LET THE CHILDREN COME TO ME!
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Dear Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ,
We have been looking at this time of return to in person church, as an opportunity to reconnect with the Person and Work of Christ in the gospel of Mark. And to reconnect with the salvation, the kingdom and what it means to live in that in community, joining the Jesus-Circle by faith. Salvation believing in Christ, but also repentance being transformed into a community that lives the Jesus-way! And we’ve seen how Jesus salvation and his way of life - completely upside down to our fallen thinking. Jesus is saving those who are sin-sick and lost in need of real spiritual healing - no the self-righteous people who say I can earn a good life, I have it within my self. And we’ve seen how the discipleship, the way of kingdom living also upside down - remember last week - world and our nature says; Me-first, I am here to be served, first place is to grasped, and Jesus says: No, its in giving your life, John and James and peter and every disciple like John - lay down your lives for others - kingdom of servanthood. Now Jesus is on way to Cross, this is the second half of Gospel of Mark - and more teaching his apostles, but Mark strings together three stories again: area of Judea beyond Jordan, John Baptizer just beheaded because stood against Herod taking his brothers wife - and pharisees ask - our rules and traditions say we can divorce for any and every reason, what do you say - and Jesus says, yes for protection of woman certificate , but hardness of heart - my kingdom transforms even marriage - renews God’s good reason - two become one - , and last story - Rich man, self-righteousness - won’t give whole life to serving God walked away sad. And disciples left asking: who then can enter the kingdom of God? Jesus says impossible for man, but God can do it for rich and poor. And that is the context in which Mark records this central story about the place of children, covenant children presented to the Lord and Master, and how only those who receive the kingdom like them can enter His kingdom. And this morning in the midst of pandemic, but also cancer - here we have Lucas and Lindsay with Sebastian & Thijs, and our whole church presenting baby Annie to Jesus, and here have every single one of us hearing the words of Jesus - unless you receive now in this life me and my gospel, unless you receive my upside down kingdom, like a child!- can’t enter at the end of your time the fulness of my eternal kingdom!
Key Truth: Jesus receives covenant children presented to Him, and calls you to receive Him like such a child!
Key Truth: Jesus receives covenant children presented to Him, and calls you to receive Him like such a child!
Now let’s places ourselves in the “Jesus-circle” and receive in the order of this God-inspired story, Jesus’ Promise, His Warning, and His Welcome! Drive out of your mind pastoral scenes of Jesus always on lush green grass, peaceful group, a few sheep, polite and eager listeners. No, look how Mark paints the setting: Mark 10:1
And he left there and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan, and crowds gathered to him again. And again, as was his custom, he taught them.
Crowds in the gospel of Mark as we’ll see tonight, ambivalent, not necessary good or bad, and they harass Jesus. Some believe, many do not. Often the crowds are confused and mistaken about Jesus and the Kingdom. And you know what they so often lacked - real faith, belief in Him. Tonight we’ll see they crush in on Jesus, seeking miracles and healings. No different today - many come to church over generations, tip their hat Jesus way, historically believe, but not interested in who He really is nor what kingdom he really brings! But Jesus has been sent to crowds of people like us. And He loves them and He teaches them. And as Mark sets the scene in v.13, we also must get rid of another idea that children’s story bible illustration maybe have ingrained into us - that it was just women bringing there little kids to Jesus. Look closely at who brought them. Mark 10:13
And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them.
That they is not for they women, moms, but a group which included men. This is fathers and mothers with their little ones coming out to see Messiah. Possible also as Passover Procession passes by that - older children in charge of young ones through the day, see Jesus passing by and they join the line up of those with the little ones to see Jesus.
But as I said, we must throw out the pastoral scene of quaint countryside, with quaint sheep, clam crowd with Jesus sitting on a hillside. Jesus has just revealed himself as the Son of David, about to go to Jersuaelm and enter glory , to get the kingdom. Disciples and crowds with him, marching to Jersuaelm, and a big group political officials just accosted him, intrigue of Herod, Idumean collaborator with Rome. This Jesus hounded by mobs, tired out. This Jesus is seeking outcasts, and also confronting earnest and moral adults . But look what happens in the harried details of biggest decision of Jesus life and minstiry to go to Jerusalem, look what the parents are doing: Mark 10:13b
And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them.
