“No Child Left Beyond” by Matthew Everhard. Originally preached at the Hudson Presbyterian Church on September 26, 2004: Words 2089
Most of you know that our church recently sent out a team of 7 adults to an orphanage in El Salvador this summer: the first mission trip of its kind for our church. Of all of the sights and sounds in this third-world country, perhaps nothing gripped us more than the stories of how some of the children arrived in the orphanage in the first place. There’s the story of Tito, whose alcoholic father beat and abused him until he was finally imprisoned. There’s the story of Miguel whose parents dumped him on the side of the street like garbage and drove off. In his own words he “walked and walked and walked and walked” until one day someone finally found him and brought him in. And of course we couldn’t forget the tiny girl with the eye-patch and the feeble arm, whose parents simply locked her in an unused room, never bothering to even to teach her to speak or to use the restroom or even to walk. I think we could simply say that we fell in love with these children. And we thank God that somebody cared enough to love them full-time. I am so glad that we serve a Savior who loves the children of the world. Jesus loves children!
One time, Jesus was right in the midst of the busyness of ministry when a strange phenomenon began to occur. As Jesus was trying to preach, or pray, or heal—people (began) bringing little children to Him in order that He might touch them (v. 13). Parents started pushing their way through the crowd, with their children in their arms, sometimes one in each arm! At first it was only a couple children at a time. But soon everyone was bringing their children to Jesus to have them blessed by the miracle worker. (By the way parents, “Bringing your children to Jesus” is the foremost goal of Christian parenting). In all the mayhem, I imagine Jesus stopped whatever He was doing to honor each parents’ request. The whole scene must have looked like the first day of Vacation Bible School!
And since we all know what chaos THAT can be, we can sort of relate when the disciples started getting ticked off rather quickly. In fact, Scripture says The disciples spoke sternly to them (v. 13). “Quit wasting the Rabbi’s time!” “WE’VE got more important things to do than to baby-sit a bunch of ankle-biters!” And so the disciples took on a role that Jesus had never assigned them: bodyguard.
You know, we (Christians) place such a value on children today that it is hard to understand why the disciples wouldn’t want children to be brought to Jesus. But we have to understand that in the ancient culture, children were just a notch above tax collectors and lepers. In fact, archaeologists once discovered an ancient papyrus that was apparently a letter from a husband to his pregnant wife. It read in part, “If the child is a boy, keep it! If it is a girl, expose it.” In other words, just leave it out to die—to starve or be eaten or stolen. It’s hard to believe that any culture would tolerate and accept the practice of simply eliminating inconvenient children.
I’m not saying that the disciples ever approved of that or that they tolerated the practice of exposing children. I’m just saying that’s the ancient mindset about the value of children. That’s why they were annoyed! They thought kids were cute and cuddly but not important enough to stop the ministry-machine!
But let me tell you, it was a good thing Jesus saw the whole thing go down! He heard those sly comments from the disciples and the gospel of Mark tells us that when Jesus saw this, He was indignant (v. 14)! In fact it’s one of the only times in Scripture where Jesus is described as “indignant”—righteous with anger!
And so with a child on each knee, or so I picture Him, Jesus used this opportunity to preach the Kingdom Of God. And not only does He give a full reversal of Peter and the Boys’ decision, but He turns the disciples and everyone else within earshot on their heads by telling them “Instead of stopping these kids, you’d better become LIKE them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these!”
And then Jesus makes a statement about the Kingdom, that is so bizarre to their worldview, so baffling to their understanding, that nearly everyone would have left that day scratching their heads! Do you know what He said? He said I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it (v. 15).
Can I ask you a question today? What do you think He meant? Anyone who will not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it. I think it’s worth some time thinking about. What is so important about children that Jesus says we should become like them?
Sometimes people will say to me this line, which, I usually assume is a compliment, but then again, I’m not really sure. They say, “You get along so well with the youth!” (And then I say thank you.) And then they say, “I guess it’s because you’re so—juvenile!” I don’t think immaturity is what Jesus has in mind for His Kingdom!
Actually Mark 10 is not the only time that Jesus said something like this regarding childlike faith. In Matthew 18 He says, “I tell you the truth unless you change and become like little children you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven.” (that sounds exactly like our passage). Then He adds something that really makes it clear, “Therefore whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.” Aha! Kingdom living has something to do with humility!
Did you know that the human baby is the single most helpless creature on the face of the planet? They are absolutely dependant on their parents for every facet of life! There is not one thing an infant can do to perpetuate his own existence for more than one day without help! They are the most dependant creatures for survival in all of Creation!
