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READ: Mark 10:13
CHALLENGE: Represent Christ Well
Mark 10:13-16 – People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.
- ARE WE DEMONSTRATING GRACE?
Show some grace to people because grace goes a long way. Let’s allow people to come to church, get involved, and grow. God will speak to their hearts.
What’s the set up? People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. Jesus was conveying some sort of blessing to them meaning that something beneficial was passing from Jesus to them. He was extending grace to them.
BUT, the disciples rebuked them. It’s an aorist tense which means it happens in a point in time. They are slamming the brakes on people heading toward Christ. They are literally reprimanding and scolding them for bringing their children to Jesus. You just have to shake your head.
The parents or siblings are bringing children and that’s a continuing action so it’s happening over and over again. Infant mortality was very high. 6 out of every ten children died before the age of 16. They saw Jesus as someone great and they wanted his blessing because they viewed it as helpful. Jesus had a God connection and they wanted God’s blessings. So, every parent coming is concerned for the well being of the children and wanting the Lord’s help.
The disciples are acting as gate keepers keeping children from getting to Jesus. The synonyms for rebuke are “scold, admonish, chide, and berate”. The opposite is “praise, commend, applaud”. When someone is making a move toward Christ, what should our response be? To berate or praise? What would a grace filled person do?
When you yard sale, you’re going to be somewhere first. And often it’s early. Once in a while, you’ll hear, we’re not ready, come back at 9a. Last week we heard that. They also added, “but you can buy some baked goods”. GREAT! “OK. Fine, look around”! If I’m having a yard sale and you want to buy something, that’s the point. Me being perfectly ready is not the point. We did buy a couple things and a nice big loaf of banana bread!
What is the point of rebuking the parents and children who are coming to Christ? Make room! Make time! I know you could make a lot of excuses. They’re just kids! They’re not important. We’re busy! It’s not the right time! Maybe we’re not as ready as we want to be. Get out of the way and show grace!
- Grace Doesn’t Choose Who Is Good Enough
Again, we find the disciples trying to stop people from coming to God because they were children. And apparently if you were children, you were not good enough for God’s blessings.
So, what are we saying? Not you. You’re not worth our time. You’re not worth the effort. You don’t contribute enough. Children were not adored in that culture like they are today.
People are worth it and perhaps that’s a take away. And some people that perhaps you would write off are still worth it. Children are worth it. Never ignore the potential of the young. Sinners are worth it! Recovering drug addicts are worth it!
We have a Vine food pantry. We don’t pick and choose, we help who comes through the door. The same with church. We don’t pick and choose, we help and love who God sends.
- Grace Can See the Bigger Picture
There is a wider impact as well. If the child doesn’t come to meet and hear the words of Christ, neither do the parents. Neither then do the down line people such as family members or neighbors who would hear about the story. Why would you block that?
The people with the children are going to come back with a story. If they are accepted, that’s the story. If they were rejected, that’s the story. What story do you want the world to hear?
Now Jesus sees this happen and he’s indignant about it. Mark is not afraid to talk about the emotions of Christ. He’s upset about it meaning that it vexes his soul! He has a right to be upset about it because we should not be turning people away. Seriously!? What are you doing?!
John 1:14 – The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Jesus was full of grace and truth and we should be as well. He wants the children to be allowed to come to him. The disciples were representing Christ, but they were representing Christ very poorly because they were sending people away without grace. You don’t want to drive sinners away from church because you’re being unkind or judgmental. Show grace.
Jesus was a friend of sinners. If he rejected anyone, it would be the self-righteous who were too good for even Jesus! And when you’re too good for Jesus, you have a problem! Man rejects whereas Jesus accepts.
Permit them to come to me. Do not hinder people from coming to the Lord. They were hindering people. Jesus wants us accepting people.
How might we hinder people from coming to the Lord? One of the things is when we are negative about ministry. This is one that truly irks me. Why do certain people constantly rip on churches or throw shade. Sure, they might not do everything the way that you would, but that’s a turn off to me.
No way should we be ripping on Christ’s church which is full of believers because that is the body of Christ. And it might not be your church but it’s someone’s church and they love it. You try to stop people from going to church and the down-line impact could be terrible.
Another way is when you make rules that don’t need to be made. So, if you start insisting on man-made rules, you’ll do it too. If God doesn’t thus say it, I don’t thus say it.
When you’re looking down on people or aren’t friendly.
We want to give people a chance to be involved. Welcome them and give them a chance to grow. There is no one perfect and I truly believe that once God begins a work, he will complete it. Let’s welcome people to come and find that grace and God’s blessing. To be touched by it.
I know that Bible says that people are moved by the kindness of God.
Romans 2:3-4 – So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? 4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?
What leads them to repentance? It’s kindness and that’s important to keep in mind.
- WHAT IS OUR SPIRITUAL DIRECTION?
14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
Directionally they are headed toward Jesus. Why would you think that you are so godly that you should stop them? What is all they want? They brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them.
If you’re bringing a child to Jesus in order to be blessed, you’re trusting in Jesus. You’re seeing some need. You may not have all the answers. You are certainly not perfect. But you are seeking Jesus. The kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Since it belongs to them, they have a right to be there.
This is a big question of mine. What is your direction? Are you directionally headed toward Jesus? They are headed in the right direction. As are the parents. What is your direction? I say this so often, give people a chance to fit in and grow and make decisions based on the Word and Spirit. I’ve seen people imperfect who are still doing great things and fervent in their walk with God. That’s direction!
