The Child in a Christian World
CLASS 4 ISSUES
Study: Mark 9: 33 – 42; 10: 13 – 16
Background: Psalm, 127:3; Proverbs 17:6; 20:11;22:6; 1 Corinthians13:11;14:20; Eph. 6:1-4; Col:3:20-21;M sixark 9: 33-42;10:13-16; Luke 2: 1 – 20
Devotional: Psalm 8
Lesson 8 April 18, 2026
Key Verse
Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all. Mark 10:15
INTRODUCTION
Who are children and who are adults? In there a connection between both or are they very different and unrelated to each other?
Let us begin at the beginning. Adam and Eve made a bad mistake by not believing God and their disobedience put the human race in trouble. Our Study Lesson therefore starts at the requirement in Scripture at the “New Birth”. This is necessary for adults, and here we define a adults as simply grown- up human beings who are able to understand the world around them, and who will have to begin a spiritual journey from the New Birth which has incredibly immense benefits, immense responsibilities, as well as immense dangers.
Are children us? Do we see ourselves in them? Are we to learn from them what God requires from us? Is it sensible for us to try to look at them through veiled or deliberately blinded eyes and regard them as being relatively unimportant?
Human beings have to begin a journey with understanding, which is rich in moral wisdom, and accordingly there will be a way to make the Word of God meaningful and at the same time fun for them and for the children they will produce in the right places.
We must therefore ask ourselves what is the most powerful method of shaping the hearts of people with the “new birth” which God loves to happen to all human beings.
How will God shape (sinful or otherwhise not so sinful) human hearts, so that truth love, faith understanding, caring become a part of the life with which God will be pleased?
How will God turn this sinful human heart so that it will be now a heart of flesh, kind, honest, forgiving, worshipful, respectful, devoted to the ways of God through life ups and downs.
What is possibly the best way to show human beings the important characteristics of bravery and obedience, and making wise choices, following God no matter what the circumstances?
How will God teach human beings that following God’s plan despite the pain it might involve as the better way?
How will God teach human beings that even though you might not think that the plan of God is always fair, it is always right?
How therefore will God teach human beings that He is working through imperfect people?
How is God going to teach human beings that that deep faith and trust is necessary if one wants to inherit the blessings of eternal life, learning that God never fails those who trust Him fully?
How is God going to teach human beings to believe in God’s perfect timing and faithfulness?
How is God going to teach human beings to stay humble and prize unity in the people of God instead of following their human pride and the competitive instincts when they are stirred up?
How does God teach human beings about the essential requirement for obedience so that blessing will come?
How does God go about teaching human beings that choices matter, and that with great love and affection and caring God will correct us when we go astray?
How is God going to demonstrate to human beings that God always keeps His promises even if it looks impossible, and that in due time His promises will be fulfilled?
How is God going to go about teaching frail human beings that He watches over those that belong to Him, (whom He calls His children)?
How does God teach human beings that is important to listen to His voice and respond with faith?
How does God teach you on beings that He will fight for you and all you have to do is to be still?
How does God teach human beings that He will give second chances when you make mistakes?
And how will He redeem and demonstrate His amazing grace?
And how will He teach human beings that they must ask with a sincere heart?
So what our children really for and what do they teach us? Are they placed in your family to show you the way to God?
Do you really think in your foolishness that children are not so important for you?
Have you ever thought that God has set it up in our very nature and given us certain desires that we long to fulfill so that you the adults will have an example of what He is doing right in front of your face, and that He has built in some of human beings an impossible to control urging and a desire that they can never move away from, the desire to look for Him and see what He has implanted in them, because that is important if they want to inherit eternal life?
Let us therefore begin our Study with a few quotations from Scripture so that you will start to open your eyes and see what God is doing around you and understand why He’s doing it in the way He has done it! Let us start with Psalm 127:3-6:
“ Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD.
The fruit of the womb is a reward
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one’s youth.
Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them;
They shall not be ashamed,
But shall speak with their enemies in the gate”.
