Jesus
calls us to become like a little child if we ever hope to enter the kingdom of
God.
Being Childlike
Mark 10:13-16
The background of this sermon is when Jesus is when Jesus is moving to the
region of Judea and multitudes are following Jesus, Healing teaching etc all going
on while Jesus is moving in the region. The portion above this is when Jesus is
asked about Marriage and divorce. This story appears in all three synoptic
gospels: Matthew, Mark, and Luke
It looks like the Disciples were monitoring the crowd that were trying to reach
to Jesus and have answers to their questions or be healed. The Disciples were sort
of the modern day even organisers and they were controlling the crowds That is
probably when Jesus sees them turn back a few children. He becomes very angry is what the word says.
He calls the little children to himself and then says. In fact, Jesus was so
upset that Mark describes him as “indignant.” Other English translations say he
was “much displeased,” “incensed,” or even “angry
“Let the little children come to Me and do not
forbid them, for of Such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly I say to you, whoever
does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it”
Jesus doesn’t call people to be childish, but he does call people to be
childlike. In fact, he says you won’t get to heaven without becoming like a
little child. So, what does he mean? How can you and I be more childlike
without being childish? And why is it so important to become like a little
child that Jesus would make it a requirement to get to heaven?
And in this interaction, Jesus tells us three things that are absolutely
required to enter heaven. To enter the
kingdom of God, you must:
1. Have faith like a little child
In verse 14, Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not
hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” “Such as
these.” You don’t have to be a little child to enter the kingdom of God,
but you do need to be like a little child.
Let’s
think for a minute what characteristics little children possess when it comes
to faith.
They
are
Innocent and Sincere. Eager to learn. Teachable, Humble, Trusting, Open minded Inquisitive Simple, Spontaneous Lovable Unpretentious. (trying not to appear special) No Ego. Forgiving
( the list can go on.......)
Before
going forward. Let us take a minute to check how many of these childlike
qualities do we possess? What does apply
to us and our relationship to God. We need to Ask the Holy Spirit to help you
approach God like a little child. Sometimes we make faith too hard, too
difficult, too complex, too...adulterated! Sometimes, it’s just coming to God
as we are, like a little child in need of a loving and good and powerful
Heavenly Father.
Sometimes we just need to keep it simple. Become like a little child.
Have faith like a little child.
As parents we have all held on to children and when you throw them up in
the air. They are still laughing. They know fully well that their DAD will hold
them in the arms and not allow them to fall to the ground. Today as adults if
any of us are going to be thrown up in the air. We will all be worried even if
there is a net underneath to hold us. We will not enjoy it like a little child.
We will be worried.
We need to have CHILD LIKE FAITH.
And #2,
2. Become dependent like a little child.
Little children don’t have much to offer. Sure, they’re fun to look at
and play with and dress up and hold and kiss.
They don’t earn a pay check. Nor cook a meal, or wash clothes. They
can’t help around the home. Little
children really are pretty useless when it comes to doing anything. Everything
has to be done for them!
Little children are dependent upon others for their very survival. They
have no autonomy. They have no self-security. They have no self-sufficiency.
They really cannot make it on their own.
We must come before God with our insignificance, and our lack of
ultimate security, and our total dependence upon him, and throw ourselves at
his mercy. He is the potter and we are the clay. He is the creator and we are
the created. He is the perfect one and we are the sinful ones. He is the
forgiver and we are the ones in great need of forgiveness.
The next story after this portion is about Jesus meeting a rich young
man. This guy wanted to know what he had to do to enter the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus mentioned the commandments and they guy said, “Best I know, I’ve kept
them all.” Jesus said, “You only lack one thing: you need to give all your
money to the poor and follow me.” And the guy couldn’t do it. He walked away
sad. He was not willing to submit
himself fully to God. He wanted to depend on his riches.
You must be totally dependent upon God to enter his kingdom. The
Reformation Study Bible says, “Small children model true believers who know
they have nothing to bring and everything to receive.” And that brings us to
the third and last point. To enter the kingdom of God, you must...
3. Receive the kingdom as a gift of God
In verse 15, Jesus says, “Truly I tell you, anyone who will not RECEIVE
the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” How does a little
child receive? With nothing to give in return. And that’s the way we must
receive the kingdom of heaven. We have absolutely nothing to give in return. It
is a free gift.
It’s called “mercy.” It’s called “grace.” We cannot earn God’s love,
because we already have it. We cannot earn God’s forgiveness, but God is more
than ready to grant it. If you could buy your way to heaven with good deeds,
what a lousy place heaven would be! It would be full of proud, pretentious
people! No, the only way to heaven is to admit that you could never make it
there without God’s grace, without God’s forgiveness, without God’s unmerited
favour freely given, freely bestowed upon you.
Look at these two verses:
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in
Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not
from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians
2:8-9
Karl Barth was one of the great theologians of the twentieth century.
Towards the end of his life, Barth was asked for the greatest insight he had
ever gained throughout his long years of study and scholarship. Everyone leaned
in to listen to what pearl of wisdom he might share. His reply was beautifully
simple: “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” To finish the
verse of the song, “Little ones to him belong, they are weak but he is strong.”
Become like a little child in God’s eyes. Climb up on Jesus’ lap. And
receive a blessing of eternal life
To sum up Childlike Faith
1
Faith like a little child,
2
Become dependent like a little child, and
3
Receive the kingdom as a gift of God.
Abba
Father, we thank you that you will help us to become like Little children, to have
complete faith in you, to be dependent on you always and for all things and
also to receive the gift of grace, wisdom and forgiveness. Teach us to be more dependant
on you daily. In the matchless name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
