Jesus Loves the Little Children

September 28, 2014

Mark 10:13-16 (cf. Mt. 19:13-15; Luke 18:15-17)

The context: Jesus just finished dealing with the issue of marriage and divorce. Next, He immediately begins blessing children brought to Him. The connection between marriage, divorce and children is obvious. In a divorce, children are often the ones who suffer the most.

Children are a blessing from God—“Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD…” (Ps. 127:3). Children are not a burden to be endured—they are a blessing to be enjoyed! We are so blessed by the little ones here at BBC! I only wish we had MORE of them.

Definition of a baby: “A baby is a small member of the family that makes love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, the bankroll smaller, the home sweeter, clothes shabbier, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for.”

The devil is waging an all-out war for our children. It is becoming all too common to hear reports of gang violence… school shootings… children addicted to drugs… and children being abused and molested.

This should alert us to do all we can to protect our most prized possession—Our children. They are our future… future pastors/missionaries… future S.S. teachers… deacons… choir members… etc. If we fail to raise them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, the work of God will be greatly crippled after we adults are gone.

I. The BRINGING of the children (v. 13).

The TASK in bringing. These parents were fulfilling their responsibility to get their children to Jesus. NOT AN EASY JOB!
1. The Bible commands us to teach the things of God to our children (Dt. 6:1-8). That command is repeated in Eph. 6:4.
2. S.S., Junior Church, VBS, and EPIC are just as important as any adult ministry. No amount of effort seeking to reach children for Christ is wasted effort.
The TOUCH of blessing. Every parent should pray for the blessing of God’s touch on their children (v. 16).

II. The BARRING the children (vs. 13-15)

The INTERFERENCE of the disciples (v.13b).
1. It was not the scribes or Pharisees who hindered children from being brought to Christ—It was Christ’s disciples! Strange when you consider what Jesus told them just one chapter earlier (see Mk. 9:34-37).
2. WHY did they try to stop children being brought to Christ? Did think Jesus was too busy to take time for children. Did they think children were less important than adults?