Like a Child In Matthew s gospel, we read about children in the presence of Jesus. Let s read in the 19 th chapter about this brief exchange where children are with Jesus. We will read verses 13 through 15. Then some children were brought to Him so that He might lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. After laying His hands on them, He departed from there. (Matthew 19:13-15 NASB) Jesus doesn t just say Let the children He is saying Permit the children to come to me. He then tells us that the kingdom belongs to such as these. What does that mean? Whole sermons have focused on this and many of them have settled on the childlike faith. This may well be a truth we may glean for this passage. However, today we will consider another aspect of childlike behavior that is key to access to the kingdom. To introduce us to this alternative view of childlikeness, we will read another account of Jesus with children. This time from the gospel of Mark in the 9 th chapter. We are reading in the 9 th chapter of Mark beginning in verse 30. From there they went out and began to go through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know about it. For He was teaching His disciples and telling them, The Son of Man is to be delivered (or betrayed) into the hands of men, and they will kill Him; and when He has been killed, He will rise three days later. But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him. 1
They came to Capernaum; and when He was in the house, He began to question them, What were you discussing on the way? But they kept silent, for on the way they had discussed with one another which of them was the greatest. Sitting down, He called the twelve and said to them, If anyone wants to be first, he shall be (or let him be) last of all and servant of all. Taking a child, He set him before them (or in their midst), and taking him in His arms, He said to them, Whoever receives one child (or one of such children) like this in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me. (Mark 9:30-37 NASB) Notice in this passage, Jesus is talking with His disciples about an important event that will soon take place. Jesus is talking about His own death and resurrection. We are told they did not understand this statement. It is fairly easy to understand. However, many of us can understand how people fail to understand things. We are engrossed in a television program, or some other distraction. We realize that our spouse is talking and we didn t hear them. We, like the disciples, are afraid to ask. So, Jesus asked them What were you discussing on the way? They did not want to answer because they were speculating and perhaps jockeying for position in their little band of disciples. Who is the lead disciple? Who is trusted more? Jesus knows what they have been discussing. He selects a child and places them in the middle of the group. Jesus then tells His disciples: Whoever receives one child (or one of such children) like this in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me. Children held no social status in society. To lift a child above an adult was unthinkable. Yet, Jesus takes a child in His arms and receives the child. The lesson here is one of humility. 2
Humility! Isn t this the lead off point of that famous sermon that Jesus delivered on the mountain? Look at the opening section of that sermon as we read from Matthew the 5 th chapter. When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying, Blessed (lit. supremely blessed or fortunate and so throughout) are the poor in spirit (i.e. those who are not spiritually arrogant), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the gentle (or humble or meek), for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:1-12 NASB) 3
Jesus had gone to great lengths to talk about the humble, meek, the people whom society often discounts or overlooks and tells us that they are supremely blessed or fortunate. Jesus seems to be looking for and at those who quietly live their life without pretention or boasting. Those who demonstrate that childlike quality of realizing they are happiest when doing things for others. Have you ever seen a child disappointed when presenting a flower (weed) to his mother? Maybe, when the mother makes a critical remark and tosses the flower in the trash. The gospel writers each tell of at least two separate times when Jesus reached out to children and spoke of them to His disciples. In each case, the first recorded event is just after the disciples were arguing about their relative place of importance. As we read earlier in Mark the 9 th chapter, Jesus uses a child to illustrate humility. The second time we see children as an illustration by Jesus is when people were upset because children were being brought to Jesus. We read how Jesus responds in Mark 10:13-16. And they were bringing children to Him so that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked them. 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. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all. And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands on them. (Mark 10:13-16 NASB) This runs parallel with the passage we read from Matthew the 19 th chapter. Again, we may draw an inference that Jesus is talking about the faith of a child. I notice another glaring fact. The son of God had only a short time to accomplish His 4
mission on earth yet He was never too busy to put children in a subordinate position. For a homework assignment, read the accounts of Jesus and children in the gospels. Look for the reference to their angels seeing God s face on a daily basis. In fact, Jesus tells us if we receive children, we receive Him, and if we receive Him, then we receive God (the one who sent Him). If this doesn t help you see children in a new light, perhaps you need to take a pause and remember the first occasion when Jesus took a child into His lap. His disciples felt superior to others and were vying for preferred seating in the kingdom. James, the brother of Jesus, wrote a short book containing just 5 chapters. We have already looked at this book as a handbook for living the Christian life. We will take a few minutes to see how James echoes the same idea living humbly and pleasing God. He also points out that failing to live humbly will lead to strife and friction. Let s read from James the 3 rd chapter beginning in verse 13 and see if we catch a glimpse of how we should live. Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition (Or strife) in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural (or unspiritual), demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition (or strife) exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. (James 3:13-16 NASB) If we pause right here, we see that James is describing the same type of argument (discussion) that the disciples were having just prior to Jesus placing a child in 5
their company to talk about childlike acceptance. In this section of scripture, James tells us that the wisdom that causes us to become arrogant is demonic. In the next section, he tells us about the divine wisdom. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable (or willing to yield), full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness (lit. the fruit of righteousness) is sown in peace by (or for) those who make peace. (James 3:17-18 NASB) In the next few verses, James lays out how living in this world and desiring to have the things that the world offers only causes more strife, and division. Then, in the 3 rd verse of chapter 4, James tells us: Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. When Jesus said: Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these., He wanted us to have the attributes and qualities of children. Children are humble, faithful, and loving. When you have a child that is a friend, you have a loyal supporter. Children don t straddle the fence. Children don t practice hypocrisy nor do they tolerate it in others. Are we ready to come to Jesus without reservations and accept Him and His salvation like a child? 6