These disciples may be proud and self-centered with the minds on glory with Jesus, but they are not boorish child-haters. Just believe like much of their culture, and certainly like Roman culture that Mark is writing this gospel for, that children aren’t real persons yet, Letter from 1BC husband to pregnant wife - children are only valued as to their potential reciprocal value - seen and not heard. They thought that Jesus was like them, that the Big important Messiah has no time for children, what could they opossbile have to do Kingdom of God, righteousness, spiritual and world-changing matters of the kigndom of God? The disciples think they are protecting Jesus. They think - as the verb tense suggests, that whole bunch of these parents or gangs of kids - keep trying for some time, and the disciples keep saying: Thanks for comng but big buesiness here, you can leave now and take your stroller with you. So that is the scene and let us now see how Jesus responded then, and responds now with baby Analiese Meulenberg and all children here whose parents have brought them to Jesus!
A. Jesus Gives His Promise to Covenant Children being Presented to Him
A. Jesus Gives His Promise to Covenant Children being Presented to Him
Let’s put our selves in that line up as older sibling or mother or father. And please don’t hesitate to do this, even if you’re not a parents, not married. Remember that Jesus perfect human being, single - but he says my kingdom also so highly values what every individual is part of and that is a family God works with families, and His kingdom includes children! Let’s see how.
So you have joined the line - with a little child in tow. And v.13 says they came BRINGING their children, so that they could be touched by Him. That word brought to him, used in Mark for the sick and demon possessed that Jesus healed and saved. Used in the OT for when you bring an offering, present a gift of hospitality to guests in your home. It was a formal kind of act. And these parents are formally presenting their children to Jesus. But why to have him touch them. And I really believe Jesus by Spirit present at table - I maybe administer it but He is the one gives you bread and wine. I really believe I may have administered baptism , but Jesus present by His Spirit - he is the One who baptizes adult-convert or child of believer. And these parents and older sibling, bring young ones to have Jesus do a dramatic and important religious act. On Day of Atonement, children often brought to priest receive a touch of blessing. In the gospel, Jesus reached out his hand touched, lepers, touched people struck with fever. Now children, not all children, but parents of believers in the covneantn with God - recognizing God doing a new thing with Messiah - These parents believe there is a promise for my child in what you are doing Jesus. I want you to touch the, to bless them. We are asking for a blessing from You for their future life.
As you can well imagine Lucas & Lindsay - caught up in day by day medical and parenting and farming moments, but also big life changing thoughts of future for life, for family, for children. And what a wonderful thing it is that God in establishing every single covenant in the Bible - always includes children! A & E - your seed… crush Devil. Noah in the flood, your children, Abraham, think of stories of Isaac, Jacob and Esau Moses @ Mt Sinai, in the prophets Covenant renewal, but also Promised New Covenant of the NT Messiah - … And now here is the Bringer of the New Covenant - and before he establishes that New Covenant on the Cross and Rising again - before gives new covenant sign of Baptism and Lord’s Supper - Now he says, this new covenant of mine, the New Testament, also going to involve children and families! And how? Just look at the promise at the end of Mark 10:14b THE PROMISE:
But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.
Earlier in Mk 9 Jesus had said you have to receive children in my name, put a kid in the middle of them. But that’s not what Jesus says here. Here he says, to these children, to covenant children presented by their parents in faith to me, to them belongs something. The kingdom of God is bestowed on them as a pure gift. Doesn't mean necessarily that they have salvation, nor that they have faith & repentance yet. But that they, as a pure gift, are initiated and ushered into Jesus-circle of believers and blessing and initiated in the promises of the kingdom.
