Mark 10_13_16 Sermon

Introduction: I have good news, Jesus came to save sinners and His business is good because there is an earth filled with sinners. Because of sin there is a high mortality rate on earth, its 100%. Wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life.

Jesus died on a cross for the sins of the world, He bore in His body God’s wrath for the sins we have and will commit. Why? Because He loves us and desires us not to perish under the wrath of God.

Jesus gave His life for us and all who will come to Him in childlike faith will be delivered and received into the family of God.

Orientate: Jesus has twice predicted His passion; the Son of man will suffer many things and be handed over to the religious leaders and be killed and rise again on the 3rd day. Jesus is making that journey to Jerusalem and as He goes, He is teaching and ministering and people are bringing their young children to Jesus and He receives them in His arms. This is a beautiful picture of how Jesus receives all those who come to Him.

CPS: Everyone is sentenced to death and will die but Jesus gives life to those who come to Him, young or old, small or tall, white or black, rich or poor. Jesus will receive you if you come to Him.

How do I come to Him?

How the Children came to Jesus Vs. 13-14

Resource – Parents

Children are loved aren’t they? I love all three of my boys. God gave them to me and God gave yours to you. We are to love them, protect them, provide for them, and guide them through life. You could say that we are our children’s main resource on earth.

As their main resource we have a responsibility to them and to the One who gave them to us. How can we best love them, provide for them, protect them, and guide them?

Deuteronomy 6:6 tells us to teach our Children diligently to love the Lord with the totality of their being.

TEXT: Matthew and Luke tell us PARENTS were bringing their children to Jesus. Friends it is our responsibility to bring our Children to Jesus.

Reason – Touched

During the 1st century the mortality rate was exceedingly high. Perhaps fewer that 50% lived to see the age of 5. As a parent I would see this as a major concern. Who doesn’t want to see their child live and prosper?

These parents knew there was something special about the touch of Jesus.

Mark 1 Jesus touches a leper and he is healed

Mark 3 The sick wanted to touch Jesus because He healed all that He touched

Mark 5 Hemorrhaging lady touch Jesus’ outer garments and was healed

Mark 7 Jesus touched a deaf and mute man and he could see and speak plainly.

They wanted the healing hand of Jesus to bless their child. Blessings was an important thing in biblical times. As in Scriptures we see Abraham bless Isaac, Isaac bless Jacob, and Jacob his 12 sons.

An example of a blessing: “May the Lord bless you and protect you; may the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; may the Lord look with favor on you and give you peace.”’

The future of these children are not certain but the, laying on of hands signifies future blessings. There is something special about the touch of Jesus, it gives a future, it gives physical life and life eternal.

We learn a great lesson in this text It is our responsibility to bring our Children to Jesus.

Reception

Disciples

They wanted to hinder the little ones from coming. Once again Mark displays the blindness of the 12. Just a few verses ago they were arguing over who would be the greatest and Jesus said to be great in the kingdom of God you must have humility and receive the humble.

The Disciples are in direct contrast with Jesus’ teaching. They are essentially saying “Jesus is too busy or important to be bothered by the most lowly of mankind.

Jesus – let the Children come.

Don’t stop them from coming to me the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

Application: How do Children come to Jesus? Their parents are to bring them to Jesus.

Transition: Mark gives us a picture of Jesus receiving the lowly and powerless that come to Him.

How mankind comes to Jesus Vs. 15

All mankind has a specific need. His name is Jesus. As we spoke of earlier, the mortality rate of children were exceedingly high. But the mortality rate for mankind is 100%. Young and old are under the same sentence, death! Romans 3:23, 6:23

We all must die but some will die a second death……, Jesus tells us in this passage how we can avoid that 2nd death.

Received

Receive – to have offered

Jesus offers to give citizenship in the Kingdom of God as a gift.

Gift – A gift is a demonstration of Love from one heart to another. You would never pay for a gift would you, No. You gratefully receive it.

Eph. 2:8-9

The manner in which it is received

You receive it like a little child – This is not an invitation to be of Childlike innocence or Naivete~ but it is a challenge to relinquish all claims of power and domination and simply receive it with opened arms understanding there is nothing to lose and EVERYTHING to gain.

Its accepting the kingdom of God in humility….. where most people believed the kingdom would be achieved by force or radical moral reform. No one expected the kingdom of God to come by becoming powerless like children.

The totally powerless can depend on no one but God.

Illustration: 3-year-old Aiden (Totally powerless but depended on Jesus), his family’s dog (Lucy) had gone missing they searched high and low for Lucy to no avail. Aiden tells his mom and dad “ Not to worry, Jesus would take care of Lucy.” The next day his dad was on the computer and Aiden said, “Jesus will bring Lucy home.” To which his dad answered “I hope so.” That night while Aiden said his prayers “thank you Jesus for bringing Lucy home.” Not will you, not please, but thank you. The next day when Lucy came walking up to the front door, Aiden didn’t look surprised he simply said “I told you Jesus was taking care of Lucy.”

Childlike faith is total reliance on the Lord. Children have no control, no claim, and no status but can welcome whatever comes their way with open arms because they have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Application: What do you have to lose? What do you need to lose?

Control over your destiny, certain claims in life, social status…. Jesus says you must be in the humble state of a child to enter into God’s kingdom.

Shed these things that hinder us and come to Jesus in Childlike faith.

Transition: Mark gives us a beautiful picture of what our reception will be when we come to Jesus in childlike faith.

How people are received by Jesus Vs. 16

Can you picture Jesus sitting amongst His disciples, and the children are coming to Him and He picks them up in His arms and He lays His wonder working hands on them and blesses them all?

This is a perfect picture of how Jesus receives the believer. All who come to Jesus in a child like faith will be welcomed into His out stretched arms. What a blessing it is to be received by Jesus.

Application: There are those who believe they could never be received by Jesus. They believe Jesus could never forgive them for their hideous sin. They say “my sins are too atrocious” or “if you knew all I have done you wouldn’t tell me that Jesus would receive me into His arms.”

Friends, there is none so bad that Jesus would not accept into His loving arms. Have you heard of

Moses the murder

David the adulterous murder

Paul the apostle who antagonized a crowd to have the righteous preacher Stephen stoned to death, have you heard of his exploits persecuting Christ’s church?

Jesus welcomed all these into His arms as they came to Him in faith. He will welcome everyone one who comes to Him in childlike faith.

What is keeping you from becoming powerless like a child and leaping into the outstretched arms of Jesus?

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