Note the force of the language which introduces this passage, Behold! This is a call to an extreme display of attention.
The rest of the language is powerful. You cannot escape what it is telling you.
Let us now turn our attention to the apostolic writing in Ephesians 6:1-4.
But first call to mind what the Lord God Almighty did when man sinned. In Genesis 3:15 Adam and Eve are encouraged by the promise of a Redeemer, a child that was to be born, and who would do great things.
This alone (the idea of a ‘child’ to come should make us understand that the topic that we are studying today is much more important than what is normally considered.
As a matter of fact it is pointing us to the start of salvation and what is necessary for human beings to be saved.
Hence understand the command given at the beginning to man to be fruitful and multiply.
Hence we are pointed to the importance of the “ child”. And let us remember we have the desire for children and they are all around us.
They teach us the essential lessons that must be understood if you want to have eternal life. They have all the pointers and they have all the warnings.
Just look at them and what they do.
Then look at yourself and understand that they are a model for you if you want to please God.
So look at Ephesians 6 as it addresses all the sections of human existence and being,
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
“Honor your father and your mother”, which is the first commandment with promise
That it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth”.
And then comes the responsibility which we ignore at our peril:
“And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord”.
And after we read the not to be forgotten Exposition in Colossians 3 which deals with the character of the New man and the New woman, instructions which many modern people like to forget or rebel against,
“Children, obey your parents “ in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.
Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged”.
As we look at our Study Scripture’s Key Verse which we are encouraged to memorize, let us have a serious look at Jesus sits down with His disciples—and us– and teach them about greatness, which is about the way of the Lord.
We are now looking at the greatest of the kingdom in chapters 9 and 10 in the book of Mark we are being taught about the kingdom of God and learning about our place in God’s kingdom on earth.
It will help us to begin with the context of our Study Lesson which begins in Mark 9.
Jesus is teaching His disciples that He is about soon to be delivered into the hands of men and they are going to kill Him, but when they have killed Him He will rise again 3 days later.
You would have thought that right then and there the disciples would ask Jesus what He was talking about like, Who is going to betray Him? And, Why are they going to betray Him?
But they just kept on walking and talking.
Why would they be doing that? Mark says that they were afraid to ask but in the very next verse he tells us that they were too wrapped up in their own sense of importance for they had been arguing about which one of them would be the greatest in the kingdom of God. So when they came to Capernaum Jesus asked them what they were arguing about among themselves but they were silent.
Jesus then, knowing that there were arguing about greatness, had to warn them, “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all”.
And to cap it all off this is what Jesus did:
“Taking a child He set him before them, and taking him in His arms, He said to to them “Whoever receives one child like this in My name receives me; and whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me…
Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe to stumble, it would be better for him if, with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he had been cast into the sea”.
So they now journeyed to Caesarea Philippi after hearing Jesus’ warning,
“If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off it; is better for you to enter life crippled, then, having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire, “ where
THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED.
If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life lame, than having your two feet, cast into hell to be cast into hell. where,
THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED”.
Note that I capitalized the warning of Jesus so that we will all remember that this is something important for us to remember.
Then after the disciples reached the Galilee and Peter acknowledged Jesus as the Christ, the long awaited King of Israel and was complimented for this, they clearly did not believe that Jesus would be killed. They were more interested in telling Jesus to forbid a person they did not know, who was healing people in the name of Jesus and Jesus had to tell them to be quiet and leave the man alone.
So in Chapter 10 we will now see Jesus having to once again re-educate the disciples, teaching them to think differently, and to behave in ways that matched with their new knowledge.
This was necessary for the disciples were concerned about their status and Jesus had to redirect them.
So we see the low status children, who we can ignore easily, invited into the intimacy with the Father.
Maybe we will learn from this a lesson about how to deal with low status people, children, men, or women.
