Mark 10:13-52 - Let the Children Come to Me

Mark 10:13-52 - Let the Children Come to Me            January 26, 2019

Jesus is now across the Jordan in the region of Judea and just finished teaching the crowds about divorce.  

Let the Children Come to Me

Mark 10:13  People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them.  

Matthew added Jesus will pray for them *Matthew 19:13

·      The term little children (Gk. paidion) includes infants to those at least age twelve.

·      Remember, Jairus' daughter, who was twelve years old, is referred to by this same word.  (Mark 5:39)

Mark 10:14  When Jesus saw this, he was indignant {or greatly displeased, furious}. 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.  {hinder children from receiving a blessing}

Luke mention People were also bringing babies to  *Luke 18:15

·      The Lord became greatly displeased and openly rebuked His disciples in public with people around. 

·      You think Jesus raised His voice to them.

It was normal for parents to bring their children to the rabbis for a blessing.

·      The disciples may have been trying to protect His time and strength, but they were failing to attach sufficient importance to the children.

·      This is surprising since He had already taught them to receive the children in His name and to be careful not to cause any of them to stumble. etc.(Mk 9:36-37, last chapter).

Did you realize that each of us have a “Guardian Angel” is Biblical?!

Matthew 18:10 "See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.

Mark 10:15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."  {Truly - Something importance being said}

A paradox is a statement that contradicts itself and yet embraces a valid truth or principle.

·      Jesus blesses the children and uses them as an example of how we must receive the kingdom of God. 

·      Why, Children exhibit sincerity, eagerness, a trusting attitude, and total dependence on their parents.

Adults can become worldly wise, self-sufficient, and skeptical of religion and various plans for salvation.  Seen it before, done did it.

Mark 10:16   And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them. 

·      The children were better kingdom examples than were the adults.

·      We tell the children to behave like adults,

·      but Jesus tells the adults to model themselves after the children:

We enter God’s kingdom by faith, like little children: helpless, unable to save ourselves, totally dependent upon the mercy and grace of God.

The Rich Young Man – Change of topic

Mark 10:17  As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"     {Image}

Luke added a certain ruler asked him *Luke 18:18

Matthew pointed out; what good thing must I do?  *Matthew 19:16

For a man of wealth to bow before a teacher indicated tremendous respect.

What do you think about this:  Of all the people who ever came to the feet of Jesus, this man is the only one who went away worse than when he came! 

·      Calling Him “Good Master (Teacher),” was flattery; rabbis never let the word “good” be applied to them. 

·      This title was never applied to other Rabbis in Jesus’ day, because it implied sinless, a complete goodness.

·      He certainly had some superficial views regarding spiritual things. 

·      His presumption that there was “something he could do” to earn eternal life:

·      The underlying fallacy behind every false cult or religion.

Mark 10:18  "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone.      (Jesus quoted)

Psalms tells us the LORD is good; *Psalms 34:8

Psalms tells us there is no one who does good, not even one.  *Psalms 14:3

·      This man did not recognize Jesus as God. 

·      Jesus did not refuse the title but used it to test the man's faith.

·      Only God is good.

·      Was the rich man willing to confess the Lord Jesus as God?

·      Apparently not.

Mark 10:19  You know the commandments: 'You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.'"

Jesus told him;  If you want to enter life, keep the commandments."  *Matthew 19:17

Matthew adds  "Which ones?" he inquired and Jesus added and 'love your neighbor as yourself.'"  *Matthew 19:18-19  

Jesus was not denying that He was God: He was affirming it.

·      This man was still believe he could inherit the kingdom on the principle of doing something.

·      Our Lord quoted the five commandments which deal primarily with our relations to our fellow man. 

Mark 10:20  "Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy."      {he drops good Teacher now}

Matthew 19:20 wrote "What do I still lack?" *Matthew 19:20

If he had stopped right there, who knows, he wanted a do and don’t religion, for someone else to tell him what he can do or not do.  Where is the Holy Spirit to lead us in all things.

Mark 10:21  Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."  {Offered Apostleship?} 

Jesus said: be perfect, go, sell your possessions * Matthew 19:21

Luke said Jesus heard this,  *Luke 18:22

A paradox is a statement that contradicts itself and yet embraces a valid truth or principle.

Jesus loved him, was this rich young “ruler,” Mark himself.  Who knows?

Mark 10:22  At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

Matthew said: man heard this *Matthew 19:22; 

Jesus was aware of the man's self-righteous attitude, trusting in his observance of law.  

Mark 10:23  Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!"

Matthew wrote Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich. *Matthew 19:23

Luke said Jesus looked at him {rich man}and said: *Luke 18:24  

The disciples were amazed by this remark; Jews linked riches with the blessing of God. 

·      We are like the disciples; it is hard for us to see how riches would hinder us from the kingdom of God.

