“LET THE LITTLE CHILDREN COME TO ME”
Mark 10:13-16
Dr. Glenn A. Jent, Pastor
INTRODUCTION
In the light of the fact that we are about to celebrate Children’s Day, I want us to consider this question: What is the value of a little child? In the business world, marketers see little children as a means to the parents’ bank account. In the church world, some leaders see them as tolerated nuisances in order to gain their parents as members. In the home, we see little children as time-demanding, energy-consuming little blessings who sometimes are terrible inconveniences. But what about the value of little children to God? Does He care about them? Does He have time for them? What about you? What do you think about little children?
Let us examine what our Bible text has to say about little children.
I. THE ATTITUDES OF ADULTS
1. Some people want to bring little children to Jesus.
(1) They want the little children to be in the presence of Jesus.
(2) They want the little children to receive a blessing from Jesus.
2. Some people do not want little children to come to Jesus.
(1) They discourage those who bring little children to Jesus.
(2) They think they are doing Jesus a favor by protecting His time and energy.
Both types of people think they are doing what is best—one for the children, the other for the Lord. The people in the Bible are no different from the people today.
II. THE ATTITUDE OF JESUS
1. His attitude toward the ones hindering little children was strongly negative.
(1) He was indignant with His disciples for turning parents away.
(2) He chided them for their lack of understanding and foresight.
2. His attitude toward the ones bringing the little children was very positive.
(1) He encouraged them to bring the little children to Him.
(2) He spoke of the significance of little children as examples for our learning.
3. His attitude toward little children was gentle and loving.
(1) He took the little children up in His arms.
(2) He placed His hands upon them and blessed them.
Jesus loves adults, but He also loves little children. He did not merely tolerate them. He included them as an important part of His ministry as the Savior of the world.
CONCLUSION
In our text, Jesus was not talking about the conversion—the evangelizing—of little children. These children were actually babies (see the parallel passage in Luke 18:15). What we learn here is that it is always appropriate to bring our children into the presence of Jesus—whatever age they may be. Jesus wants to show His love to all little children. He wants to demonstrate that He places great value upon each child. We are to show that we also value them and, thus, should include them in our worship activities.
The second thing that we learn is that Jesus used little children to teach spiritual lessons to adults. Here, He says that we must receive God’s Kingdom as a little child; or we will be unable to enter it. What does that mean? It means that, like little children, we must realize our helpless condition (we cannot save ourselves). Also, we must have a very basic sense of trust in God as our Caregiver to meet our every need (much as the baby trusts its parents). There is no room for pride or a sense of self-sufficiency. Like little babies, we are truly helpless. All we can do is cry out for God to meet our needs. Are you spiritually hungry or thirsty? Cry out to God! Are you hurting? Cry out to God! Are you lonely? Cry out to God! Do you feel that nobody loves you? Cry out to God! GOD LOVES YOU AND HE CARES ABOUT YOU!
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