Q. Now answer this question for yourself: If Jesus physically here right now - do you think he would have time for children? Special interest in them. Give them the gift of belonging and growing up in his kingdom. Look at Jesus - life with children. First of all he became one, didn’t say: : I really just Creator and God, and I didn’t really become a child. No he became a real baby , child and teenage and man, raised digniigtty became a model for all those stages of life, possible to live with and unto God in them. But listen so many of his miracles involved children., noblmean little son, demonized only son of man on Mt of Tranfiguration, Remember synagogue ruler Jarius little daughter sick, and Jesus tenderly stand over her dead body, and Jesus Says, what TALITHA KOUMI, - little lamb, arise!!! Jesus as the true God-man loved children! Of course physical children, but spiritually all of us and every child born into this world - plagued with terminal sin, spiritually helpless with nothing to offer God - helpless as baby. And Jesus says in covenant of grace -Little Lamb arise!
That’s what Annie has been initiated into this Jesus-circle of the Church Jesus says they are to grow up - spiritually engaged according to their cpaactity for sure. But Jesus affirms, what world then didn’t - that children are spiritual being, with hearts able to responded to him. And often I think - in their simplicity by age of 7 or so more able to respond in true faith to saving grace, Certainty history bear out that well over 90% of Christian come to Christ in faith before age of 25. And Jesus is responding to parents bringing their children to him, is saying, yes they can authentically respond to me - my kingdom consists of such responses.
By way of application, our experience of NA church can be that covenant children are not really members of Christ’s church. Kids are just spiritual kind of on hold … neutrals until sow wild oats and then respond in later teen years or adult years, maybe really convert to Christ in radical way. But that ought not be. We as the church can’t be busy in adult faith, and say kids can be absent are invoved in worshipping and followingk growing in the Lord. Listen to Charles Spurgeon: I will say broadly that I have more confidence in the spiritual life of the children that I have received into this church than I have in the spiritual condition of the adults thus received. I will go even further than that, and say that I have usually found a clearer knowledge of the gospel and a warmer love to Christ in the child-converts than in the man-converts. I will even astonish you still more by saying that I have sometimes met with a deeper spiritual experience in children of ten and twelve than I have in certain persons of fifty and sixty."
No with all fulness of life - experience of Lucas and Lindsay with their boys - ask big q, teach, capable of responding. And here they with us have brought Annie to Jesus - touch with hand of blessing - welcome - to such as these belong the kingdom of God.
But now let us serious church members also stand with the disciples and hear our Lord’s warning this morning. And if you are not a serious church member, let me ask you to hear this warning as one tempted to think you don’t need to receive something from Jesus Christ as a child. Let me ask you to receive this warning so you don’t Respond saying “ I don’t take gifts from anyone, I don’t take anything from God that I can’t earn or pay back.” I don’t need to receive the kingdom God as a child.
B. Jesus Warns that the Kingdom of God can only Be Received as a Child
B. Jesus Warns that the Kingdom of God can only Be Received as a Child
Mark uses an unusual word for anger, only once in whole gospel. He sees a church , a congregation of the Jesus-circle, and they are putting obstacles for these little kids to come to Jesus, to receive and to respond. The disciples had just done that with a person casting out unclean spirits. They wanted to stop him, because not one of us. Jesus says big deal isn’t if for people for you, but if for me the Messiah. And he rebuked them severely if they get in the way of anyone coming to him. And that is Jesus same concern here. In fact, the strongest warnings given about causing little ones to stumble, causing them to sin, to live in God forgetting way. But here the righteous anger reaches new level. It’s a deep seated grief, compound word for. And look at the warning Jesus delivers with that deep grief and intense anger when we are obstacles to people coming to Jesus, especially as church creating obstacles for God’s covenant children: … Mark 10:15
Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”
Now the subject of Jesus’ teaching shifts from baby Annie and our inclusion of her, in the Jesus-circle to find blessing and touch of Jesus grace. Now the subject is you & me - Jesus got so angry because these disciples were misunderstanding and distorting who can Come into the Kingdom of God. And this is radical radical teaching that cuts across the grain of your thinking and mine too. This is what links Jesus teaching about it being impossible for us rich, self-sufficient, morally pretty good people from entering the kingdom of God. We think we can earn it! I can’t tone this down. Jesus uses the strongest most emphatic way to say never in the Gk language. In English we have to translate it like in the hymn : I will never no nver, no never forsake. Jesus declares its impossible unless you receive this kingdom like Annie to be saved to live the Jesus life. The langue is saying, now you have to figure out how to receive the kingdom into your life like a child recieve my blessing. You will never, no never never enter the Kingdom in its fulness on the last day, uness now in your life today you figure out how to receive it like a child!
