Mark 10:13-16 — 1/28/2024 - English

You've been with us we made the turn from asking. Who is this to what did he come to do? And in the first half of Mark we see that Jesus is the king and in the second half we are continuously seen what he came to do. You would open up to Mark chapter 10, and we will be using verses 13 and 16 Hazard text this morning.

What is your favorite childhood memory?

Some of you have really great childhood memories some of you may have some really terrible ones. Some people have wonderful childhood. Some people have terrible childhoods even people with terrible childhoods usually have a pretty favorite childhood memory and childhood. Memories are just that your memory. They're your recollection of something that happened many years ago. And sometimes we don't remember things perfectly. Sometimes we we get a little confused and one of the incredible inventions of our time is the camera You're my mom love taking pictures. I hated her taking my picture, but she always had a camera on her whether it was one of those disposable ones when the digital age came around she got one of those she wanted to record as much as you possibly could have been one of the things I'm thankful for is that we have a camera most of us in our pocket now at any given second. You can rip it out and you can record a memory. Is one of my favorite childhood memories of Clara's? We are eating dinner and we were finishing up and her dinner came with a desert and it was a double brownie ice cream sundae and I'm not trying to make you salivate but my goodness this child was happier than I'd ever seen her and we're finding that I think food in general is one of the things that makes her the happiest but seeing her light up and the expression on her face when she got this in front of her, that's one of my favorite memories. I asked her what her favorite memories were and it's not food and it's not an experience. It was having a sleepover with her friends. It was going and visiting her friends having people over to her house that she can play with it's all relational things and I think that's a pretty incredible statement to what it means to be a child. one other favorite memories I did have a picture of her holding my hand, but had one of her holding Trisha's one of my favorite memories just in a few weeks ago. We were walking through the parking lot at Target. And we make her hold her hand in the parking lot because there's cars going every way. I don't want her darting out in front of someone and I look down and she's holding my hand. She has her eyes closed. Hey Claire, what are you doing? I'm holding your hand daddy with my eyes closed walking through the parking lot. we have a moment cuz I said why are you doing that? Well, because you trust me. And it is she said yeah. I trust you. He knows I'm not going to let anything happen to her. She can close her eyes and a parking lot full of cars. Just holding my hand. This is when she was little when we were still in Nashville during my fellowship year. They were in Bible class and in someone got this sweet picture of her and her friend praying. National kind of birthday party. She wanted to have this year birthdays in March. And she said well, I think I even want to have Lilo & Stitch or trolls or maybe crosses for Jesus and I said Jesus as your birthday party. Okay.

part of a child precious it's not just mine this precious. We got a lot of precious ones here. We are very blessed. We are very blessed that as a Congregation of people including the folks who worship with us in Spanish. Did you realize On Any Given Sunday almost half of the people who worship here or under the age of 18? Do you know how uncommon that is in churches across this country? You know how much hope that should give you and she give me. We have some wonderful children. live godly people getting them here

Reality is we all miss the Simplicity of childhood?

And we need to be childlike.

The problem is as we get older most of us become more childish. And in our text today, we seen disciples rebuking the childlike. Jesus rebuking the childish and Jesus embracing the childlike. Read me Mark chapter 10 verses 13 through 16.

People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them but the disciples rebuked them when Jesus saw that he was indignant and said to them let the little children come to me. Don't stop them taking the kingdom of God belongs to such as these Truly I tell you whoever does not receive the kingdom of God, like a little child will never enter it. I've been taking them in his arms. He laid his hands on them and bless them. first disciples rebuking the childlike There are people following Jesus everywhere. He goes there are crowds who are absolutely amazed and it's tarnished at what he is teaching and what he is doing he is healing he is saving his teaching his way. And people are amazed. Jesus just got done talking about two of the most difficult topics probably that there are to talk about with people. He just got done talking about marriage. And divorce and he just got done talking about hell and what you must do in order to avoid ending up in a fiery pit in hell. And guess what? People are still following him everywhere. He's made a name for himself. He is the rabbi this traveling around to see if Galilee he is the rabbi that people from all over are bringing their family members and friends to to see them be healed.

And these people like many people in the day when traveling Rabbi would come through their town would bring their children to that Rabbi as a person sent from God to pray over them and to bless them. You know much about children and Jewish Jewish culture starting around the age of five or six. They would go to the house of the book and at the house in the book. They would be taught the Torah. They didn't have multiple. Classes they didn't have multiple subjects. They had the wall. The Torah by the age of 12 or 13 when they reach their Bar Mitzvah, they would have memorized the Torah.

