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13 And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, "Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it." 16 And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

Introduction

The Characters

In this brief story, we encounter four main characters.

• First, there are those who brought the children to Jesus.

• Second, there are the disciples of Jesus.

• Third, there are the children.

• -Fourth, and finally, there is Jesus.

The Story

The whole episode is moving. In it, we see what we instinctively know of Jesus, that he is gentle, loving, and accepts people with open arms. But how should this story impact us today?

1 We Should Help The Next Generation Get To Jesus (13-14)

13 And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. 14a But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, "Let the children come to me; do not hinder them..."

Let The Children Come To Me

Jesus quickly rebuked the disciples' rebuke. They had stood outside the house, policing who went in to see Jesus. They knew Jesus was the King of a kingdom, but they didn't yet understand the nature of that kingdom.

Don't Hinder Them

Their Society

As I said in a recent sermon, their society was not in love with children. Kids were not worshipped, nor were they appropriately respected.

Our Society

We might think our society has gotten it right when it comes to children, but it still harms kids in its own way. Ours is a society utterly confused about how to handle children. It is full of paradoxes.

Our Christianity

But we should not only think of our society as a hindrance to the young. Jesus' disciples were the ones in the way in our story, and modern disciples must make sure not to put roadblocks in the way of the next generation.

Children are helped when the church models genuine Christianity. When we are spiritually alive, when our homes are saturated with the gospel, the word, prayer, and grace, our children are evangelized, discipled, strengthened, and empowered. But legalism combats evangelism, hypocrisy dilutes the word, and shallow instruction makes them vulnerable.

Let Us All Be Parents

In a sense, every mature Christian can see themselves in a parental way. You might be married or unmarried, with children or without children -- but every mature believer can be a parent. Every consecrated Christian is an example for others to follow.

Ministries

By the way, perhaps you sense a desire to impact the next generation for Christ. Maybe it's your own son or daughter.

For this, pastor Matt Kehler has recommended a ton of resources online to help you as you wrestle with the questions the next generations are asking (https://bit.ly/2RQFZxl).

A Great Blessing (Exemplified In Jesus)

Before we move on in our study today, I should mention to you the timing of this whole event in Jesus' life. He was on his way to die on the cross. The disciples were all around him, but he was the loneliest man in the world. The mood was somber.

And these children were likely a blessing to him. They gave him hope and energy.

2 We Should Remember Childlike People Have The Kingdom (14)

14b "...For to such belongs the kingdom of God."

Why Didn't The Disciples Let The Children Come To Jesus?

We should also remember that childlike people have the kingdom. Jesus said it this way: "For to such belongs the kingdom of God." (14).

What does this mean? To answer this question, we must recall how the disciples felt about Jesus, the kingdom, and these children. They thought he was the Messiah, which meant they thought he would pick up King David's reign and make Israel a super-nation.

But Jesus said people like these children belonged in the kingdom. Those who were considered lesser in their society, those who were dependent on others, Jesus considered kingdom material.

God Looks For The Outcast

Isn't this God's normal way of operating? Consider Paul's words to the Corinthian church:

1 Corinthians 1:26–29 — 26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

On a global scale, God is doing something similar in our day. Many of the wealthiest nations of the earth have a long Christian history and foundation. But now, though the church still thrives in its own way in these regions, God is doing an accelerated work in nations and on continents without the Gross Domestic Product of the more prosperous nations.

Relearn The Kingdom

Perhaps we need these reminders. Perhaps, like the disciples, we must relearn the kingdom.

In the book of Daniel, the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream. In it was a statue of a man. The head was made of gold. The chest of silver. The legs of iron. And the feet of iron and clay. Then a stone made without hands appeared and crushed the feet, thereby destroying the whole statue.

Nebuchadnezzar wondered what his dream meant. God gave Daniel the prophet the interpretation. The statue represented Nebuchadnezzar's kingdom and the lesser kingdoms that would follow. The gold head was the Babylonian kingdom. The silver midsection was the Medo-Persian Empire. The iron legs were the Greek Empire. And the iron and clay feet was the Roman Empire.

And the stone made without hands is Jesus' kingdom. God said that kingdom would:

"...Break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever" (Daniel 2:44).

We would be tempted to think of Jesus' kingdom in the mode of the previous superpowers. Perhaps we should be like Babylon or the Medes or Greece or Rome. One day, Jesus' kingdom will appear in full glory, greater than any empire of history.

But, right now, his kingdom has come in humility. It's already here, internal and beautiful, but not yet outward and majestic. And God is looking for those the world system despises. They are kingdom material.

The kingdom is not achieved by force or radical reforms, but by becoming like powerless children, people who know their only real resource is God. Those who cling to God, desperate for his aid, are like the children Jesus saw that day. Dependents. Helpless, unless God helps us.

But, if, according to Jesus, people like these children receive the kingdom, what attribute did Jesus admire in them?

3 We Should Know The Kingdom Is Received With Childlike Faith (15-16)

15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it." 16 And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

Like A Child

I've read and heard many -- contradictory -- interpretations of what Jesus meant. Scholars and pastors run wild with the child analogy Jesus used. I understand. It is tempting to talk up children's innocence, spontaneity, eagerness, or joy.

Jesus wasn't saying that you will get the kingdom if you are sweet enough, joyful enough, or innocent enough. He wasn't preaching works-based righteousness in any way.

Instead, Jesus was making a comparison. Some people receive the kingdom. They receive it because they receive things like children receive things. The keyword is "receive." How do children receive things?

They receive everything. It takes years for them to begin earning. Childhood is a season of receiving.

Receive vs. Achieve

People in the kingdom are like children in that they know it must be received. You cannot achieve the kingdom. It isn't given on merit. You can't earn righteousness. It is all of grace, all of God's gift.

Absolutely dependent, we receive and enjoy God's kingdom. Humbly -- all because of and by God's grace -- we must receive. Jesus said:

Matthew 18:4 — 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Romans 3:23–25 — 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith...

Concluding Applications

• Get involved in Calvary Kids or Calvary Youth.

• Ask God to open a door for you to mentor someone.

• Read Romans as a reminder the kingdom comes by faith.