For Day 2, we won’t be adding a new section to our memory verses. Instead, we’ll stick with what we started on day one.
This gives us a chance to really solidify in our minds what we have so far. See if your children remember it without you having to remind them what it is. If they don’t, that’s okay! Just keep reading it every day.
Only my 6 year old remembered it today with no help. Given the prompt, “In the beginning…” my 5 year old remembered, “…was the Word.” Then she had no trouble repeating to back to me. My 3 year old refused to even repeat it when I asked her to, which is par for the course for my most stubborn child. I didn’t push the issue. It causes more trouble than it’s worth, and I think that’s her plan so I’m try not to indulge her. By day 25 she’ll remember some of it, right? Surely? I’ll let you know.
“In the beginning was the Word…”
Here’s today’s scripture reading:
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.
John 1:6-10, NIV
We’re still in the Gospel of John, so we’re still dealing with that poetic language. Today we are introduced to John the Baptist.
We could have skipped the verses about John, but the Apostle John (I know, two Johns! It gets a little confusing) included it in his version of the gospel and Luke also included him in his version, which we will also read. If John the Baptist was important enough to make it into both of these accounts, then he’s important enough for me to keep him in there.
What should you teach them?
Here is what I tell my children:
- There was a man named John who was sent by God to tell the world about Jesus.
- We call him John the Baptist because he was baptizing people. (I’ve heard John Baptizer or John the Baptizer too, so you call him whatever you are used to calling him)
- John the Baptist was sent to prepare the people to hear and accept Jesus’ message. He was a helper whose job was to help people believe in Jesus.
- John the Baptist was someone who knew that Jesus was coming and who understood that he was the light of the world. However, John the Baptist was not, himself, the light of the world.
- Jesus is the true light of the world.
- Jesus, the Word of God who made the world, was now in the world as a man. He chose to be born into the world He had made as a human person.
- Even after all of those things, did the world recognize Jesus as the light of the world and the creator of the world? (The answer is no, it’s the last part of the last verse. *wink*)
- The Bible and Christians often refer to “the world,” and they don’t mean every single person. Often what is being talked about is the fallen world. So even though many people did, and do recognize Jesus as the light of the world, there are many who do not. Tomorrow’s verses go into this more.
- This is a good time to say a prayer! Say whatever is on your heart. A good place to start is asking Jesus to open our hearts and minds so that we may see the light and know Jesus! Don’t let us be like the world that didn’t recognize Him. My children weren’t as willing to lead the prayer today as they were yesterday. That’s okay! Every day is different. Today I said one out loud on behalf of all of us.