Matthew 18:1-4 "Like a Little Child"

Introduction

On Monday afternoon I was setting with Nancy and Dustin in my office planning this funeral service for Bub and I told Dustin that Bub was a cowboy. I then said to Nancy that it was fitting that his memorial service was at 12 to which Nancy replied yea, “High Noon”.

The week before he died I was visiting him in his home and I was listening to him describe an old Cadillac he used to own when he lived in Colorado. When he was finished I couldn’t wait to as him if if he had a set of bull horns as a hood ornament on it. He said no, “i didn’t have the bull horns on it”. He said it kind of like he wished it did but it didn’t.

Bub was a blessed man. He had may around him who loved him deeply but there were many hardships that he had throughout his life. The ones that I knew about the most were his health issues that he dealt with in his later years.

As I have reflected over his life for the past several days my mind kept coming back to this passage in Matthew 18:1-4. I think this text of Scripture has something critical for us to learn as we reflect upon the life of Bub Baker.

I. In this text the disciples had come to Jesus inquiring about who the greatest was in the Kingdom of Heaven (vs 1). This tells us that they had little insight to the true nature of the Kingdom of heaven.

They knew something about earthly kingdoms because they were under Roman oppression. They understood political power and strength but they had no clue about the kind of kingdom that Jesus as the Messiah of God would establish.

II. Jesus the master teacher calls a child to himself as an object lesson and places the child right in their midst (2).

Understand the parallel of contrast that Jesus is establishing. The disciples perception of the kingdoms of men built upon political power and strength are being set in contrast with the kingdom of heaven reflected in a little child.

Theologian Craig Keener points out that, This is significant because the most powerless members of ancient society were little children. In Jewish culture, children were loved, not despised; but the point is that they had no status apart from that love, and no power or privileges apart from what they received as total dependents on their parents (Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary).

III. The stage is set and then Jesus begins to speak to His disciples about the true nature of the kingdom of heaven (3-4).

Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

This must have been shocking for them. They came to question Jesus about the greatest in the kingdom of heaven based upon presuppositions of the might and power of men. They thought that Jesus would give them the name or description of a great warrior. Someone who could compete with King David in the Old Testament.

But Jesus shatters their expectations and makes it very personal to them by not giving the description of the greatest but the very requirement for entry. You must turn and become like children and unless you do you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

And just so they understand Jesus explains in verse 4: Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

This is because the kingdom of heaven is not dependent upon might and strength of men but upon the might and strength of God. I was reminded of this on March 15th as I knelt before Bubs chair to pray with him before I left his house that day. Before we prayed he told me how much he wanted to go be with Jesus. Now understand Bub Baker was not a theologian. He would have told you that himself.

But the profound thing to me that day was how he declared to me that he was just an old sinner. To which I replied yea, your just like your pastor. And he said it again I just want to be with him. I left that day and couldn’t help but reflect on how much he desired to be with Christ and the profound assurance he had in Christ to take him home.

Bub got his wish on March 21st and God’s little child went to be with Christ in total dependence on Christ for his salvation. And it was not primarily because Bub held tight Christ but it was primarily because Christ held tight to Bub.

Conclusion: Do you have Faith like a little Child today?

There is a contrast set before you today. Finding your hope in the might and power of this world or putting your faith in the might and power of the kingdom of heaven through the finished work of Jesus Christ on the Cross.

Believe the gospel by grace through faith alone. Find your comfort in the God of all grace who keeps us for Himself. Let’s Pray!