Luke 18:15-17
English Standard Version (ESV)
Let the Children Come to Me
15 Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.16 But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 17 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”Accompanying John MacArthur sermons: Children and the Kingdom of God Part 1 and Part 2
Accompanying Mark Driscoll sermon: Jesus and Children
Accompanying Matt Chandler sermon: Like a Child
Children were not an inconvenience to Jesus. They most certainly were not valued in Jesus' day, and they most certainly are not in our day either. Abortion and child abuse is rampant in our society. Children are often seen as a nuisance and sometimes little more than a disruption to a woman's career.
But Jesus valued children.
And they wanted to be with Him! He said "Let the children come". They wanted to be with Jesus, spend time with Him. Who do kids want to spend time with? Someone fun. Jesus was fun! Not a word I've ever heard used to describe Jesus before, but Mark Driscoll pointed out in his sermon, that that's likely one of the reasons the kids wanted to be with Jesus. Kids go where the fun is. Since God invented fun, I'm sure Jesus was fun. Doesn't that expand your idea of who Jesus was? It sure did for me! The kids also must have felt that Jesus wanted to spend time with them, and didn't consider them a nuisance. They must have felt welcomed by Him, and that He had time for them.
Great parenting reminders there too. Do we make our children feel like they are interruptions to something more important in our schedule? Obviously, there are times where we do simply need to get things done - but do we brush them off like they're a nuisance, like they're unimportant, unworthy?
Or do we welcome them, and desire to spend time with them, like Jesus did?
From a spiritual standpoint - we must be childlike spiritually, in order to enter the kingdom. We must recognize that, like children with their parents, we need God's protection, provision, and care. We must realize that without Him, we are completely unable to come to Him, to do anything! We need Him to rescue us.
We need to be humble.
Tomorrow's scripture focus: Luke 18:18-27
2 comments:
We always think of Jesus as being so serious and all business during His ministry, don't we? I guess probably because the writings about Him were only concerned with His message, not the everyday things He did in between wise sayings. But yes, I think Jesus was fun, especially when there were children around Him. He would have been able to draw a crowd of kids much easier, I think, than a crowd of adults, who expected miraculous signs and wonders to keep their attention. Kids are so much easier ~ just listening to them and laughing with them usually wins them over pretty quickly!
I must admit to sometimes brushing my kids off or treating them as a nuisance. I don't think it happens frequently, but it does happen. Definitely something to work on!
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