Can you even tell me what five books are in the Torah? There are days. I wonder if I can. They would have it memorized from start to finish Genesis Exodus Leviticus the book that we all skip when we get there in the daily Bible reading at the beginning of the year right now. Okay. Maybe this is me Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy. They had to memorize from start to finish. And then they would be sent home to Apprentice under their family to take over the family business.

It was a business is like we have today, of course. But the really exceptional ones the exceptional students would go to their secondary school and by 17 or 18. They would have the entire Old Testament memorized. Again, there are days I struggle to name all the books of the Old Testament. They would memorize it. And in the really really really great ones. We go and apply to be an apprentice of a rabbi.

In Jewish culture when the man of the home the patriarch walk and everyone would rise just like we do in a quart. right

unless son became a rabbi. Then when the son who became a rabbi walked into the room the father would sit down.

And everyone would stand in honor of the rabbi. These people in Jewish culture place a premium. people who are teachers people who seem to have it figured out and these people are dying to get around Jesus and to get their children in his presence.

and one of the disciples do

a rebuke them

say we ain't got time for this. Don't you know who this is? This is the king. Is the messiah? This is the one that came to do all these great things. He's got people to teach and people to heal and he ain't got time for your stinky snot-nosed little kids.

They rebuked them and tell them to go away just like they tried to tell that man. A few weeks ago. Hey, you're casting out demons in Jesus name, but you're not following us. We see that you're probably on the same Mission, but you don't believe in our methods. You can't do that. You can't do that.

They take these precious children and their families and they say We don't have time for you. You ever been to a baseball game or a football game so I can hear Lambo is pretty neat where do people stand before and after games and during training camp they wait for the cars to come in and out of the parking lot cuz I want to get an autograph from the players. He has ever seen this so it baseball games. Yeah and Bailey will wait there for your autograph one day cuz I know you get to park there too. So it baseball games baseball players will come by during batting practice and will sign their autographs, but then, you know after about 10 minutes some other employee of the team will combine and in the play or just kind of walk away of the I'm sorry guys. That's all they got time for today. I'm sorry, but you know, sorry you missed them, right so they don't have to be the bad guy and say, I'm sorry, I'm not going to send any more autographs think that's the role of Jesus disciples were taken. Pick up the barrier there going to be a layer between Jesus and these people.

and a rebuke those Who need Jesus? Second we see Jesus rebuking the childish.

You want to see multiple times in the coming weeks? You should have noticed it a couple weeks ago as well, man. These disciples are needy. Man, these disciples aren't very confident man. These disciples. They're just not very self-assured. Couple weeks ago we talked about how they were walking and arguing about something and when Jesus asked him, what are you arguing about? They fell silent they want to help themselves cuz they knew how childish they sounded arguing about. Who's the greatest? Who's the greatest? And Jesus explains to them if you're going to be the greatest, you're going to be last and servant of all, right, what's going to happen in a couple weeks will spoiler alert James and John the two brothers are going to go to Jesus in begging give us what we want. We want to be your top lieutenants. Feed it on either side in the coming Kingdom.

And that word indignant. That word indignant just used to describe Jesus reaction to what they do to these families and their children. That were indignant is never again used in scripture to describe Jesus and his reaction. But it's the same word used to describe the disciples when they find out that James and John try to do a run around and get their seat at the table. They were indignant at James and John. For trying to be the greatest.

What Jesus is indignant at them? Because what they don't realize is they are pushing away. the very type of people Jesus came to save

they're starting to buy. throat pipe they're starting to think like hey, maybe were those really really good students who got the apprenticeship with the rabbi and we're getting close to becoming rabbis of Our Own. Maybe we're the ones that have got it all figured out. You know what that sounds like sounds like the leaven of the Pharisees sounds like Pride.

Jesus says How dare you? How dare you turn away the very people I have come to bring into the coming Kingdom. You see flavors of this throughout the Old Testament throughout the Old Testament over and over again. Who does God command Justice be brought to widows and orphans and Resident aliens over and over again God's heart is for those people. But those people would be had justice done for them.

And Jesus rebukes those who would put a barrier between those people and himself.

Finally, we see Jesus embracing the childlike.