Modelling” is the process of teaching skills and behaviors through observable actions and imitation. It is more than being told how to do something; consider that “actions speak louder than words.” Therefore, role models positively influence our lives by sharing their wisdom, knowledge, and experience through observational learning. They live alongside us and teach by demonstrating exemplary attitudes, behaviors, skills, and habits. A role model can make a big difference in a young, impressionable life.
So let us recap what is happening and we hope that our emphasis will assist you as you study this Text.
In Today’s Text, Jesus speaks and models His lesson to the disciples.
As the most significant role model in history, we seek to learn and imitate His values and ways.
The Synoptic Gospels each has its particular orientation and or target audience. Matthew is geared to a Jewish readership and shows Jesus as the prophesied Messiah, King of the Jews. Luke would have his readers know Jesus is Messiah for Jews and Gentiles, while Mark shows Jesus as a Servant maintaining a hectic, action pace. Thus Mark has much to say about Jesus’ actions compared to His words. Still in our Text Jesus is mainly teaching essential lessons to His disciples and the teachings challenged accepted norms of that day.
Apparently and not for the first time (Mark 8:31) Jesus informed His disciples of His impending fate in Jerusalem and the prophetic certainty of the event. Mark informs His readers that the disciples did not grasp Jesus’ message but did not ask the Rabbi for an explanation.
Our Text lands between Peter’s confession of Jesus, “Thou art the Christ” (Mark 8:29), and the triumphal entry (11:1–10). Sandwiched between these events are clarifying motifs defining God’s Kingdom as upside down and backward to natural human instinct. Jesus will redefine greatness, exalt the weak and lowly while humbling the powerful and proud.
Just prior to today’s Text, Jesus and His disciples traveled the twenty-five miles between Caesarea Philippi and Capernaum (Mark 8:27; 9:33). Caesarea Philippi was a town in the hill country at the base of Mount Hermon. Capernaum was a small fishing village that Jesus used as the home base of His ministry on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 4:13). Capernaum is mentioned in all four Gospels and named more than any other town in the New Testament except Jerusalem. It is where the centurion asked for Jesus’ help and where He healed the paralytic who was let down through the roof (Matthew 8:5; Mark 2:1–12).
As they travelled, a gap developed between the disciples and Jesus which allowed the group to get into what sounds like a vigorous discussion about which of them was or would be the greatest and this soon after Jesus’ spoke about the ordeal that awaited Him in Jerusalem.
Once in Capernaum their discussion around greatness provided a teachable moment and Jesus gave what was for His disciples a radical view of true greatness in the kingdom.
Other lessons followed as Jesus warned against a spirit of elitism and a sectarian attitude. The disciples and all subsequent would learn that ‘Kingdom’ values were very much the opposite of worldly expectations.
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His [v]life as a ransom for many. Mark 10:45
Jesus enjoined a child-like attitude of complete dependency on His disciples as a requisite for entrance into the Kingdom. In the Greco-Roman world of the first century AD, children held little significance. Adults viewed them as lacking reason and requiring training.
The aim of their training was to learn their parents’ business and duties. Their value was in their contribution to the family. In the extreme, children were considered property, to be nurtured or disposed of as the head of household determined.
The same was true in Jewish households, but God also taught His people to consider children as a blessing (Psalm 127:3–5).
God instructed parents to teach Israel’s faith to their children and train them properly in behavior and wisdom (Deuteronomy 11:19; 31:12–13; Proverbs 22:6).
Still, they had little power or status.
To this day Jesus’ teachings generally and on that occasion in Capernaum are counter-cultural. Kingdom standards and a complete commitment to His cause remain.
The disciples would need a complete ‘reset’ to enter the kingdom and which could only happen through what Jesus would do in Jerusalem.
THETEXT
33. They came to Capernaum; and when He was in the house, He began to question them: “What were you discussing on the way?”
… Capernaum … was the hometown of Peter and Andrew and it became Jesus’ headquarters after the unbelief of Nazareth.
