Jesus Loves Us All

Series: The Gospel Truth

Text: Mark 10:13-31

Introduction: (What?)

The love of Jesus spans all of mankind. He loves the children, the poor, the rich, the saved and the lost. What we see in Jesus and his limitless love is a pattern for us. We must realize that love is not an emotion, but rather a decision and is demonstrated by our actions. I constantly have to remind myself when I see someone that I don’t like, for whatever reason, that Jesus loved and died for them also.

Explanation: (Why?)

1. Jesus Loves the Little Children (vv 13-16)

“People were bringing little children (infants) to him in order that He might touch them...” Parents in this time often took their children to prominent rabbis to be blessed. The blessings usually was given as the hands of the rabbi were laid on the child. For Jesus, this was no bother. He even considered it an honor. His disciples were always very protective of Jesus and his time, so they tried to intervene. “…but the disciples rebuked them.” They thought that they were doing a good thing, but rather than commending them, Jesus became indignant. “When Jesus saw it, He was indignant and said to them ‘Let the little children come to Me. Don’t stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” One reason that Jesus was indignant was because children in that day and time were often considered a liability until they got old enough to work in the family business or otherwise contribute to society. One commentator noted, “By Jesus’s time Romans had a trash heap beside many homes where people could leave their unwanted children. If other people wanted the children, they could pick them up. Sometimes the kids were raised to be prostitutes or gladiators, or slaves.” Today, in addition to the 60+ million children killed via abortion, of those who survive until birth, 14 million die before age 5 from diarrhea, measles, tetanus, whooping cough, and respiratory infections (pneumonia). Most of these could have been saved with simple procedures or medications.

I can’t tell you how many times I have seen a child accept Christ at VBS or Children’s Camp or some other event, only to have the parents say, “They’re too young. They really don’t understand what they are doing.” Often these children are never discipled and may in years to come walk away from their commitment. One of my grandsons accepted Christ while listening to Christian radio. He told his parents. They took him to their pastor. Their church would not allow baptism until a child was 12 years old and had gone through a course that the church offered. Consequently it was years later that I was able to baptize him in another church. Today he has turned away from the simple faith he had as a child and is living as one who does not believe the teachings of scripture. Our hearts are grieving and we are continually praying for him to return to God. Well meaning people can often make wrong choices for children when they are most open to the gospel. Data shows that most people who accept Christ do so before they are 18 years old. Consequently, even though we are largely a Sr. Adult church, we are adamant about having a ministry to the children and youth in our area. Both of my daughters surrendered to Christ very young. We took them to our pastor and had him talk with them. When he was satisfied that they were sincere and knew what they were doing, they were baptized and have grown into Godly women today.

in vv 15-16 we hear the words of Jesus and see His actions regarding children. “‘Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’ After taking them in His arms, He laid His hands on them and blessed them.” To receive the kingdom like a little child, one must do so as a gift with humble, trusting dependence. The songs that many of you learned in Sunday School are correct. “Jesus Loves Me, this I know for the Bible tells me so.” and “Jesus Loves the Little Children” which has the line, “Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world.”

While the parents and extended family in Jesus’ day brought the children to Him for blessing, we can still lead our children to Jesus. I can think of no greater joy than the joy of a parent or grandparent leading a child to faith in Christ and then “teaching them to observe all things” that they have been commanded to do. (Rae and Joshua)

The gift of salvation is not something to be scrutinized or reasoned out. It is just to be recieved by faith, like that of a little child. Paul wrote in Eph. 2:8-9 “For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift---not from works, so that no one can boast.” The job of discipling a child is first and foremost to be done by the parents.

2. Jesus Loves those who Don’t Accept Him (vv 17-22) In this passage we find one of the better known stories from the NT. “As He (Jesus) was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before Him, and asked Him, ‘Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’” At a children’s camp provided by the Los Angeles Baptist Association, an 11 y/o boy told the story of how his father had been hit by a car in the city. As he lay dying, he cried out for someone to tell him how to receive Jesus. Of the dozens of people standing and gawking, no one stepped forward and the man died without Christ. In 1 Peter 3:15 we are admonished to “regard Christ the LORD as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks for a reason for the hope that is in you.” Are you ready to step up and share the gospel with one who is seeking? Not all will receive Christ as we see in the rest of this story. “Why do you call Me good? Jesus asked him. ‘No one is good except God alone.’” Then, starting with something that Jesus knew the young man could identify with, Jesus shared with him. “You know the commandments: Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.’” These were not questions, but rather were assertions. Jesus knew that the young man knew these commands. Sure enough the young man replied ecstatically, “He said to Him, ‘Teacher, I have kept all these from my youth.’” Look carefully at Jesus’ response. “Looking at him, Jesus loved him and said to him, ‘You lack one thing. Go and sell all you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.’”

We all have or had “one thing” which we lack in our quest for eternal life. My one thing and yours will be different. However, our “one thing” is the idol in our life. The young man’s “one thing” was possessions. When push came to shove he was unwilling to let go of what he had in order to get what he wanted. In SE Asia someone came up with a unique way to catch monkeys alive and unharmed. It is called the “Monkey Jar Trap” (explain, demonstrate). We must let go of our “one thing” in order to get the “main thing” which we desire…eternal life with Christ.

