“The Children’s Champion”
Mark 10:13-16
Mark 10:13 And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. 15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. 16 And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.
Ministry to children has always been a challenge for the church historically and theologically. Church leaders have struggled to meet the needs of children for many reasons but if we want to know the value of children’s ministries we have to look no further than our text and Jesus word’s to His disciples. I want to share one example that speaks to the difficulty…
Robert Raikes, Glochester, England—1780’s
At the dawning of the industrial era in the late 1700’s (about the time of the United States Revolutionary war) England had a large underclass of poor people who had moved from the countryside to the city to work in “factories.” There was at least one factory in Glochester that manufactured pins. Children as young as eight years old worked six days a week in gruesome surroundings for a pittance. When their tiny hands (which helped them as workers) got caught in the machinery and got cut off, the children were simply dumped on the streets and new workers were hired. There was no free schooling at this time. Education was considered a family (not a communal) purchase—if you had enough money, you sent your children to school. If you were poor, your children did not learn to read and write, and were probably destined to a life of poverty so they couldn’t even read. In the growing factory society the poor never seemed able to rise out of their abject poverty.
Sunday was the one these children got off. Many blew off steam wandering around the town breaking windows and robbing homes while the upscale parishioners attended church. The street urchins of the day survived miserable conditions at work and learned how to be pickpockets and thieves at a young age. There was no way out of the poverty cycle for these children.
These “gangs” of street urchins sparked a vision and burden in Robert Raikes. He saw their lack of education, their dead end life of poverty, and their turning to crime as something Christian folk should be concerned about so he got an idea. His idea was simple: why not start a school on Sundays for these poor children where good Christian people would teach them to read and write, teach them the Ten Commandments, and instruct them in moral living? Maybe with a basic education they might be able to escape their dreadful life.
So Raikes started a “Sunday school” for these poor children. Their parents could not pay for school like other better-off people could so Raikes paid for the first school himself—and recruited others to contribute. He became obsessed with reforming the morals of the poor children and the “lower class.” In 1780 (or maybe 1781) he started this first Sunday school and paid the teacher himself. She quit soon after but he hired others. Since he was a printer, Raikes published large sheets with the Ten Commandments and other Scripture verses on them so the children could use them for his double-duty aim of learning to read and write—and at the same time learning moral principles to live by. These printed sheet were in a sense the first “Sunday school curriculum.” Raikes was a devout member of the Church of England…
Opposition arose quickly to Graham and Bethune and their idea of starting Sunday schools. The idea of holding classes on Sunday was called Sabbath-breaking. Isabella’s husband encouraged her not to wait for the male pastors to get aboard but simply start with the women—which is why the word “Female” got into the title of her organization. Meanwhile her husband organized the New York Sunday School Union which tapped male givers who couldn’t bring themselves to support the women’s group. This mother-daughter team faced typical opposition from established pastors (especially the prominent role of women in the movement). For instance, in 1817 in Medway, Massachusetts when the minister and deacons were opposing the women’s idea of starting a Sunday school one male leader complained, “These young folk are taking too much upon themselves.” Others said “These women will be in the pulpit next.
Keith Drury’s “Local Church Education” course at Indiana Wesleyan University over the years 1996-2010
The disciples exhibited some of the same attitudes so it is safe to say that this has been and continues to be an issue for the church. Let’s examine our text to see what we can learn…
I. The Respect for the Savior
a. His worth
It was quite common in that day for parents to bring small children, (the word used here can be translated children of all ages including infants ), so that a teacher or prophet could lay hands on them and bless them signifying God blessings upon the child. These parents had heard about the Lord and were drawn to Him anticipating a blessing on their child.
Martin Luther said, “I have held many things in my hands and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that I still possess.” - (Source unknown) Parents, give your children to Jesus as soon as you possibly can!
b. His winsomeness
What did they see in Jesus that they did not see in His disciples? By the time you get to chapter 10 they have already been sent out into ministry with power to cast out demons and heal the sick in chapter 6. The goal of discipleship is Christlikeness but He is the one they respond to, He is the one they turn to, He is the one that thru His manner and ministry that they come to for blessing. Children are intuitive. What they lack in experience they make up in their ability to discern what we are about as adult. Jesus won their hearts and they were attracted to Him.
c. His words
They said, “Never a man spake like this man…” His tone was gentle and He treated them with kindness. He was gracious to them. He treated them with respect. Have you ever listened to a child speak or sing the name of Jesus? Let me assure you that children are thrilled at the name of Jesus. They love Him instinctively and are attracted to him.
