Jr. Primary Adaptation: Baptism Reader's Theatre

It’s as Clear as Water, I know Jesus Christ was Baptized.
By Sofia Lykes

Jr. Primary Adaptation
Think simple! Simple costumes!! Simple everything... you don't want to distract them from the meaning of this reader's theatre which is CHRIST. Know your readers! MOST SUNBEAMS CAN'T READ so DON'T give them Narrator 1. Encourage and direct, let them be creative! Have fun and still be able to feel the spirit strongly!!!

Speaking Parts:
Narrator 1 (Adult or Super Excellent Reader)
Narrator 2 (Good Reader)
Nephi
Joseph Smith
Nicodemus
John the Baptist

Non- Speaking Parts:
2 Trees
Dove
2 Jewish Followers (Come up with Nicodemus)
Special Helpers 1,2,3,4

Special Helper #1 holds up picture of John the Baptist baptizing Jesus.

Narrator 1: Reading from the Bible Matthew 3:13-17 “Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying,

John the Baptist: “I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?”

Narrator 1: “And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove (2 trees stand by, have dove flap their wings and come very close to the picture), and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Narrator 2: If Jesus was standing right outside that door, that one right there, wouldn’t we want to open it and walk through!

Narrator 1: To see Him, to feel the prints of the nails in His hands! To hug Him! To ask Him our questions and thank Him for all He has given us?

Narrator 2: Could Jesus really be outside that door? gestures to door

Narrator 1: He could. Anything is possible with God. Nephi said there is another door, or rather a gate, that if we enter we will surely find Him.

Nephi: (Reading His scriptures) “Wherefore, do the things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord and your Redeemer should do; for, for this cause have they been shown unto me, that ye might know the gate by which ye should enter. For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost.” (2 Nephi 31:17)

Narrator 1: Nephi was a witness and actually saw Jesus Christ baptized. I wonder what other prophets received visions and revelations about the immersion of Christ by John the Baptist.

Narrator 2: Woah. What is immersion? I thought we were talking about Baptism.

Narrator 1: Our prophet Joseph Smith can help us out with that one!

Joseph Smith: “The word baptize is derived...

Narrator 1: Which means comes from.

Joseph Smith: "from the Greek verb ‘baptiso’, and means to immerse or overwhelm.”[1]

Narrator 2: Let’s see what Baptism by immersion would look like.

Special Helper #1 and #2 hold up a blue sheet. Special Helper #3 goes completely down behind the blue sheet, stands up and rings out hair. Special Helper #4 (A boy) stands behind the blue sheet and pats the back of Special Helper #3 after he/she stands up.

Narrator 1: I know a great story found in the Book of John, chapter 3. There once was a man named Nicodemus who was a ruler of the Jews. It was night time and Nicodemus came to Jesus and said….

Nicodemus: (Standing by a picture of Christ, Special Helper #2 can hold, 2 Jewish followers come up also) “Rabbi”

Narrator 1: Which meant Master or Teacher.

Nicodemus: “We know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.” (John 3:2)

Narrator 1: Jesus answered and said, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3)

Nicodemus: “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?” (John 3:4)

Narrator 2: Silly Nicodemus! He was supposed to be a teacher and ruler to the Jews and yet He had no clue what Jesus was talking about! (2 Jewish followers can giggle)

Narrator 1: One of my favorite scriptures is what Jesus told Nicodemus, “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” (John 3:5-7)

Narrator 2: So when we follow the example of Jesus and are baptized it’s like we are starting a new life. A life where we try our hardest to keep the commandments, repent and endure to the end!

John the Baptist: ”The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life” (John 3:36)

All: We know that Jesus Christ was baptized. We will follow His example always!!

Narrator 1: In the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

[1] (Smith, Teachings, 262)