John the Baptist for Kids (St. John the Baptist Story + Wild Honey Cake)
In this Juice Box episode, kids bake a Wild Honey Cake while they learn about St. John the Baptist, why he lived simply, how he helped people get ready for Jesus, and what it means for kids to do the same with love and honesty. A fun cooking episode that teaches John the Baptist for kids while you bake a Wild Honey Cake, so kids remember who John was, what he did, and how to “point to Jesus” in everyday life.
Who's John the Baptist and What Does He Teach Kids About Jesus
St. John the Baptist lived in the wilderness and helped people get ready for Jesus. The Bible tells us that John wore simple clothing and ate simple food, locusts and wild honey, and this episode uses a Wild Honey Cake to make his story easy to remember.
As the cake comes together, kids learn John’s mission: he told people to repent, which means turn away from sin and come back to God. He wasn’t trying to be famous. He was humble and helped everyone recognize Jesus as the Savior, pointing Him out as “the Lamb of God.”
For kids, John the Baptist’s story shows that you don’t need to be loud to be holy. You can point others to Jesus by loving your family, being honest, forgiving quickly, and choosing what is good.
Key Takeaways
- St. John the Baptist is a key saint because he helped people get ready for Jesus before Jesus began His public ministry.
- John lived simply in the desert and showed that holiness isn’t about fancy stuff, it’s about a heart focused on God.
- John preached repentance, which means turning away from sin, doing what’s right, and coming back to God.
- John pointed people to Jesus (not to himself) and helped them recognize Jesus as “the Lamb of God.”
- The Wild Honey Cake connects to John’s simple life and helps kids remember that preparing a “recipe” is like preparing your heart.
- The moral is clear: we can “be like John” by living with humility and pointing to Jesus through love, honesty, forgiveness, and good choices.
Episode Summary
Dilly kicks off with a hilarious question: “Have you ever heard of someone eating bugs and honey?” (No, thank you.) Then the episode pivots to something much better: baking a Wild Honey Cake, using a recipe from the Word on Fire Kids cookbook.
As kids measure, mix, and wait for the cake to bake, they learn about St. John the Baptist for kids in a way that actually sticks. John lived in the wilderness, wore simple clothes, and ate simple food, locusts and wild honey, and this simple life helped people take his message seriously.
But the biggest thing about John isn’t his desert lifestyle, it’s his mission. John’s job was to help people prepare for Jesus. He told them to repent, which means turning away from sin and coming back to God.
And when Jesus appeared, John didn’t try to take the spotlight. John was a witness. He came to point to the Light, not to be the light himself, so others could recognize Jesus as the Savior.
The episode ends with a practical takeaway: you might not live in the wilderness, but you can still point people to Jesus by loving your family, being honest, forgiving others, and choosing what is good. And yes, you get cake.
Episode Highlights
Transcript
[00:00:04 --> 00:00:05] Ew.
[00:00:05 --> 00:00:07] That might sound a little strange,
[00:00:07 --> 00:00:10] but I promise today we're making something much tastier.
[00:00:10 --> 00:00:12] Wild honey cake.
[00:00:12 --> 00:00:15] This recipe comes from the "Word on Fire Kids Cookbook,"
[00:00:15 --> 00:00:18] and it helps us remember a very important saint,
[00:00:18 --> 00:00:20] St. John the Baptist.
[00:00:20 --> 00:00:23] John lived in the wilderness, ate simple food,
[00:00:23 --> 00:00:26] and helped people get ready for Jesus.
[00:00:26 --> 00:00:28] So grab your grownup, wash your hands,
[00:00:28 --> 00:00:30] and let's get baking.
[00:00:30 --> 00:00:31] Juice Box.
[00:00:32 --> 00:00:33] (child laughing)
[00:00:33 --> 00:00:35] Here's everything we need
[00:00:35 --> 00:00:36] for our wild honey cake.
[00:00:37 --> 00:00:39] Flour, baking powder,
[00:00:39 --> 00:00:42] eggs, butter, salt,
[00:00:42 --> 00:00:46] and your favorite fruits to place on top at the end.
[00:00:46 --> 00:00:48] We're not going to need locust today,
[00:00:48 --> 00:00:51] but honey is the star of this cake.
[00:00:51 --> 00:00:56] The Bible tells us John ate wild honey in the wilderness.
[00:00:56 --> 00:01:00] This cake is a fun way to remember John's simple life,
[00:01:00 --> 00:01:01] and his special mission.
[00:01:03 --> 00:01:05] The church celebrates
[00:01:05 --> 00:01:07] the nativity of St. John the Baptist
[00:01:07 --> 00:01:09] every year on June 24th.
[00:01:10 --> 00:01:12] That means we celebrate his birthday.
[00:01:13 --> 00:01:15] And John's birthday is extra special
[00:01:15 --> 00:01:19] because God gave him a very important job.
[00:01:20 --> 00:01:22] John the Baptist was Jesus's cousin.
[00:01:23 --> 00:01:25] Before Jesus began teaching
[00:01:25 --> 00:01:26] and healing people,
[00:01:26 --> 00:01:30] John was already helping everyone get ready.