… when He was in the house … likely this was probably Peter’s home (Mark 1:29) or a rented house used by Jesus.
… What were you discussing on the way … it seems they were arguing, not just discussing. He had told them of His death for the second time and they were preoccupied with being the greatest! The disciples were fully focussed on the kingdom now! (Matt. 18:1-18; Luke 9:46-48; 22:24).
Jesus knew what they were saying and it was time for another lesson
34. But they kept silent, for on the way they had discussed with one another which of them was the greatest.
Matthew provides a bit more information on the question: Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven? he writes;(Matthew 18:1)
We may note that except for a tax-collector (traitor) and Judas of whose occupation we are unsure, these disciples were very ordinary folks; fishermen; yet here they are arguing greatness.
Jesus just reminded them of His impending death and their interest is who will be greatest in the Kingdom. No wonder they did not want to disclose what their discussion was about!
35. And sitting down, He called the twelve and *said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”
… sitting down… this would have denoted an official teaching session
… last of all and servant of all…; Jesus did not condemn ambition, but defined it in terms of the new ethic of the Kingdom of God. Greatness is linked to service (Mark 10:31,45; Matt. 20:26; 19:30;
John 13:5), not control or power!
God’s Kingdom is so different from human societies.
– Radical!
This is not the way of the ‘me first’ world; it’s every man / woman for themselves and the devil takes the hindermost!
The way up is down in God’s economy; service is what gets God’s notice!
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many. Mark 10:45
For this reason also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11
36. And He took a child and placed him among them, and taking him in His arms, He said to them,
… He took a child … a child was the least significant person in Jewish and in Greco-Roman culture. By using a child as His object lesson, Jesus was saying that service involves caring about people, even insignificant people such as children.
– taking him in His arms … maybe a toddler
As an aside, Jesus was one of the first ever to see how essentially precious any person is, particularly a young child. A concern for children was not invented by the welfare state: it goes back to the teaching of Jesus.
Jesus will proceed to compare the humblest of His disciples to the child (v. 42). This was the focus of Jesus’ teaching that Matthew recorded (Matt. 18:3-14).
Jesus began His illustration by bringing a child into the room and situating him where all twelve disciples could see. Jesus’ unusual actions did not stop there. He proceeded to embrace the child as a father would, a detail not mentioned in the parallel texts of Matthew 18:2 and Luke 9:47. Jesus physically modeled the verbal point He was about to make, teaching through “an enacted parable.”
37“Whoever [c]receives [d]one child like this in My name [e]receives Me; and whoever [f]receives Me does not [g]receive Me, but Him who sent Me.”
This verse is essential for understanding true discipleship. There is a relationship between how believers see people, accept and serve them, and the welcoming of Jesus Himself.
The twelve disciples and Jesus are most likely conversing in Aramaic, the everyday conversational language of first-century Jews and a later version of Hebrew (Mark 5:41; 15:34; John 1:42; Acts 21:40; 22:2; etc.).
In Aramaic, the word for “child” is the same as the word for “servant.” Therefore, Jesus’ illustration points toward acceptance of the young, childlike, and lowly in social status.
Jesus begins two sequences with this verse. One has a positive outcome, and the other has a negative result.
The positive sequence begins with those willing to receive both Jesus and children. As Jesus adds words to His provocative gesture, He calls on His name, expressing His authority as King. What Jesus offers here is not a general maxim of life apart from any other belief or truth. Instead, He specifically connects a particular outlook on life to following Him.
When one submits to Jesus as Lord, there is an expectation of inclusion, unity, and a warm welcome for all. Jesus is doing something beyond merely affirming the humane impulse to honor children. He is redefining fundamental values essential to life in God’s kingdom. Because Jesus is King, His followers must pursue a new way of thinking and acting that points away from status-seeking and toward radical inclusion of all people regardless of rank.
… whoever [f]receives Me does not [g]receive Me, but Him who sent Me.”