It is precisely that humility, that dependence, that trust, that Jesus wants in His Kingdom. But there’s more to it than just a Sunday School lesson on trusting. Childlikeness is essential to ENTER the Kingdom! You can’t even get in the door without childlikeness! That ought to grab our attention!
Children bring into this world no qualifications, no earnings, no reputation, no status, no ownership of any property, and absolutely no claims to accomplishment. They have no resume, no claim to greatness whatsoever, they can only hope in the love of their parents.
And so too, if we want to enter the Kingdom, don’t we dare presume to bring up our so-called accomplishments no matter how “good” they may sound on the back of a book cover or in a personal ad or in a job resume! To be Kingdom ready means you forfeit your list of human accomplishments and cling with all of your being to the Cross of Christ. If you put even one item of reputation or achievement or social status on your application for admission, that you think makes you worthy of entrance, you have already disqualified yourself from consideration! We are saved by faith and not works.
Why? Because the Bible says that even our greatest human actions are like filthy rags compared to the righteousness of Almighty God. If you think you are a Christian this morning because you tithe, or because you helped out on some service project, or because you don’t have any felony convictions, or (God forbid) because you attend church or youth group—I’ve got bad news and good news. The bad news is: You can’t get in that way. The good news is: Jesus has done all the work for you and all that’s left for your part is the childlike faith.
And so we must enter the Kingdom stripped of all our so-called good deeds, holding only to the shed blood of Jesus Christ on Calvary that takes away our sins. Like children, we completely depend on the love of our Heavenly Father.
And then, once in the Kingdom, we must continue to live like Children of the King. One thing I like about my 4-month-old son Elijah is that he never questions my motives as his father. He never says, “Dad is this car-seat safe at highway speeds? Is there enough tread on the tires?” He just trusts that I’ve got a plan for his life…
Isn’t it funny that we have to actually LEARN how to doubt? You tell a six-year old that Jesus loves you and he probably won’t reply “Yeah but how do we reconcile the benevolence of a loving God with the indisputable existence of evil in the world?”
You ever see a child hold a grudge before? I’ve never seen it. You have to learn how to be bitter. Sometimes I help out in the nursery during one of the services. I’ve seen a lot of toys stolen and re-stolen. I’ve seen blows exchanged. Mostly from your kids. But I have never once seen a bitter child who remembers wrongs done the previous week. But we adults spend can spend years burning with anger or jealousy or bitterness. It’s really sad actually. Jesus would say, “Whoa! I’ve accepted you by grace into the Kingdom, but man take some notes from these kids!”
Let’s check in with Mark’s story again. Once Jesus explained that we must enter the Kingdom of God like trusting, faithful, accepting children—He did something so fantastic that I am super-glad that Mark the writer took the time to write one more sentence: Verse 16: And Jesus took the children in His arms, put His hands on them, and blessed them.
Let me close with a thought for all the Christians in the room this morning: Why are you still holding on to things that don’t matter anymore in the Kingdom of God? Why are you still “tally marking” other people’s mistakes? Why do you have to keep bringing up forgiven matters again and again? Why are you still struggling with doubts that God has resolved a while ago? You know your debts have been paid and your sins canceled by the Cross—are you still torturing yourself with your guilt? Place yourself in the scene now. See how Jesus has you securely in His hands and He will not let you fall. He’s blessing You with His love and His mercy and His protection…
And now for those of you who have not yet entered the Kingdom as a child yet, won’t you allow Jesus to take you into his arms even now? Rene Descartes, the famous philosopher once said he proved that God exists more clearly than the best geometric proofs. The only problem, he admitted, was that only a handful of people in the world could understand them. You don’t have to be a philosopher and prove God exists. A child-like faith will do. Put away that list of reasons you’re a good person. It’s a nice token and all, but you don’t need it here in God’s Kingdom. Let Jesus take you with His tender, nail-pierced hands. I know it’s hard to surrender your life to Him, but it’s time. Let’s Pray…
Father you know the business that You have to do in the hearts of all of your people here today. Some of us have been acting childish instead of childlike for too long now, and You know that that includes me. Remind us that we are in the midst of a spiritual Kingdom that breaks into our average lives! Others here need to reconcile with You for the first time this morning God. Call them and don’t let them go until they have fully rested in Your arms. Please move some people to accept Jesus Christ by faith even in this moment. Lord, I’m so glad that you accept us as children, dirty hands, still learning to behave, still learning to speak: but with a sincere faith in our Father’s love. (silent prayer)
Let’s Stand and Sing…