After taking them in his arms. He laid his hands on them. I bless them.

Jesus loves little children Jesus hugs a little children. Jesus Embraces people Who will be childlike? for him

Jesus welcoming children into his church didn't start with having a multi-story jungle gym in the front lobby. Didn't start with having a robust children's ministry. It started with bringing people to him. If you could hug and embrace.

We say that one of our core values is to be family-focused. Jesus was family-focused. Jesus focused on little children and was intent and insistent that those who are no longer little children by age become like little children in their heart.

What does it mean? to be childish How do we become childish? Because life was so simple. When we were childlike and when we were children. I'll tell you what I think happens.

Last week clear the other day where we were at the house and Clara said Daddy, can you give me some milk? Nicely get your own milk, right because it's some point in her life. She is going to be able to have to take care of yourself. Right? I can't do everything for her for her entire life. She has to take some responsibility to work things out for herself. No, thank you.

But something also happens.

problem start to rise

and she realizes I have to figure this out on my own.

You having problems like that?

Ever had financial problems ever had relationship problems. And what happens is you work and you work and your work? And you try and get out of it yourself. And sometimes you do. Don't you work yourself out of it?

You feel pretty good about yourself. I did a pretty good job. I worked really hard to get myself out of this pickle.

Sometimes you can't get out of it at all.

And you start to start to worry. Like how am I going to get out of this pickle? How am I going to get out of this problem? How can I fix something that I feel like I have no control over to fix.

And increasingly what we do. We try and fix our own problems. Even the ones we don't know how to fix.

You see what that does.

You feel that turns you in Word? Did you see how that turns you into relying on yourself? and your ability to get through problems that makes you self-sustaining

and the things that we can't control we Grumble about him.

That's out of my control, but I don't like it.

And the only thing we know how to do is insist on our way. Cuz things we did work on yourself out of we got figured out. And you just have to do it my way.

And the worst word to hear out of a child. It's mine.

You see the sequence? You see how it's very easy to become childish. But as you're trying to mature and as you're trying to sustain yourself you start to rely too much on yourself. And even when things come along that you realize you're out at 9 in control of You still don't turn to anyone else or anything else to help you through them?

And all you can do is insist on doing it your way.

It makes you childish.

Why Jesus in The Sermon on the Mount says that the creature or the problem of worry? is little face Was that weird meme PCS Trust? The reason you're worrying. It's because you're not trusting in the right thing you're trusting yourself.

You're not trusting your father.

In Matthews account of this passage. He says unless you turn. to become like children Unless you turn think you're going down One path. You're heading down this path and becoming more and more childish. You're heading down this path of becoming more and more self-centered worrying about who's the greatest insisting on your methods not worried about the mission and you're becoming more and more childish and unless you turn. And become childlike. You'll never enter the kingdom of heaven.

How do we turn child bike? in Romans, 8:12 So then brothers and sisters we are not obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh because if you live according to the flesh you're going to die. But by the spirit you put to death the Deeds of the body you will live. for all those led by God Spirit or God Sons We do not receive a spirit of Slavery to fall back into fear instead. You received the spirit of adoption. By whom we cry out Abba Father. The spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God's children. And if children also heirs Heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. We are God's children. And because we are his children we can cry out Abba.

the Aramaic word Jesus spoke Aramaic is the term of affection and endearment that he would have used for his father.

Many different ways to translate it. We usually just say Ava.

There's no direct translation for me romantic, but it probably means something like Papa.

not to be in any way disrespectful, but Daddy

the father of our childhood

hugs and snuggles and cared for us and held her hand in the parking lot. and did stuff for their birthdays and all of that that the one you should be able to cry out for at any point in your life.

We get to cry out to him.

Was that mean?

that means when you are tempted The figure it out on your own.

When you feel like things are spinning out of your control to be childlike means that you don't do it yourself.

To be childlike means you don't go at it alone.

To be childlike means that you cry out. to your Abba Father

Did they control?

I need you.

I trust you.

I can't figure it out on my own.

Help me through this.

Because we are God's children.

Do we have a choice?

Do we become childish insisting on our own way because we've got it figured out. You ever had a teenager as I'm sure I'm going to learn at some point.

What do you have child like? Constantly needing Our Father.

Message for you guys you will never stop needing your father and mother.

Take it from someone who's lost his mom. You will never stop needing your father and mother. May not realize it. You may not be reality until they're gone.