The positive sequence continues. To receive Jesus is to receive the one who sent Him, the heavenly Father. Jesus’ words expand the disciples’ view in a sort of chain reaction. When believers welcome the poor and humble, they act in warm hospitality toward the Lord Himself. When they embrace Jesus, they mysteriously also receive the Father.
Equating the receipt of Jesus with receiving the One who sent Him reflects a shared purpose of the Father and Son. The three distinct persons of the Trinity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one in divine nature and exist together in constant relationship of love. Truly, there is no greater glory than theirs!
Yet, throughout Mark’s Gospel, Jesus personally models lowliness. The twelve disciples’ argument about their relative positions of greatness indicates that they do not yet understand. Our God possesses unequaled authority but reaches down in love for the lowly and unworthy. To undeniably know God and belong to God, we must follow Jesus’ modeling and humbly extend the Gospel message to everyone, just as He does (Matthew 25:34–40; 28:19–20). When we do, we reflect the values of His Kingdom.
The parallel texts of Matthew 10:40–42 and Luke 9:48 expand on the cause and effect of believers’ welcoming actions. Matthew teaches that heavenly reward comes for those who serve the poor and needy. Luke emphasizes Jesus’ perspective that to be great, one must be willing to serve
Our loving response to others because we are followers of Jesus is a way to express our love for Him (Matt. 25:31-45).
Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in;36 naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ (Matt. 25:34-36).
The King will answer and say to them, “Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of mine, even the least, you did it to me.”
Matt. 25:40
This is the essential, controlling reality at the very foundation of how we treat one another in the church. That’s the positive aspect that leads to a very negative threat later.
We know that it is the personal relationship with Christ that is crucial, not just the flippant or even repeated mentioning of the name.
Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Matt. 7:21
… and whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me … Jesus characteristically affirms the exalted position of the Father. This is repeatedly recorded in John’s Gospel.
This submission to the Father is not one of inequality, but functions within the Trinity.
Here’s the point: Christ lives in every believer. How you treat a believer is how you treat Christ, and how you treat Christ is how you treat God.
We cannot isolate the believer from Christ.
John 13:20, “Truly, truly I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives me, and he who receives me receives Him who sent me.”
How we treat another believer is how we treat Christ. 1Corinthians 6:17 says, “He that is joined to the Lord is one spirit.” That passage also says, “If you go and join yourself to a harlot, you join Christ to the harlot.”
The believer becomes inseparable from the Lord. Galatians 2:20, “Nevertheless I live,” Paul says, “yet not I but Christ lives in me.” This is the foundation of that.
The apostle Paul is on his way to the persecution of Christians, headed for Damascus. The Lord strikes him down, makes him blind. He falls into the dirt and he hears this from the Lord, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (Acts 9:4).
38. John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us.”
… not sure how this question fits-in with what Jesus was teaching:
– maybe John wanted to know if their action was proper
– maybe looking for a pat on the back either way here comes a lesson.
… we tried to prevent him … sounds like their efforts were unsuccessful;
person kept on doing what he was doing.
… he was not following us … this happens in churches; only a certain group can do a certain thing because they started it;
– sometimes its just understood; you are new to a church; you try to do something and you’ are told only ‘those’ persons can do it.
Moses / Joshua
Then Joshua the son of Nun, the personal servant of Moses from his youth, responded and said, “My lord Moses, restrain them!” 29 But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? If only all the Lord’s people were prophets, that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them!” Numbers 11:28-29
Aquila / Priscilla / Apollos
Note that “The wise of heart will receive commands,” … Proverbs 10:8
39. But Jesus said, “Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me… Do not hinder him, …
Jesus did not mind that the man was casting out demons by invoking His name. Since the man had such respect for Jesus, he would not soon afterward speak against Him. By casting out demons, he showed that he was not against Jesus.
40. For the one who is not against us is for us.
Jesus expressed the opposite truth in Matthew 12:30: “The one who is not with Me is against Me.” There is no neutral ground regarding one’s orientation to Jesus. Jesus’ point was that the disciples should not view the exorcist as an antagonist just because he was not part of their group. He was doing God’s will and would not oppose them.