II. The Rebuke of the Servants
a. Their comments
Our text uses the word “rebuked” which is translated “actively hindering or reproving.” The disciples were adamant that Jesus had no time for such activity and strongly scolded the parents for taking His time with what they assumed were trivial matters. The question is why? They were dismissive for a reason but what was the reason. Fundamentally, I believe it was because they did not value young children the same as adults. We see adults do this today. Adults need to be careful what and how they talk around and to children. Don’t be like one lady I read about:
SOON, VERY SOON
A lady was cleaning her house and singing Gospel songs as she worked. She began singing, "Soon and very soon, we are going to see the king..." Her little boy was in the next room and began singing along with his Mom. Something was a little off, however, so Mom stopped to listen. The preschooler's version: "Soon, and very soon, we are going to Burger King..."
Ref: Fran Zok, Buffalo, NY, quoted in The Bible Illustrator, (Hiawatha, Ia, Parson's Technology, 1990), Idx 1632-1633
b. Their conduct
Not only did the Lord hear what they said, He saw what they did (14) and He was “displeased,” by their behavior. So it was a combination of what they said and did that brought the Lord’s rebuke. Adults need to understand that their conduct may have eternal consequences. Studies tell us that 85% of youth are saved between 5-14 years of age. After age 30 only 4% are saved.
c. Their censure
Let me read the Lord’s teachings from just one chapter earlier:
Mark 9:36 And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them, 37 Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.
Mark 9:42 And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.
They knew how the Lord felt about children and how adults are supposed to treat them, but they tried to dismiss these parents anyway.
III. The Revelation about Salvation
a. The advocacy for children
“Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not…”
Church don’t put up barriers that hinder children from entering the kingdom of God. They can be barriers of tradition or bigotry or prejudice or we can place artificial barriers about what is the appropriate age for them to come to Jesus.
b. The affirmation of children
“For of such is the kingdom of God…” Heaven is populated with those who have a childlike faith.
Someone wrote: “"A simple, childlike faith in a Divine Friend solves all the problems that come to us by land or sea." Anonymous
c. The acceptance of children
Mark 10:15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. 16 And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.
Conclusion:
1. Jesus affirms that children are important to Him and that His kingdom is populated by them. We can only imagine the millions of little children who have entered the kingdom of God since abortion became the law of the land in 1973. I believe that every aborted child is in heaven, just like every miscarried child, and every stillborn child and every child who has passed away before reaching the age of accountability! Heaven is filled with children! If you don’t like going to church with children, then you won’t like it in heaven. Parents, don’t measure your child’s capacity for believing faith by your own experience. I know parents who have hindered their children from coming to Jesus because they thought they were too young only to regret it later.
2. A childlike faith is essential to entering the kingdom of God. It is faith and faith alone that opens the gates of heaven to us. These little children didn’t have anything to offer but themselves. No riches, no religion, not power or prestige or position.
Just as I am without one plea but that
Thy blood was shed for me
And that Thou bid'st me come to Thee
Oh lamb of God I come I come
Just as I am and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot
To Thee who's blood can cleanse each spot
Oh lamb of God I come I come
Just as I am Lord Thou tossed about
With many a conflict and many a doubt
Fightings fears within and without
Oh lamb of God I come I come
Read more: Johnny Cash - Just As I Am Lyrics | MetroLyrics
3. Not everyone will go to heaven. Only those who place their faith in Jesus will go. Parents and all adults should focus on this truth. Make sure that your children are genuinely saved. Make sure that you live a godly Christian life in front of them at home. Make sure that the church that you attend is committed to reaching children during the “window of opportunity” (ages 5-14) that I mentioned earlier. Make sure that everything about your church and its campus shouts that children are welcome and wanted here! Children’s ministries should be planned, strategic, intentional and done with excellence. Let your community know that Jesus loves children and you do too! Remember our text? ”Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not…” What part of “not” do we not understand? Jesus is the “Champion of Children” and we should be their champion too. He is their strongest advocate. “Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world, red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world.”