Jesus still loved the young man although he did not surrender on the spot. “But he was dismayed and went away grieving, because he had many possessions.”

You may have heard the phrase “love the lost”. If you are honest, you probably don’t have a warm fuzzy feeling toward those who are without Christ. Loving the lost means having the same attitude toward them that Jesus did toward this young man. Care enough to take the time to share the gospel with them. I’m sure that Jesus knew up front that the young man would refuse His invitation. Yet He took the time and lovingly gave him a chance. Don’t try to push it off on someone else. Recognize that your call is to be a witness. Saving them depends on Jesus and their response to the gospel. Everyone deserves a chance to accept Christ. Do you love them enough to tell them how and give them a chance to respond?

3. Jesus Loves Those Who Surrender All (vv 23-31)

The disciples had been onlookers as Jesus dealt with the young man. Recognizing another “teachable moment”, Jesus addressed them. “Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, ‘How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God.’” The disciples gave a double-take. “The disciples were astonished at His words. Again Jesus said to them, ‘Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.’” Notice that Jesus didn’t say that it was “impossible” but rather He said it was “hard”. It is so hard that it takes the grace of God to make it happen. The phrase “easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle” was a Jewish take on a Persian expression describing an impossible situation. The Persians said, “it would be easier to put an elephant through the eye of a needle.” There were no elephants in Palestine. The largest animal was a camel, hence the Hebrew adaptation of the quote. Many have tried to explain this away by saying that “needle” referred to a tiny gate in the city wall of Jerusalem that camels could only enter by getting on their knees and inching through. However, there is no evidence that such a gate ever existed. Jesus was referring to a real camel and a real needle’s eye. Hang on for the end of the story.

“They (the disciples) were even more astonished, saying to one another, ‘Then who can be saved?’” Jesus is standing right there, and yet they don’t ask Him but rather ask each other. We quite often seek answers from other people rather than going to the source of all knowledge.

“Looking at them, Jesus said, ‘With man it is impossible, but not with God, because all things are possible with God.’” Aha! There is your answer. It is quite impossible for a camel to go through the eye of a sewing needle, BUT with God ALL things are possible. The wealthy may have a harder time surrendering to Jesus because, like the young man, (and the monkey) it is hard to let go of what he has. But, because of the grace of God it is possible. Abraham was a rich man, yet we will see him in heaven. Joseph of Aramatheia was a rich man, yet we will see him in heaven. Both had to recognize that it is through faith, not wealth, that eternal life is possible. In Matt. 6:24 Jesus said that a person could not serve God and money. If your money or possessions is your god, then you are serving an idol and not the Eternal God. Whatever you are holding onto must be surrendered to God as well. He may or may not give it back to you. (He gave Moses his rod back, but it had become the Rod of God).

Most of those who surrender to Christ do so without a thought of any reward other than Eternal Life with Him. However, as Jesus explained to Peter and the disciples, there is more…much more.

“Peter began to tell Him, ‘Look, we have left everything and followed You.’” Perhaps Peter was comparing their response with that of the young ruler. He saw the love and disappointment in Jesus’ eyes as the young man left. He wanted Jesus to know that although this man left, there were at least 12 who didn’t.

“‘Truly I tell you,’ Jesus said, ‘there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father, or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the gospel, who will not receive a hundred times more now at this time---houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields with persecutions---and eternal life in the age to come. But many who are first will be last, and the last, first.’” One commentator summed it up this way, “Leave a little, get a lot.” During their 3+ years with Jesus, the disciples never lacked a place to stay, food to eat, clothes to wear, etc. Their provisions met their needs. Interestingly Jesus included in the list of provisions, persecutions. While most of us would not consider that to be a “perk”, many in areas where persecution against believers is rampant would disagree. They anticipate and even welcome persecution as a part of their sanctification. In John 15:20 Jesus said, “If they persecuted Me they will also persecute you.” Nik Ripkin, author of “The Insanity of God” and “The Insanity of Obedience” said, “In Scripture persecution is NORMAL. The #1 cause of persecution is people coming to Jesus. The larger the harvest, the more severe the persecution. People keep finding Jesus and they refuse to keep Him to themselves. The better question is ‘Why are we not being persecuted?’”

Application: (How should I respond to this message?)

As I ask almost every week, have you surrendered your life to Jesus? Understand that if you have then you’ll go where He sends you, when He sends you and say what He tells you to say. If you decide where you will go and when you will go and what you will say, then you aren’t surrendered. Do you need to come to the altar today and say with the song writer, “All to Jesus, I surrender; I surrender all.”

God said to Moses, ‘What is that in your hand?’ ‘A staff’ he replied. ‘Throw it on the ground’ He said. (Ex. 4:2-3) What are you holding onto like the monkey that is keeping you captive? Throw it down. If God gives it back it will be endowed with His power so that you can serve in ways you never thought possible. Do you need to come today and put something or someone that has been hindering your surrender to God on the altar?