41. For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink [bl]because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.
… For whoever gives you a cup of water (cold water Matthew 10:42) to drink …
speaks to the extent of service and the fact God takes notice; even the most insignificant and mundane!
The connecting idea with what precedes is the “name.” Not only would the exorcist receive God’s blessing, but anyone who does anything to help another person by using even the name of a disciple of Jesus would receive His reward. This help extends to the almost insignificant act of giving a cup of water to some thirsty person. This act is much less helpful than delivering from demonic affliction, but it is significant.
This is one of the rare occasions when Jesus used the title “Christ” of Himself. His use of it here makes the lesson even more forceful. The person giving the cup of drinking water might have only a superficial understanding of Jesus. Nonetheless, if that person offered simple hospitality to one of Jesus’ disciples—because he was a disciple of Messiah—that one would receive God’s blessing.
Thus Jesus repeated the same point that He had made previously (v. 37): Rather than thinking of themselves as being above other people (“the greatest,” v. 34), Jesus’ disciples should think of themselves as humble servants.
42. “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to [bn]sin, it is better for him if a heavy millstone is hung around his neck and he is thrown into the sea.
How do we lead others into sin?
1. By direct temptation. We tempt somebody to sin, you invite someone to sin, you invite them to sin morally against the laws of God, against the commandments of our Lord by direct solicitation.
– We invite people to lie, to gossip, to cheat.
– We invite people to love the world.
– We draw them into ungodly enterprise as activities, entertainment – whatever. We understand that.
2. By indirect temptation.
– We provoke them to jealousy by flaunting what we have.
– We provoke them to anger by indifference or unkindness. Like your children, you know,
Ephesians 6:4, “Provoke not your children to wrath”
-By inattention, lack of affection, lack of forgiveness, lack of kindness, overbearing expectations. You can do it directly or indirectly.
3., Another way that you can cause people to stumble is by setting a sinful example, simply by doing things that people see that are sinful, which path they perhaps will follow, (Romans 14). It can be flaunting our liberty, which will then lead someone else to do the same, but because that conscience has not yet been liberated to understand the full freedoms in Christ, Paul says, it’s destructive because this is training a person to violate conscience, and that has a very bad outcome.
We have to be careful of the example that you set. Just when we do not think people are watching, the truth is, they are.
So either by direct temptation, indirect temptation, by setting a sinful example, or maybe by just failing to stimulate righteousness. Failing to encourage godliness.
Let us give you a special warning here. Children brought up in a Christian home or even in a non-Christian home hear what you are teaching them and they are watching your actions and matching your actions against your words.
Note therefore this makes children in the home people who are extremely powerful ones.
What does the church do when it comes together? “Stimulating one another to love and good works,” “and much the more as you see the day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25,
And our Lord says, … a heavy millstone is hung around his neck …
This is the strongest threat that ever came out of the mouth of Jesus to His own people, and it calls for radical love, and love seeks someone’s best, love seeks to elevate, love seeks to purify, love seeks to bless.
This is the strongest threat that ever came out of the mouth of Jesus to His own people, and it calls for radical love, and love seeks someone’s best, love seeks to elevate, love seeks to purify, love seeks to bless. .
So the danger of leading others to sin is eliminated when you deal with sin in your own heart. And what this text calls for is a radical, severe dealing with that sin.
Mark 10:13-16
As Mark 10 opens, Jesus and His disciples leave Capernaum and enter the region of Judea to the south. They cross the Jordan River, and Jesus ministers to those in Perea. Crowds begin to gather, and Jesus teaches them (Mark 10:1). Mark 10:10 mentions Jesus returning to “the house” with His disciples and continuing to teach them. Matthew 19:13–15 and Luke 18:15–17 are parallel passages to this segment of our Lesson Text.