[00:01:30 --> 00:01:34] He told people to turn away from sin and come back to God.
[00:01:36 --> 00:01:38] John lived out in the wilderness.
[00:01:38 --> 00:01:40] He did not live in a palace.
[00:01:41 --> 00:01:43] He did not wear fancy clothes.
[00:01:43 --> 00:01:47] The Bible tells us he wore clothes made of camel's hair,
[00:01:47 --> 00:01:48] and ate locusts,
[00:01:48 --> 00:01:49] which are bugs,
[00:01:49 --> 00:01:51] and wild honey.
[00:01:52 --> 00:01:56] He was telling people, "Get ready, Jesus is coming."
[00:01:56 --> 00:02:00] John wanted people to prepare their hearts for the Savior.
[00:02:01 --> 00:02:03] When we bake, we have to prepare.
[00:02:03 --> 00:02:07] We gather the ingredients, we measure, we mix,
[00:02:07 --> 00:02:08] and we wait.
[00:02:08 --> 00:02:11] John helped people prepare too,
[00:02:11 --> 00:02:13] but he was not preparing a cake,
[00:02:13 --> 00:02:15] he was preparing hearts.
[00:02:15 --> 00:02:18] One of the most important things about John
[00:02:18 --> 00:02:22] is that he knew the story was not about him.
[00:02:22 --> 00:02:25] John did not say, "Everyone, look at me."
[00:02:25 --> 00:02:28] John pointed people to Jesus.
[00:02:28 --> 00:02:31] When Jesus came to the Jordan River,
[00:02:31 --> 00:02:34] John helped people recognize him.
[00:02:34 --> 00:02:38] John called Jesus the Lamb of God.
[00:02:38 --> 00:02:41] That means Jesus is the one who saves us.
[00:02:41 --> 00:02:45] John's job was to help the world get ready for Jesus,
[00:02:45 --> 00:02:49] and God has a plan for us too.
[00:02:49 --> 00:02:52] Maybe we're not living in the wilderness like John.
[00:02:52 --> 00:02:56] Maybe we're not eating locusts and wild honey,
[00:02:56 --> 00:02:59] but we could still point people to Jesus.
[00:02:59 --> 00:03:04] We could do that by loving our family, by being honest,
[00:03:04 --> 00:03:06] by forgiving others,
[00:03:06 --> 00:03:07] and choosing what is good.
[00:03:09 --> 00:03:11] Our honey cake is ready.
[00:03:11 --> 00:03:13] This would be such a fun recipe to make with your family
[00:03:13 --> 00:03:16] for the birthday of St. John the Baptist.
[00:03:17 --> 00:03:21] You could bake the cake, read about John in the Bible,
[00:03:21 --> 00:03:23] and talk about how your family can prepare
[00:03:23 --> 00:03:25] your hearts for Jesus.
[00:03:27 --> 00:03:29] Thanks for baking with me today.
[00:03:29 --> 00:03:31] Don't forget to subscribe to Juice Box
[00:03:31 --> 00:03:33] for more sweet moments together.
[00:03:33 --> 00:03:34] See you next time.
[00:03:36 --> 00:03:37] Juice box.
[00:03:37 --> 00:03:40] Ready for a fun, faith-filled summer?
[00:03:40 --> 00:03:42] Parents, join Juice Box for 30 days
[00:03:42 --> 00:03:44] to an intentional Catholic summer,
[00:03:44 --> 00:03:47] and learn how to invite Jesus into your home each day.
[00:03:47 --> 00:03:49] Check the description for more info.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who is John the Baptist for kids?
John the Baptist is a saint who helped people get ready for Jesus. He lived simply, preached repentance, and pointed everyone toward Jesus. He's important because he prepared the way for the Lord.
What is the John the Baptist story for kids?
John lived in the wilderness and taught people to turn away from sin and come back to God. He told everyone, "Get ready, Jesus is coming!" When Jesus arrived, John pointed to Him and helped people recognize Jesus as the Lamb of God.
What does "repent" mean for kids?
Repent means to say sorry to God for sin and choose to do what's right again. It's a "turnaround" word: you stop going the wrong way and come back to God. John taught people to repent so their hearts would be ready for Jesus.
Why is St. John the Baptist important?
John helped people recognize Jesus as the Savior. He didn't make the story about himself. He made it about Jesus, the Light, and called people to get their hearts ready.
How can kids point people to Jesus like John the Baptist?
Kids can point to Jesus by loving their family, telling the truth, forgiving quickly, praying, and choosing what is good. It's not about being perfect, but about trying to live like Jesus in small, real ways every day.
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Free St. John The Baptist Worksheet For Kids
St. John the Baptist helped people get ready for Jesus. This worksheet helps kids remember that we can prepare our hearts for Jesus too by praying, saying sorry, and choosing what is good.
What's Inside:
Color and Cut Pictures
Complete the Pattern
Color St. John the Baptist
Perfect to use while watching the companion Juice Box video
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