Today, we continue our study of Mark 10. Earlier, the disciples were mistakingly debating which one of them would have the greatest spot in the kingdom of the Lord Jesus. Meanwhile, the Lord Jesus took a child into His arms to teach them about His ways. This came on the heels of the Lord Jesus confronting the disciples for trying to prevent someone from casting out demons whom they thought did not belong to their inner circle.
In v.13-14 of today's passage we read, "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."
At this point in the narrative, the Lord Jesus was being approached by parents with their children to have Him bless them. The disciples issued the parents a strong rebuke which, in return, caused the Lord to be very anger. He was angry because a very important truth was being illustrated and the disciples had no clue.
The Lord Jesus was not particularly pleased that His disciples, who were trying to prevent children access to Him, were not getting the point that He was illustrating. He regularly allowed children to come to Him and, when they did, He gave them His complete attention. The value of a person is truly seen in how he treats the lowest among us.
The Lord Jesus had taken several children in His arms, and blessed them. In doing so, He was granting His disciples the possibility of a deeper knowledge of His way of thinking. He was demonstrating that His kingdom belongs to those who are cognizant of and motivated by dependency on the Father who is in heaven.
In context, the Lord Jesus announced that the kingdom of God belongs to those with child-like faith. Embracing childlike faith means we accept that Christ’s call to kingdom greatness looks like service and not harsh ruling, meekness and not selfish ambition, and a continual dependence on God’s grace.
The Lord Jesus said, "...do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." That phrase, "...for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these," is a huge part of what the Lord was giving to these disciples that day. If we are to be disciples of Christ, the type who walk in concert with His culture, we will be known as those who depend upon the Lord as a child depends upon his parents.
In v.15 of today's passage we read, "Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."
Only God can convert an adult into child-likeness. In order to do so, our inability must be revealed to us, resulting in the humble reception of His free gift. We find it very difficult to receive grace, and, we hold tightly to the idea that we must contribute to the gift of salvation. Even after we have been believers for quite some time, we have found it difficult to wrap our souls around the concept of God's unmerited favor. This is diabolical in nature. And, it explains why we struggle with the whole concept of faith.
As a result, we struggle with the idea that God requests to orchestrate the events of our lives. We struggle going belly up with Him because it is a vulnerable position. And, due to our warped perspective, God must at times show us our total bankruptcy in order for us to get His way of thinking and living. Becoming like a child requires admission that we need help and that we are not what we usually project to others. Being childlike is coming to the place that we are more and more aware of our utter need for God's help and crying out for it.
When we become increasingly vulnerable with God and we experience His grace, we naturally desire to allow God to be, by definition, the Supreme Being in our lives. Child-like faith is always required for this to happen. And, childlike faith is not childish faith. Childish faith refuses to grow up. We grow up in our faith by accepting the idea that we do not manufacture our growth, He does that. And very often it is painful letting go of dependency upon self. The role we play is to practice the child-like faith that is dependent on Him to do what is necessary in and through our yielded lives.
In v.16 of today's passage we read, "And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them."
Mark recorded eight times that the Lord Jesus touched someone, and in each case the effect was beneficial. We all are made with a need to belong, and, appropriate physical contact is critical for our sense of well-being. Studies have shown the negative effects of a lack of safe touch, which range from developmental and emotional issues to an increased susceptibility to disease. The touch of the Lord Jesus was always of major importance for the one who had been touched by Him.
The Greek word translated "blessed" is the word from which we get our word eulogy which means to celebrate another. This is the only time this word appears in the New Testament. The Lord Jesus blessed these children which means He spoke live-giving words into their existence. It is said that the average parents speak a ratio of 7-1 negative to positive words into the lives of our children.
A single negative word increases the activity in the fear center of the brain. This releases dozens of stress-producing hormones and neurotransmitters, which in turn interrupts the brains’ function. A single positive word alters the expression of genes, strengthening areas in our frontal lobes and promoting the brain’s cognitive functioning. They propel the motivational centers of the brain into action and build resiliency. The Lord Jesus, yet again, was showing His disciples the stuff that goes into making one a leader.
