The Spirit Pointed John to Jesus
Month 3: Come, Follow Me · Walking in the Spirit
Today's Scripture
Read together: John 1:32-34
32 Then John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove and resting on Him. 33 I myself did not know Him, but the One who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is He who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.”
Memory Verse
“The next day Jesus decided to set out for Galilee. Finding Philip, He told him, “Follow Me.””— John 1:43 (BSB)
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: Joshua 23-24; Judges 1
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time. (Day 65 of 365 — Joshua's farewell: "as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.")The Heart of It
How did John the Baptist know which man, out of all those crowds, was the Son of God? He tells us himself. "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him" (). God had promised John a sign. So when the Holy Spirit came down and rested on Jesus, John knew. It was the Spirit who pointed John to Jesus. On his own, John could never have picked the Savior out of a crowd. But the Spirit showed him. And then John could say for certain, "this is the Son of God."
That's still how it works today. We don't recognize Jesus by being clever or by trying really hard. The Holy Spirit opens our eyes to see who He truly is. The same Spirit who rested on Jesus is the One who whispers to our hearts, "That's Him. Follow Him." And here's something wonderful for your family. Jesus is the One the dove rested upon. He is also the One who fills His people with that very same Spirit. Walking in the Spirit begins right here. We let Him point us to Jesus, again and again. And we trust Him to make Jesus real to us.
Around the Table
The Holy Spirit came down like a dove and showed John, "This is Jesus!" The Spirit helps us see Jesus too.
Let's do it: Flap your hands like a gentle dove landing. Then say, "Holy Spirit, help me see Jesus!"
John didn't figure it out by himself. God's Spirit pointed Jesus out to him.
Let's talk: Why couldn't John recognize the Savior on his own? Who helped him?
The Spirit who rested on Jesus is the same Spirit Jesus pours out on us. He opens our eyes to see who Jesus really is.
Let's go deeper: Have you ever sensed the Spirit making something about Jesus suddenly clear or real to you?
💬 Conversation Starter
Have you ever needed someone to point out something you just couldn't spot, like a bird hidden in a tree?— The Spirit pointed John straight to Jesus.
🛡️ Defending the Faith
The dove resting on Jesus wasn't a feeling John worked up inside himself. It was a real sign that God promised ahead of time, and John simply reported what he saw. Real faith is grounded in what God actually did. Then His Spirit makes us sure of it.
For Dad · Go Deeper
This passage quietly anchors a healthy view of the Spirit's work. The Holy Spirit always points us to Jesus. He is not a spotlight on Himself, or on spectacle, or on us. That's a steadying truth in an age of hype. Any "spiritual" experience that draws attention away from Christ and toward a thrill has lost the plot. The Spirit-filled home isn't the loudest one. It's the one where Jesus keeps getting bigger. And notice how much John depended on the Spirit. Even John couldn't recognize the Messiah without the Spirit's help. Neither can you make Jesus real to your children by sheer willpower or clever arguments. Teach faithfully, yes. But pray harder than you argue. Ask the Spirit to do what only He can do: open their eyes.
Draws on: Gordon D. Fee, Paul, the Spirit, and the People of God.
Let's Pray Together
"Father, thank You that Your Spirit points us to Jesus. Open our eyes to see who He really is. And help us follow wherever He leads. In Jesus' name, amen."
I can't see Jesus clearly on my own. The Spirit points Him out to me.