Like a child

From teaching on the sanctify of marriage (Mk10:1-12) Jesus is going to teach on entrance into the kingdom of God, one must be childlike. There are some simple truths and application we will see in our passage today.

Teaching about the coming kingdom (Mk9:1)

The kingdom of God was coming, and it was during their lifetime

Teaching about the power of God in prayer (Mk9:29)

With God all things are possible, and there is power in prayer and somethings can only be handled in prayer (and in Matthew says fasting too)

Teaching about what is waiting for him in Jerusalem (Mk9:30-32)

He teaches, again, of what awaits for Him, his being handed over, killed and his resurrection

Teaching about greatness in kingdom (Mk9:36-37)

Greatness in the kingdom is to receive like a child and to be a servant of all.

Teaching, there is no dispute that Jesus was a teacher and that He was from God (Jn3:2). May we follow Jesus example and always be ready to teach by our actions and our words and may our words be His Word.

His Word that can lead people into the kingdom, assure people of their place in the kingdom and to help grow the body (the kingdom) to the fullness and unity of Christ (Eph4:1-3)

In our passage today we will look at the narrative and the application based on the scripture (exegesis).

The Narrative

In looking at the narrative, the story, again Jesus is turning things around from what the norm was, but the teaching is vital for entrance into the kingdom of God which is about to be.

Mark 10:13–14 NASB95

13 And they were bringing children to Him so that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, “Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

Mark 10:15–16 NASB95

15 “Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.” 16 And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands on them.

What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?

Some general questions from the narrative then will go into further detail.

What were “they” doing (v.13)? What did the Apostles do?

What was Jesus response (v.14)?

What was Jesus teaching, instructions (v.15)?

What was Jesus example (v.16)?

Custom of day was to bring children to Rabbi for blessings (Mk10:13; Lk18:15)

Luke 18:15 NASB95

15 And they were bringing even their babies to Him so that He would touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they began rebuking them.

Parents would bring their children, and even their babies to Jesus to be touched.

Parents would bring their children, some interpret in looking t this passage and

What was happening though was the apostles were rebuking the parents, and this made the Lord indignant

in·dig·nant (adj) feeling or showing anger or annoyance at what is perceived as unfair treatmen

adjective feeling or showing anger or annoyance at what is perceived as unfair treatment

Children were considered a blessing (Ps127:3=-); they were a rich blessing from God

Children were considered a blessing (Ps127:3-5); they were a rich blessing from God not a burden

Psalm 127:3–4 NASB95

3 Behold, children are a gift of the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward. 4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth.

Psalm 127:5 NASB95

5 How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; They will not be ashamed When they speak with their enemies in the gate.

With the cross in the foreground, the disciples because of background are trying to protect Jesus by rebuking the parents

What parent does not want the best for their children? Who would not want to go get a blessing for their child? Would they be detoured by words? of course not! Jesus response is great and encouraging, let them come

Jesus took them into His arms (Mk10:15)

Jesus instructions, teaching is how one must receive the kingdom (Mk10:15); also gives a warning too.

While busy in His ministry on the way to be the sacrifice He stops and takes children into His arms to bless and to teach.

What can you see, what can you learn from the narrative here, what application? (stop, ask the question, be ready to discuss, develop this some here and will develop more in the exegesis application section)

Exegetical look (application)

Teaching is given for instruction, instruction is given for application, application is for our growth, our growth is for the fullness and unity of the body in Christ.

Kingdom belongs to those “such as these” (Mk10:14; Mt18:3-4)

In the parallel passage in Matthew may we glean a little more information

Matthew 18:3–4 NASB95

3 and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 “Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Now bring back our passage

Mark 10:14–15 NASB95

14 But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, “Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 “Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”

Mk10:

Notice the “such as these” this is the kingdom dwellers who must be converted and receive the kingdom like child.

Kingdom received like a child (Mk10:15)

Is this a salvation issue (v.15)?

Yes it is! There is an imperative

Childlike qualities for kingdom dwellers (Ps131:1-2)

Psalm 131:1–2 NASB95

1 O Lord, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes haughty; Nor do I involve myself in great matters, Or in things too difficult for me. 2 Surely I have composed and quieted my soul; Like a weaned child rests against his mother, My soul is like a weaned child within me.

That is a beautiful portrayal but I want us to look at some of the qualities of a child that we need to have.

Trust, dependence, receptivity (Php4:19; Mt6:26)

A child has trust in his parents that they will always provide for them; they do not fret that it will be provide, they know it will; - application we need to have full trust that God will provide for us.

Philippians 4:19 NASB95

19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

and even Jesus words to trust Him that He will take care of us

Matthew 6:26 NASB95

26 “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?

Dependence, the child cannot go out and provide for himself can he? He depends on his parents to provide what is needed. He cannot do it on his own, nor can we. We cannot save ourselves we need God .

Receptivity: A child does not have to question everything, challenge everything, they take parents at their word (in most cases) they are receptive for they know their parents know what they need and will take care of that need.

Humility, faith, confidence

Matthew 18:3–4 NASB95

Humility, a child does not have pride that has been developed as of yet, so a child is humble. They have humble dependence on parents vs. thinking they need to do it and provide for themselves

Matthew 18:13–14 NASB95

13 “If it turns out that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray. 14 “So it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones perish.

Faith, faith and trust go hand in hand, they have blind faith and trust knowing they will be cared for without seeing how, or even understanding the why at times, they know and they just go in that.

Confidence, they intuitively know, have confidence that parents will be there. They have confidence in what the parents say.

Some other traits to consider: obedience, they do not, as a child, teenager maybe, challenge parents instructions, they are obedient for they know that is what they are supposed to do and they do it upon instructions. They want to please parents and do it for that purpose too.

Children have short memories, they may get disciplined now for something, or get feelings hurt, but they do not remember long and do not hold grudges and nourish no bitterness for they forget even before having to forgive at times.

Acceptance: A child understands little, can explain even less, but accept who they are and and accept their lot in life. They know have faith, confidence, trust in others, in their parents to take care of the.

Here is a good quote from Wiersbe

“We tell children to behave like adults, but Jesus tells the adults to model themselves after children.”

Entering the kingdom like a child

While the world says “grow up” Jesus says look back and remember and come that way into the kingdom.

We enter into God’s kingdom by:

Faith - even without full understanding

We know we cannot get into the kingdom ourselves not by any works that we can do, but by faith and the work that Jesus did on the cross we may gain entrance.

Trust/Dependance (Mt11:28 1Pt5:7)

we come to trust and have dependence on God through Christ knowing HE is with us and will never forsake us. He knows our needs even before we voice them and will meet our needs

If a child has a problem what does the child do, take it to the father, just as we should take our problems to the Father through the Son

Matthew 11:28 NASB95

28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.

and then there is

1 Peter 5:7 NASB95

7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

Belief

we come to the Father believing in the Son, as a child believes in his father we believe in our heavenly father and that He will care for us.

Obedience

As a child hears the instructions, follows the instructions so should we. As a child lives to please the parents, we too should live to please the Father and the Son

Other lessons learned from this passage

Jesus love for children; loving them taking time with them.

Jesus was setting a great role model for children; may we do the same

Jesus prayed for the children, may we do the same

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