptism liturgies we are told to remember our baptisms and to be grateful. This can be hard to do if you were a baby! Encourage your kids to find out if they’ve been baptized. If not, talk to the parents and see if this is a possibility. If yes, challenge them to find out when it happened and who was there that they could talk to about it. Have them ask questions, look at photos, check out the church’s the baptismal registry, and look at the bulletin for that day and their official certificate. Help to make the event real to them. Also encourage parents to maintain relationships with any God-parents.

For those who will be baptized, I love the trend of not just giving the parents a toddler Bible and certificate but also a baptismal candle. The candle is to be lit on the anniversary of their baptism each year to remind them of this special day in their journey with God.

It is important that we celebrate these milestones. It is important that we praise God that this is not just a one-time event of washing clean, but that we are offered new beginnings each morning. Baptism reminds us of the lengths God will go to bring us close, and to join us to the community of faith to guide and nurture us. Wow!

So celebrate! Put up a bulletin board with baptism photos, cut out or create baptism symbols to hand out to people to keep (clear or blue glass beads are a nice small remember that can be kept in a pocket), and gather at the font to remember the mystery of God’s presence with us. Go and get splashed! And remember that you are God’s beloved.