Over the years, I learned not to judge people by a standard of perfection because no one is. What I wanted to know was are they making progress. What is your direction. Not, do you know everything. Not do you have every answer. Are you looking more like Christ?
I talked to someone recently. You can tell a lot about a church by looking at what they are actually doing – what’s the direction? Words are cheap, what’s the fruit? Eagleville is service oriented. We believe in small groups. We are family friendly. You will see this again and again not just by what we say, but by what we do. We are working on Trunk or Treat, the Community dinner, and the children’s Christmas program. We have a great Celebrate Recovery 12 step program. They pack weekend lunches for children on Friday. We got to be the hands and feet of Jesus on the roofing projects. It’s a beautiful thing to be able to do it. Fruit.
Matthew 7:16-17 – By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
Jesus didn’t say, you can tell a tree by its words! He said, you can tell a good tree from a bad tree based on its fruit. Actions matter. What are your energies invested into? When the books are opened some day, it says that our deeds come into play and that’s ultra important.
Directionally, are you positive or negative. Like the Bible says, “be happy and do good”. It’s a choice.
As we mature, we’ve met Christ, we’ve been touched by Christ, we don’t want to be on the fence or have one foot in the world and one foot in the church. If we keep hanging with the world, that’s going to rub off on us. I want to get to Jesus. That’s the direction. Let’s mirror Christ to a world that reflects love.
How are we doing when it comes to these important things.
- HAVE WE RECEIVED GOD’S SALVATION THROUGH FAITH?
15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
Anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it. Again, there is the possibility of entering or not entering. It’s not automatic, we have to receive it. To receive means to welcome or embrace it.
Is God welcome in our lives? We need to receive him. And we receive the kingdom of God like a child. I love the picture because it’s helpful.
Children believe easily. The faith is very simple. They can take a principle and embrace it. And we must receive the kingdom like that. They are curious about things and they ask questions. It’s great because that’s how you learn.
John 1:12 – Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—
I receive this kingdom. We receive eternal life. It’s a gift and we take it from the hands of someone else. The beauty of children is that they don’t own anything. Everything they have comes from their parents. They receive all things.
They didn’t build the house in which they live. They didn’t earn the money to buy the food. When Zeke wants cereal, it’s my cereal. When he wants to watch a movie, it’s on our TV. He lives his life on property he does not own. Everything is given.
And we receive the gift of eternal life through faith. We embrace it like a child. And the child isn’t trying to figure it all out, He just believes and that’s the awesome thing about it.
Have you come to Christ?
They also have a fervor. My grandson was beside himself with excitement about Adventure Club. He was nearly bouncing off the walls. Children are often very excited to go and learn and something draws them into it.
We used to walk to go to VBS programs as children. If another church was having one in the morning, we’d walk over to the next town as kids. I don’t even know if my parents knew that we were going or where we were. We lived in a day where every child in America was unaccounted for until dinner time!
Let’s have the excitement of a child. That desire and a spark that children have and I see it with new believers who first encounter Christ. There is a light that shines so brightly. They are excited about Christian music and the Bible and church and service.
Romans 12:11 – Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
Let’s keep that spiritual fervor. It’s like water boiling on the stove and it’s excited! We’re just happy to be a believer and serving God. It’s a well that springs up within. And it’s not dependent on what’s going on outside, it’s internal.
Psalm 51:12 – Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me
Sometimes our faith needs some reinvigoration. We need that renewed appreciation of spiritual things.
Another thing about children is that they fall a lot. Get up and keep going!
- ARE WE BLESSING OTHERS WITH OUR WORDS?
He took them in his arms. Jesus loves these kids. He fervently blesses them. Prays over them. We need that!
I remember a little girl fell in Christian school. It was awkward. The pastor bent down, lifted her up, and gave her a kiss on the top of her head. Perhaps a child who didn’t receive much love. It made an impression on me because it was an indicator of love and he wasn’t a man that we connected with very well. We liked him and all. But he never involved himself much with the children.
Jesus taking up a child in his arms was a reminder of the love of God. God truly cares about us. He has a heart for us. He blessed them.
When Jesus touched that child, something of blessing was passing from him to them. He was passing along something good which is extraordinary.
It seems like some of the easiest things to pass along is something like a virus or flu bug. They pass right along. Gossip passes right along and potentially causes a spiritual infection in someone else’s soul. Negativity can be catching. I guess what I’m wondering is what are we passing along? Jesus passed along blessing.
When people rub shoulder to shoulder with us, is it like being in a leaky septic field or are they hearing encouraging things? When they came to Jesus, they were being helped. Love was flowing. Good things were flowing.
Ephesians 4:29 – Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Are our words the kind of words that bless others. It they are not, that says a lot about your Christianity. Our words should build people up. This is simple, you’re going to be a lot happier being a blessing to other people. It’s such a better policy.
There are people who tear down and those who build up. Let’s take the tear down crowd for a second. So you post and ultra negative post about Christians or church or life or what have you. What are you building up?
If you had a business, what you rather talk about what you do as a business or tear other businesses down? Which do you think is going to do more good? As a Christian, I want to talk about all of the wonderful things that God is doing here.
We had 109 children in Adventure Club between the two clubs. I have 10 families to help with our children’s Christmas program. We have lots of volunteers signing up and helping out. For me personally, I’d much rather concern myself with what we’re doing than worry about what someone else is doing. Keep your focus to your work.
Christ want to bless! Bless and do not curse. What is the role of the Christian in the world? You’re like the flowers along the trail, not the animal turds! Choice is yours.
- Are we demonstrating grace?
- What direction are we headed?
- Have we received God’s salvation through faith?
- Are we a blessing to others with our words.