Mark 1:1-13 — Jesus Is God’s Son & Our King
Main Idea: God sent John to get people ready because Jesus, his Son, was coming to save the world.
Key Memory Verse: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased” (Mark 1:11).
Target Audience: Ages 5–9
The Story Explained
1. Mark Tells Us the Big News: Jesus Is God’s Son (v. 1)
The very first sentence in Mark’s book tells us the whole point: Jesus is God’s Son, and this is the Good News! This first verse is like the title of the whole book—it tells us who Jesus is from the very beginning. When you read Mark, you are reading the story of God’s Son.
2. God Promised Long Ago to Send Someone to Prepare the Way (vv. 2–3)
Before Jesus came, God had already made promises in Scripture. He said he would send a messenger to help people get ready. Mark uses God’s promises from Exodus, Malachi, and Isaiah to explain that John the Baptizer is this special messenger. God always keeps his promises.
3. John the Baptizer Prepares the People (vv. 4–8)
John lived in the desert. He wore camel’s hair and a leather belt. He ate bugs and honey! He told everyone: “Turn back to God! Be baptized! A greater One is coming!”
People came from everywhere to confess their sins and be baptized. John said: “I baptize you with water, but Jesus will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
John was like Elijah—a prophet who helped people turn their hearts back to God. John’s job was to help people get ready for Jesus.
4. Jesus Comes to Be Baptized (vv. 9–11)
Jesus came from a small town called Nazareth. He didn’t look fancy or important—he blended in with the crowd. But when Jesus was baptized, something amazing happened:
The sky tore open
The Holy Spirit came down on Jesus like a gentle dove
God’s voice said, “You are my Son. I love you. I am pleased with you.”
Only Jesus saw the sky tear open, and the voice spoke directly to him—this showed Jesus who he truly was. Jesus is God’s Son, and God is delighted with him.
5. The Spirit Sends Jesus into the Desert (vv. 12–13)
Right after his baptism, the Holy Spirit sent Jesus into the desert. There, Jesus stayed for 40 days. He was tempted by Satan, surrounded by wild animals, and cared for by angels.
This shows Jesus entering a battle with evil—and winning. He is the stronger One John talked about. Jesus fights evil and never loses.
Applications
1. God Always Keeps His Promises
Long ago, God made promises to his people. He promised to send a messenger to get people ready. He promised to send his Son to save the world. And God did exactly what he promised. God never forgets what he says. He never breaks a promise. When God makes a promise, he always keeps it.
God also makes promises to you. He promises to love you. He promises to be with you. He promises to help you. Even when things feel confusing or hard, you can trust God. Because God always keeps his promises—every single one.
2. Get Your Heart Ready for Jesus
John helped people get ready for Jesus by telling them to turn back to God. That means he told them to change their hearts and choose God’s way. Kids can get their hearts ready too. You get your heart ready for Jesus when you:
Pray and talk to God
Listen when the Bible is read
Obey your parents and teachers
Say “I’m sorry” when you mess up
Getting your heart ready doesn’t mean being perfect. It means wanting to follow God and learn from Jesus. Every time you pray, listen, and obey, your heart becomes more ready for Jesus—and that makes God very happy.
3. Jesus Understands Hard Things
Jesus went into a lonely desert all by himself. He was hungry, tired, and tempted to do the wrong thing. That was very hard—but Jesus stayed strong and trusted God. Because Jesus went through hard things, he understands when you go through hard things too.
Sometimes you might feel lonely, left out, tempted to do something you know is wrong, or feel upset or confused. Jesus knows how that feels. He does not get mad at you for struggling. He wants to help you. When something feels hard, you can talk to Jesus and ask for help. He gives you strength, courage, and the help you need to choose what is right. You are never alone in hard moments—Jesus understands, and he is always ready to help you.
4. Jesus Is God’s Son, and You Can Follow Him
When Jesus was baptized, God spoke from heaven and said he loved him and was pleased with him. That shows us something very important: Jesus is God’s Son, and God delights in him. When you choose to follow Jesus, you are choosing to walk the same loving path. You follow Jesus when you:
Try to do what is right
Listen to what God says
Show kindness to others
Say “I’m sorry” and try again
You don’t have to be perfect to follow Jesus. God knows you are learning and growing. Every time you choose to follow Jesus, God smiles. He is happy with your heart and your effort. Following Jesus helps you grow closer to God, and that is the best path you can walk.
Discussion Questions
Why did God send John before Jesus came?
What happened when Jesus was baptized?
Why did Jesus go into the desert?
How does knowing Jesus is God’s Son help you trust him?
What is one way you can “prepare your heart” for Jesus today?