Bringing Little Children To Jesus
Minister: |
Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: |
3/15/2009 AM
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Text:
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Luke 18:15-17
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Psalters: |
134, 425, 243, 359 |
Sacrament of Baptism |
- The event.
- Parents are bringing their children to Jesus.
- Luke describes them as ?infants;? Matthew and Mark identify them as ?little? or ?young children.?
- These parents (not Pharisees) wanted Jesus to bless their children.
- The disciples saw only the parents and ?rebuked? (censured severely or sharply) them.
- Jesus saw the children and He rebuked the disciples.
- He emphatically told them to allow or permit the ?little children to come unto Me? (He saw the children).
- ?Forbid them not? adds emphasis.
- Jesus received the children of these parents.
- The reason they are to be allowed to come is because ?of such is the kingdom of God.?
- ?Of such? refers to the children of those who believing in Jesus want Him to bless their children.
- This signifies that the children of believers are usually (?of such?) within God?s kingdom.
- God gives children to believers precisely so they might be brought to Jesus.
- Mark tell us that Jesus took them up in His arms, put His hands on them, and blessed them.
- He went beyond what the parents asked (to touch them) by embracing them.
- Jesus? blessing becomes a child?s in the way of parent?s godly instruction.
- The only possibility of our doing this is that we ?receive the kingdom of God as a little child.?
- ?Verily? declares this to be such a truth that it is an absolute rule.
- To ?enter? the kingdom is to be saved.
- To ?receive? it is to embrace favorably Jesus? rule and the benefits of His kingdom, having it first in our lives.
- ?As a little child? speaks of two characteristics of faith.
- The only way to enter the kingdom is through humble trust.
- Let us humbly admit our constant weakness and our constant need for forgiveness and righteousness.
- With child-like faith we believe His Word that we are forgiven and righteousness, and strive mightily to obey it.