13. And they were bringing children to Him so that He would touch them; but the disciples rebuked them
When we read that Jesus’ disciples rebuked those that brought Him children for blessing, we may wonder whether the word disciples refer only to the original Twelve or if it includes others who also travel with Jesus (Mark 3:13–19). The New Testament uses the word disciples both ways
(Matthew 27:57; Mark 8:34; Acts 6:2). The distinction is evident in places where the Twelve are designated as “apostles” (examples: Mark 6:30; Luke 6:13). Mark 10:32 uses the term “they” for 3 different groups: the disciples, others who followed Jesus, and the twelve.
The Greek term utilized here for the word children often refers to pre-teens, anyone who has not yet entered puberty. The age range is rather broad since Matthew 2 uses it for the infant Jesus and
Mark 5:39–42 uses the same word for a twelve-year-old girl. No matter the age of their children, parents naturally want God’s best for them. So, parents approach Jesus and the Twelve, asking that Jesus touch their children. The action reminds us of kingly and rabbinical blessings where the leader places his hands on the child’s head and speaks a benediction (see Genesis 48:12–20). Perhaps, too, they heard the news of Jairus’ daughter and the power transferred to the hemorrhaging woman by touching Jesus’ garment (Mark 5:22–42).
Remember that the disciples are really worried about their status and for Jesus to take children and place them close to Himself for them is an unneeded distraction.
The disciples presume to decide who gets access to Jesus and who does not. The Greek word translated rebuked here occurs nine times in Mark’s Gospel. It shows up in this passage, used by the disciples, but Jesus also reproves evil spirits with it (Mark 1:25; 9:25). He uses it to strictly order people to keep to themselves the knowledge of who He is or what He has done (3:12; 8:30). Jesus reprimands the very wind and waves with it, and they cease (4:39). Back and forth, Peter and Jesus each use the word after Jesus teaches that He must suffer, be killed, and rise again after three days (8:31–33).
Finally, when a blind beggar tries to get Jesus’ attention, a crowd uses the term to silence him (10:48). In all cases, the use of the word is intended to change and/or prevent something. Perhaps the disciples saw themselves as protecting Jesus’ time and efforts. Even though they’ve learned from Him for three years, they still don’t “get it”!
14. But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, “Allow the children to come to Me; do not [h]forbid them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
Jesus was likely just a short distance away and saw everything. The Text describes Jesus’ reaction as indignant or angry. The word translated much displeased is used only three times in the Gospel of Mark. Here is the first instance, and the second involves the disciples’ extreme displeasure at the request of James and John for the most powerful places in Jesus’ kingdom (Mark 10:41).
The third instance is Mark 14:4, which describes a reaction to the woman who breaks the alabaster jar of ointment on Jesus’ head.
Putting all three together, we get a picture of what upsets or angers people. Jesus is irritated at an attitude that seems to value one person over another. The other two instances focus on earthly values: status and money. Jesus wants His disciples to see that the wrong priorities work against the values of the kingdom of God.
The disciples find themselves countermanded. Jesus’ chastisement is sharp. He expressed the correction both positively and negatively for emphasis. Positively, He instructs the disciples to let the children come to Him. The term suffer here means “let” or “allow.” Then He says, forbid them not. This saying is framed negatively: do not keep these children away because the kingdom belongs to them.
Why does God’s kingdom belong to people who are like children? Because those who bring no status or standing as they come to God are ready to receive His kingdom as a gift. In vulnerability, they come to their provider with open hands and hearts.
15. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”
Jesus asks His disciples to pay close attention: Entrance into the kingdom of God is not granted through power and prestige but rather by becoming like a child in some sense.
Worldly perspectives place a premium on earning things. Children are unable to do much of that, but they are good at receiving gifts!
Childlike delight, gratitude, and open arms are some attitudes to have when receiving the kingdom of God. They love a reward for their actions.
