Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
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We should bring children to Jesus.
It is no surprise that Jesus had a special affection for them.
What is surprising is that the disciples didn’t!
Jesus, I am certain, loved them for who they are, a work of His sovereign Father.
He also loved them for what they illustrate and teach; how anyone enters the kingdom of God.
One would have a very difficult time finding in ancient literature concern for children comparable to that shown by Jesus (Edwards, 306).
Love them to Jesus.
The text says “they were bringing children to Jesus.”
They mean both dad and mom.
It could imply extended family and friends as well.
They wanted these little ones who could not get to Jesus on their own to meet Him and to be “touched by Him.”
In contrast, the disciples thought, “what a waste of time” and in very strong words“rebuked” them.
As Jesus’ “political handlers” and elite entourage they sought to restrict access to those who would love children to Jesus.
Their attitude and actions are a replay of their exclusivism and elitism toward the exorcist in 9:38.
Question: are you like those who want to love children to Jesus or are you like the disciples who have no time for babysitting?!
1) Will you work in the nursery?
2) Will you work with pre-schoolers?
3) Will you work with school-age children?
4) Will you work at VBS? AWANAS?
5) Will you work with children in sports, etc.?
6) Will you stand up and be heard on the evils of abortion, sex-trafficking, poverty?
Lead them to Jesus.
When Jesus saw the disciples fussing at the folks bringing children to Him, He wigged out!
He went nuclear!
The text says, “When Jesus saw, it, he was indignant.”
This is the only time in the gospel Jesus is said to be indignant.
His anger, righteous anger, was aroused and He publicly rebuked them in the strongest terms.
James Edwards says, “The object of a person’s indignation reveals a great deal about the person.
Jesus’ displeasure here reveals his compassion and defense of the helpless, vulnerable, and powerless.”
(Mark.
306).
He then provides a 3-fold response: 1) “let the children come to me,” 2) “do not hinder them;” 3) “for to such belongs the kingdom of God.”
Jesus is affirming that children are worth His time and they should be worth our time!
Now, how do we “lead them to Jesus?”
Evangelize them with a gospel saturated home.
Disciple them with a Bible saturated home.
Pray with them in a prayer saturated home.
Encourage them to live always for God’s glory and pleasure.
Bless them with your words as you project a future where they do something great for God.
Model for them a “Christ-intoxicated life.”
Let them see that living for Jesus is the natural and normal ebb and flow of life.
Challenge them to attempt great things for God and believe great things from God.
Make a conscious decision to give them totally and completely to God for His will and way in their life, no matter what!
Realize all of this involves a significant time commitment.
Remember that loving and leading a child to Jesus is as much caught as it is taught.
We should learn from children about the Kingdom of God.
It is teaching time once again for the 12 apostles.
There is something about a child that is essential for entrance into the kingdom of God.
It is not their innocence for they are not innocent!
They are little sinners just like we are big sinners.
It is not their purity for they are not pure.
It is not that they are sweet.
Again, they are sinners with Adam and Eve’s and your and my DNA running throughout their being.
Still, children are a better example of how to enter the kingdom than are adults.
I love what
Warren Wiersbe says, “We tell children to behave like adults, but Jesus tells the adults to model themselves after the children!” (Be Diligent, 99).
Jesus says to enter my Father’s world be childlike, but not childish.
And, as a point of theological importance: there is not the slightest hint of infant baptism in this text.
There is not a single drop of water.
Not one.
We come helpless and hopeful.
Jesus says children are the kind of people who enter, “belong” to “the kingdom of God.”
We see them 1) coming to Jesus with the help of others, 2) no doubt with some degree of hope and expectation, small though it may be.
The phrase “to such belongs” is instructive.
Children teach us something about entering the kingdom of God.
Children are helpless.
They can do next to nothing for themselves.
Their very life is in the hands of another.
And yet, even at a very tender age, they seem to be filled with hope and expectation.
Oh, they don’t know all that they need, but they know they need the help of another and they are hopeful they will receive it.
They come small, helpless, powerless.
They have no clout, no standing, they bring nothing but empty hands!
And, only empty hands can be filled!
We come trusting and dependent.
Jesus says the kingdom of God is received not earned.
Jesus says the kingdom of God is received like a little child or it is not received at all.
By their display of trust and absolute dependence on another, children point the way to entrance into God’s kingdom.
A child has a capacity to enjoy a lot but they can explain very little.
They live by faith.
Trust.
Dependence.
They must trust another to live.
They must trust another to survive.
We come for affection and blessing.
Jesus picked up the children.
What a picture of massive grace.
What a picture of the gospel!
He is tender and affectionate to those who bring nothing to Him but their need.
“He blessed them, laying his hands on them.”
In their wonderful book The Blessing, John Trent and Gary Smalley note there were several components of the Hebrew blessing.
Five are noted:
1- Meaningful touch
2- A spoken word
3- Attaching high value
4- Picturing a special future
5- An active commitment
1) Our Lord touched, picked up and held these children
2) He spoke a word of blessing over them.
3) He attached very high value as to their worth intrinsically and for instruction purpose.
4) Might he have spoken prophetic words for future service in God’s kingdom?
5) He made an active commitment to see the blessing fulfilled.
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