·      We think that riches can only bring blessing and good.  

·      Riches are a snare because they tend to make us satisfied with this life, instead of longing for the age to come; as well,

·      Often riches must be acquired at the expense of following the Way of Life that Jesus taught.

Paul said: Those who want to get rich fall into temptation: *1 Timothy 6:9

Mark 10:24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!  { 2n time - for those who trust in riches}

Luke said Jesus looked at him and said,  *Luke 18:24

·      Jesus turns the social order upside down.

·      The well-to-do were often honored for how much they give (they had more to give); 

It was common with a teacher to call his disciples as children, is an affection title.

Mark 10:25  It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God."

·      This image reflects a Jewish figure of speech for doing something impossible (a large animal going through a needle’s eye).

·      The word needle means a literal sewing needle, is what most authority says.

·      Some think Jesus refers here to a side gate, called in the East, the “eye of a needle” in Jerusalem, but most scholars do not agree with this.

·      The camel was the largest animal found in the area.

·      The contrast between the largest animal and the smallest opening expresses what, humanly speaking, is impossible or absurd.  

Mark 10:26  The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, "Who then can be saved?"

Matthew said greatly astonished *Matthew 19:25

Luke said Those who heard  *Luke 18:26

The disciples were amazed, their surprise that Jesus used this comparison, that it was impossible for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God; and they expressed their astonishment.

·      As Jews living under the law, they looked on riches as an indication of God's blessing.

·      The Old Testament, God promised prosperity to those who obeyed Him.

·      The disciples reasoned that if a rich person couldn't enter the kingdom, then no one else could either.

·      Jesus answered that what is impossible through humans but possible through God.

·      Rich people tend to love their wealth more than God and put their trust in riches rather than in God.

Mark 10:27 Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God."

·      Jesus looked at them and saw the surprise and the worried or uneasy concern in their faces they were in. 

·      Many people today still cling to this error of great wealth was evidence of God’s special blessing. 

Mark 10:28  Then Peter spoke up, "We have left everything to follow you!"

Luke mention: " We had to follow you!" *Luke 18:28

Matthew added: What then will there be for us?" *Matthew 19:27

·      Peter’s response indicates that there were a few problems in his own heart.

·      Peter said what must have been in the mind of each disciple, because they had given up a lot to follow Jesus. 

·      What do you think?

Mark 10:29, 30  "Truly I tell you," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel (30) will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life.

Luke added for the sake of the kingdom of God *Luke 18:29

Matthew tells them their reward:  Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. *Matthew 19:28  

Jesus tells the disciples they will be on 12 thrones when Jesus returns to the earth.

·      Let’s realize, because we left all these things, it does not cause us to renounce them but we have to certainly re-order our priorities in life.

·      Peter still had his wife some twenty-five years later, as did the other apostles and Jesus' own brothers.

·      A major promise to us, His followers. 

·      Christian love and hospitality literally fulfil this promise. 

·      Not that we will have a hundred houses, brethren and etc, but we will enjoy these things in this life,

·      Example Christian friends whose fellowship enriches all of our lives.

The bottom line:  Whatever has been given up for Jesus will be returned to us a many times over, in addition to eternal life.

Both now and then.

Mark 10:31  But many who are first will be last, and the last first."

Matthew ends it a little different: many who are last will be first. *Matthew 19:30

A paradox is a statement that contradicts itself and yet embraces a valid truth or principle.

·      It isn't enough to start out well on the path of following Jesus.

·      It's how we finish that counts. 

·      We have the Holy Spirit to lead us in all things.

·      All of us who sacrifice for the Lord will be rewarded, but God’s way and timing of rewarding may not match up with our way and timing of being rewarded.

·      When God rewards, we expect the unexpected.

Jesus Foretells His Death a Third Time

Mark 10:32  They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him.

As they were on the public road, Jesus leading the way, probably implying some remarkable energy or determination or eagerness in His manner.  

·      Jesus was a wanted man,

·      the disciples were amazed by Jesus courage

·      His eagerness knowing that great danger awaits Him at Jerusalem

·      From the religious leaders was bent on His death and

·      The disciples were afraid of the fate awaiting them all in Jerusalem. 

·      The disciples were afraid, but it is also true that they followed. 

Mark 10:33   "We are going up to Jerusalem," he said, "and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles,

·      Jesus and the disciples were on the road

·      Their destination was still Jerusalem,

·      The final week of Jesus life when the Romans put Him to death.

·      He had previously told the disciples what was going to happen

·      Now He told them where.

·      And that the Gentiles were to be involved

Mark 10:34  who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise."

*Matthew adds and crucified and On the third day he will be raised to life!" *Matthew 20:19

Jesus just revealed for the third time of His death and resurrection as the disciples walked the road up toward Jerusalem for Passover (see Mar_8:31; Mar_9:31