Well, big grown-up people who have forgotten childhood, teenagers so quickly throwing away your childhood, you can’t wait until your 18 then 20 25 , what does it mean to receive the kingdom as a child? Well the key word is RECEIVE. The Gospel and the kingdom are gifts that you can’t earn, or work or build, they are pure gifts of grace that you can only receive from Jesus without claim or merit. You got to take them they way a child takes a gift, openly and confidently. If you got a cheque with $50 or 500 or 5000 in the mail from me, or from your a brother or sister - chances are you wouldn’t receive it like 2 of our kids receiving such a gift from their grandparents for graduation. You’d be thinking: Well why did my pastor give this, must want me to use it in special way, or I better give a really special thank you I am going to pay back. Work out a plan to use it worthily so not a gift! Do you understand that’s the beef that Jesus had with the rich young ruler, and many religious people - he thought his living a decent life, his working hard, his piety - living a life of achievement - wants to bargain and negotiate with God. A person especially adults settled way of life- outdisde Kingdom can never, no never, no never enter it that way! You know why because you don’t really receive Jesus and His work - your life is not about gift of salvation but about your agenda!
See this is the comparison. Jesus isn’t saying, be innocent as children, have a mild manner, so bubbly and selfless then you can come into my kingdom. Get really have you spent 5 minutes let alone 5 years with a toddler. No the point Jesus is making is that children are helpless and absolutely dependent - they receive with expectation, confidence - got to receive from Jesus like that!
This is Jesus ultimatum to we who would live with un-childlike piety of trying to be moral enough, religious enough spiritual enough - haven’t received the gift. No, your faith is actually just in your achievement and ultimately that will fail before God. And Jesus saying you got to abandon that way of life and that way of relating to me. That’ a life about self-centered greatness that ultimately avoids and doesn't embrace and engage in God with joyful thankful faith!
Let me illustrate it this way: Winston Churchill and Dwight Eisenhower in 1943 almost two years before the end of WWII at Casablanca. There will be no negotiation, no opportunity to halt the war, the enemy will be permitted no concessions whatsoever. Unconditional surrender is the only way the war will end. Two years later, outcome obvious, and various individuals and groups on the German side tried to open negotiations, All their overtures are rejected. No negotiation, no condition. Accept only total surrender. Bible says - says - may not be Nazi Germany, or murderer, or swindler - but sin means at war with God until peace with Christ - by total surrender! Receive kingdom like child as pure gift. Jesus says, there is nothing you can offer me except your total surrender. To receive the K of Go as a child, means you come with no credits, no clout, no claims! You receive like a child out of sheer neediness rather than any inherent merit. That’s what makes children receive with such confidence,and deep thankfulness. Receiving like that becomes the paradigm for really being Jesus’ disciples. Have you ever come to jesus simply asking with open and empty hands? Its a gift and so we come with no status, no resources, no pretense. Listen: Only empty hands can be filled. Have you come to Jesus with empty hands?
Like the hymn puts it: Nothing in my hands to Christ I bring, only to the Cross I cling. Its either your greatness and performance and achievement that you come and never enter, or simpole faith recive Christ and Hi Work and they door to the kingdom swings open. And this morning Mark has recorded it well - WHOSOEVER receives in faith like that right now - will enter the kingdom. John 3:16 whosoever believe has eternal life. Mark 10:15 whosoever receives like child, enter kingdom of God.
And you know what is promised to all who receive him like this: John 1:12
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
And Jesus to you and me, that’s what’s at stake in you and I having, not a childish simplistic faith, but true simple, child-like trust and dependence to receive Jesus now - as the one in whom the Kingdom of God draws near, and salvation. But there is not only a promise for covenant children, and a warning to all who hear the gospel to simply receive Jesus, there is also a startling welcome!
C. The Powerful Welcome of Jesus’ Touch
C. The Powerful Welcome of Jesus’ Touch
And again if all you see in the last verse of our text, is an adult having a brief interlude of snuggling with a baby, -you will miss the shock value of how Jesus treats children. Listen to Mark 10:16 carefully:
And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.
