Keeping People from Jesus

Mark 10:13-16

13 People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.

Mark 8:22ff Jesus heals a blind man. Mark 10:46ff Jesus heals a blind man. In between, the main theme is Jesus dealing with the blindness of people as it relates to the Kingdom of God. This blindness is demonstrated especially by the Disciples themselves. It begins with Peter being rebuked, it has multiple failures of the Disciples to understand as well as a demonstration of their selfishness as it relates to each other and Jesus.

There are at least eight different instances where the Disciples aren’t able to do or understand or else they are behaving in a manner that brings a rebuke from Jesus.

In today’s passage, we see one of those eight instances.

 

Why keep kids from Jesus? How is it that Jesus and the Disciples are in disagreement here?

 

  1. The Focus of Kingdom Ministry

What is really important? Big numbers? Important people?

  1. The big and important?

Here is where the Disciples are!

They believe that they are the big and important! Are they? I would say that they are. But why are they? Is it because intrinsically they are better than others? Matthew? Peter? Thomas? James and John? And so on.

What is really big and important is the grace of God, the blessing of God. Jesus blesses these children. What does that mean?

He loves them.

He prays for them.

He lives for them.

He dies for them.

 

  1. What is wrong with children?

They are of no social impact. They are not important. They get in the way. They make noise. They interrupt. They cry at the most inopportune times. They don’t understand. They are immature. They are inappropriate. They are weak. They can’t help, but must be helped.

 

  1. Playing favorites

Looking at the issue in a broader sense than just a statement about children:

Expressing prejudice: You are not as valuable as other people! Super Christians, super people.

If you aren’t helpful to the cause right now, then step aside. What is the cause? Trying to teach these people about Who Jesus is. The amazing thing is that Jesus’ closest followers know Who He is, but they don’t understand what He is all about.

He is trying to teach them. It’s is a struggle. And honestly, I don’t think it is resolved until after the Holy Spirit comes upon them for ministry.

James 2: 1My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

 

  1. Let Them Come to Jesus

 

  1. Recognize what is really important

The image of God in other people. You are of incredible value to God. You were knit together in your mother’s womb. Before you did anything in life, you were known by God. God’s image is your greatest value. Michael Jordan is a jerk.

You are in process: Phil 1:6 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Come as you are. Expect Jesus to change you.

 

  1. Jesus is indignant at His Disciples

What is the definition of indignant? Primarily meant to feel a violent irritation physically. Much displeased!

In other words, if you want to understand how to make Jesus mad, here is how to do it!

This is an example of the Disciples acting out in the same way that caused Jesus to rebuke the Jewish leadership in Matthew 23.

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2 “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.

8 “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

  1. To seek and save the lost

Jesus’ ministry is wrapped up in expressing God’s attitude toward other people.

If God really has all authority currently and He is choosing not to judge others, the perhaps we should hold off judging others. God loves the world. He demonstrates His love for the world by giving and serving the world while they are in rebellion against Him. He is not insecure, He just wants people to be free and to use their freedom to love and serve Him in return, so He takes the initiative.

The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and give His life a ransom for many. (Verse 45 of this chapter after the James and John incident)

The Son of Man has come to seek and save that which was lost. (His explanation for why He sought out Zacchaeus and made him his friend.) If you are lost this is really good news!

 

III. You are Like Them

for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

  1. Access to the Kingdom
  2. We all access the Kingdom of God in the same way, through Jesus. Jesus connects us to God positionally by dying for our sins.
  3. But He also shows us how to live in such a manner that we are living out the image of God in our lives.
  4. A child must receive instructions about the world from others people. A child must trust others. The Disciples are needing to receive instructions about the world from Jesus. They are not managing this.

 

  1. God is reaching down to you

Reaching down, beneath Him. God is patient. God endures others. Jesus is currently enduring His own Disciples. They don’t see it. In fact, they think they are doing really well. And Jesus is very upset with them!

Get behind me Satan is more than a metaphor.

You do not have in mind the things of God.

 

  1. God is opposed to the proud

        Pride, selfishness, thinking to highly of ourselves, thinking too lowly of others.

The Declaration of Independence says the right things. But it is not practiced. And we have had tremendous trouble in our country as a result.