Thus, Jesus continues to reshape the disciples’ concept of status, procurement, and belonging. Jesus speaks the phrase the kingdom of God fifteen times in the Gospel of Mark. The repetition indicates its importance. In this instance, Jesus teaches that no one can do God favors in exchange for entry into His place of dominion.
Instead, we all must come like vulnerable, humble children who need provision (Matthew 7:9–11). Those clinging to the illusion of their own status will not enter God’s kingdom (Mark 10:23–26). But those who receive the Kingdom as a gift will enter it by Jesus’ compassionate grace.
16. And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands on them.
The discourse ends with Jesus repeating His point yet again through action. As He did in Mark 9:36, Jesus takes the children into His arms. His embrace both blesses them and powerfully communicates complete inclusion and love.
The act of blessing by the laying on of hands began way back in Genesis with Israel’s ancestors (example: Genesis 48:9, 13–16). Consider the words of Numbers 6:24–26, “The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.”
TheLord shone upon these children with presence, touch, and speech. His words and actions together expressed an emphatic promise that those who have the outlook of children belong in the Kingdom of God.
CONCLUSION
Children are you!
You might not like to consider this about yourselves but remember that you are the epitome of powerlessness. You have no rights no legal standing, no way to save yourself you are totally dependent on God for salvation. Note that children are totally subject to the authority of others and Jesus can tell you that if you want to be a part of the kingdom of God come to be come as a child.
So remember that Jesus and God the Father and the Holy Spirit lumps together children with women, cattle, and sojourners to make you know that when it comes to the kingdom children are low on the food chain. So are you in the sight of God. So do not elevate yourself. No pride is allowed.
Culture teaches us that the “good life” is for the smart, powerful, and accomplished. The world values material wealth and the more you have the better. As the saying goes, “The one with the most toys wins!”
This concept is a constant refrain heralded by academia, work environments, media, and social circles. Even our children express this outlook bragging about how good they are at something, how well they do in school, or how much bigger they are than younger siblings. This behavior points to social and cultural values that promote competition and comparison to determine who’s in and who’s not. Jesus’ point is quite the opposite.
Jesus teaches a nonhierarchical mindset among His followers. He challenges His disciples to recalibrate their values and embrace a new kingdom mindset. Jesus encourages unity, service, and childlike faith. He calls His people to accept entry into His kingdom with the delight of a child receiving a gift. To be sure, there are childish attitudes and actions we must avoid, correct, or otherwise put behind us
(1 Corinthians 13:11; 14:20; Ephesians 4:14; Hebrews 5:13–14; 1 Peter 2:2). Knowing what those are and how to grow beyond them while honoring and embracing Jesus’ viewpoint is our continuing challenge.
So you know better now after this Study Lesson.
Do not blame the merchants of death and their newspapers and magazines who keep on telling you to keep up with the Joneses and keep on comparing yourself with others. You know better and you know you must not ignore what Jesus taught us about the nature of the kingdom of God.
Remember the widow’s mite. Her might was greater than the riches of the wealthy, the powerful, the religious people at the top.
Remember also that in the final judgment a lowly of no consequence beggar like Lazarus is going to sit in the heavenly banquet, while the wealthy miser like Davies will watch from the flames of hell below, says one writer as he warns believers.
Remember that God loves you and He’s telling you what is best for you. If you don’t have enough faith, do not have enough knowledge of the world, do not have enough education, or sometimes you think you are not righteous enough, do not worry about that for God determines who will stand in His sight. Just shape up and Scripture tells you how to do that. If you don’t know how read Psalms one and the book of Hebrews.
So Jesus tells you adults and all the children who are in the Christian world,
“Come to me, all you who labour and are heavily burdened,
And I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me,
For I am gentle and lowly in heart;
And you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light”. Matthew 11: 29- 30.
Teach this to your children and teach it to yourself.
How might you adjust your goals, vantage points, and perceptions to better align with Jesus’ directives? In what ways might you embrace childlikeness, vulnerability, innocence, and trust on a day-to-day basis?