Read Luke 3:1-6 with your family.

John the Baptist was a cousin of Jesus, and they had probably visited when they were children and teenagers. They knew each other well. John was the one given the task of telling the world what to experience in Jesus.

In today’s story, John quoted parts of the Hebrew scripture, Isaiah 40, that pointed to Jesus’ coming to make the world a better place for everyone. John knew that the promise of Jesus, the promise of God living among us as a person, was important enough for everyone to pay attention. Through the teachings and life of Jesus, people were going to have a more equal experience. They would know that God really was making good on the promise to ensure life was good for everyone, not just the rich or powerful.