Obviously some children as small as Anneliese. But its these two activities of blessing and laying hands on that is astonishing. Calvin says not empty signs or trifling matter. Children should be seen, and not ____________. In terms of the action of a family and of a church family and of those in the Jesus-Circle - Do we sequester children, nursery, to Sunday School to youth church, to youth leader to youth pastor, possible never spend anytime with the whole Jesus Circle in worship and service. This is the fulfillment of the prophesy that God’s servant come to earth and you know what he will do? Carry his little ones close to his heart: He will feed his flock, like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. Isaiah 40:11
But these actions of blessing and laying on of hands hugely significant for God’s OT people. Consider the practice of bless and laying on hands in covenant family of the patriarchs like Jacob and 12 sons: Noah blessed Shem and Japheth (Gen 9:26–27), Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau (Gen 27; 28:1–4), and Jacob blessed his sons and grandsons (Genesis 48–49). Such blessings tended to be officious in nature, related particularly to the passing on of one’s name or property. “A father’s blessing establishes the houses of his children,” declares Sir 3:9. The laying on of hands was also a priestly rite of investiture in Israel, whereby wisdom (Deut 34:9) and the spirit of office (Num 27:18–20) were conferred on the ordinand. This rite was also continued in early Christianity (Acts 6:1–6; 13:1–3).
Jesus touch brought healing. But Jesus’ touch was also a blessing, a tangible expression of God’s unconditional love for the unclean, foreigners, women, and children. Jesus’ personal touch of common people was the movement he founded, sparing it from the incipient hierarchy and elitism, whether professional or ascetic, so common of religion. Adolph Schlatter a German theologian in age of unbelief, stood up - said with of this passage, without Jesus receiving little children: - “Another gospel would have resulted and not that of Jesus, and another church rather than his church. Had children been prevented from coming to Jesus, Christianity would be made into something for adults alone.”
Why fourth vow, our vow as a congregation so important here, not just baptism, but our very real welcome as body of Christ to Annie, and embrace Meulenberg family. And this is an instruction on the place of children in God’s family, the church. The place of children in your life and mine. Jesus wasn’t married maybe you neither, but covenant children ought to have a special place in your heart and in your life. We live in a culture of individualism that supposes little children’s lives need - all the latest gadgets, and they need special programs, and they can’t assume responsibilities, and even as teenagers and young adults - live to play and party. But Jesus teaches that the kingdom of God can belongs to such as these, and therefore - the soul of a little child is vitally important, not in the future, but now among us! We can’t safely leave a child soul alone, on hold. We can’t leave a child alone and then 7 years later or 17 years late say Oh faith is important,. No, we understand Jesus work in child’s soul - ready to respond, able to learn of evil and sin, of Goodness, and Grace. Each soul will live forever in heaven or hell, and God hasn’t left them to grow up on their own spiritually without influence. We an’t make lazy excuses that kids will be kids, can’t bother with the Kingdom of God and Jesus. Young people will young people. No, we have promised to cultivate a spiritual awareness and sensitivity from youngest years with these children. We have brought them to be touched by Jesus and His grace, to grow in His kingdom!
As in Industrial Engalnd JC Ryle: It is the bounden duty of every Christian congregation to make provision for the spiritual training of its children. Parents w children’s bible, with prayer, with kid catechism, those organize Sunday school, little lambs, Cadets GEMS, Young People, Young Audlts… Grand Parents, Aunts Uncles take special interest, and as one with no family in this congregation -what a diff.
I remember those members stil today like it was yesterday who taught Sunday School, modeled Christian living Cadets, I remember and still speak with Youth Group Leader. I relish to think of - First conference I went to was how to be a good Sunday School Teacher as 20 something. If we are to serve Jesus well, we must make room in our lives for children. I know some gifted more than others, but we must value what Jesus valued, and that certainly included children. Jesus said it Let the little children come to me, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven. IN coming to Jesus children here and around this world are coming to the one in whom God’s present reign, is made manifest. Who wouldn’t want a part of that/