But you never stop needing them.

Because we've been made children.

No matter what we need. He's there.

So what must he do he must make us children?

the absolute best qualities of these little ones running around

he must make us like them.

We must turn and allow him to. We must take the very best qualities of their neediness. Their ability to love indiscriminately and Trust in discriminately and we must make those part of our nature. If we are going to be his children.

And he must make us his children. But it came at a price.

Jesus made us God's children by being forsaken on our behalf. In the passages red is our scripture reading this morning the poor and the needy. Seek water, but there is none. Their tongues are parched with thirst.

I will answer them. I am the Lord the god of Israel. I will not abandon them.

The Jesus had to make us God's children. And he was willing to do so. He became childlike. He became needy on the cross. He said I thirst.

And God says I am the Lord the god of Israel. I will not forsake or abandon them. What did Jesus say on the cross my God my God, why has thou forsaken me?

Jesus gave his entire life.

Jesus became needy Jesus became thirsty. Jesus became forsaken. so the you will never be in need. And you will never have to thirst. And you will never be abandoned.

When Jesus talks about I have water that Wells up to eternal life. I think that's what Isaiah is getting out of here open rivers and springs and I will turn the desert into a pool and dry land in the springs because that water that will quench your thirst is going to well up within you and explode.

I will plant. You heard me say that repentance is replanting your Reliance in Jesus. Jesus is planting righteous trees if you remember Isaiah 61, I will plant all of these trees. So that all will see and know that the hand of the Lord has done this. Holy One of Israel has created it. Jesus is Holy One of Israel.

And we become childlike by totally trusting him.

This morning. You may be childlike.

If you are you realize that all you need is need.

You have to realize that you need him.

What you bring to the table doesn't amount for much. And it all you can do is receive him and his grace.

free

you must totally trust him.

No, no, don't trust yourself. So does your grandma? Don't trust a Bible class teacher you had when you were in the third grade. No, no.

No. Don't trust what you read in that other book. Don't trust what you think you read. Don't trust that podcast. Don't trust that video trust him. Amen. trust Jesus Let's pray this morning. Father this word stirs our heart we know that you love children and father. We love our children. First of all, thank you for making us your children. Thank you for letting us call you Ava you greet us with joy and every state and stage of our life as our father who loves and cares for us who refuses to abandon or forsake us. Thank you for being a father. We can always rely on secondly father. There's no greater gift. We can give our children than to keep bringing them to you whether they're babies toddlers teenagers or adults themselves are kids need you just like we do. We know that the Embrace of the father awaits them. If our children who've yet to find life and you may the life of your son the lies of your servants in the reality of Your Love stir them to trust you when they are confronted with their neediness help them to see that you are the only one that can fulfill their need. Let them bring their neediest to you. Grantham Grace Grantham salvation father we want a wonderful future for our children. We want them to see experience and know the wonderful parts of your creation, but more than what we want for them and the success and honors. We want Eternal happiness for them in heaven with you. Show them how much they need you and show them how much you love them help them to look to cure their restlessness in your rest of complete forgiveness and perfect righteousness for children who do know about you but seemed to have little interest in truly knowing you make yourself unavoidably real loving and good to them. Let them see this in Jesus give us patients with their doubts, but it's bearing their struggles and give us the joy for welcoming wonders home. For children who know you and love you protect them from the adversary. Protect them from the idols of this world and may they never make you second to anything? Finally father. We ask you to restore us to the childlikeness of our youth Help us to look at these beautiful children you have entrusted to us and to regain a childlike attitude. Help us to realize that our status self-sufficiency and success or nothing. Despite all of our attempts. We are completely needy and absolutely need you in the grace you offer through Jesus free us from childishness. The renew our hearts and childlike joy and gratefulness and simplicity. Our bodies and minds are getting older. But please father cause our hearts to sing again in the matchless Delights and dazzling Wonder of being loved by you. Abba Father All we want is to be with you. It'll only be so by the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus the Messiah. Amen.

This morning you may be ready. to be childlike

if you haven't come to know Jesus. Coming to him begging him for forgiveness begging him to make you whole. That starts with baptism. It starts by being washed. Putting your old self to death burying it with his death and being born again rising out of the water the way he rose from the tomb.

There's nothing more trusting than turning your life to him. He's been wondering. We are ready to greet you. With the joy of welcoming a Wonder home. If you have any need this morning coming out while we stand.