Tag Archives: children

Gospel of Mark

Little Children: Mark 10:13-16

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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. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.

Mark 10:13-16

27th January 2024: Horsham

There’s more going on in this short, familiar story than we might have been brought up to believe. It’s a beautiful story with layers of meaning. It’s about more than a group of mothers bringing their children to be blessed by Jesus. Actually, it’s not about that at all.

The Context: Jesus and the disciples are heading for Jerusalem. Jesus has told the disciples at least twice that he will be killed when he gets there. Along the way, there have been arguments and confrontation with Pharisees, teachers of the Law and others. Many of these people are out to get Jesus. They mean him harm. Maybe it’s not surprising that his closest friends have started to act protectively. At this moment, they look a bit like his ‘security’ detail.

The Disciples: As these people appear on the scene, the disciples rise as one to head off what they regard as ‘unwanted’ attention. These young men are Jews. In their culture , outside of their own families, children are of no significant worth.  They have done nothing to ‘earn’ their salvation under the Jewish Law. They have no wealth. They have no standing. They are not worthy of Christ’s attention. The security team ‘rebuke’ the people. Rebuke is a strong word. They shall not pass.

The People: We’ve been brought up and conditioned to see this as mothers bringing their baby to Jesus. The Greek word translated here as ‘people’ is masculine. That implies that the ‘people‘ were, or at least most of them were, men rather than women. Fathers and Grand-Father’s  bringing small children, Luke calls them babies, to Jesus (Luke 18:15). The children have no understanding of what is happening. They have no faith. They know nothing of God’s Kingdom. They have no idea at all who Jesus is.

The Rabbi: Jesus was indignant with his disciples. That’s another strong word. He was really not happy with them. The disciples see these little children as worthless – Jesus says you are wrong! We’ve seen before that Jesus is ready to reach out to children. Here we see that he has a heart for children. Even babies. ‘Let them come to me,‘ he says. ‘for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.‘ It doesn’t belong specifically to these babies, but something about these tiny ones touches the things of God’s kingdom.

Jesus rebukes the disciples because they try to stop these little ones coming to Him. He has warned them before about being a ‘stumbling block’ for those who are drawing close to the Son of God. Never, says Jesus, discourage anyone from drawing close to me. Even – especially – if they seem to you to be of little worth.

The End Piece: This scene ends beautifully. Jesus, the rabbi, reaching out with both arms towards these tiny ones. Can you see the small child responding? There’s no delay. There’s eye contact. Do you see the unquestioning trust of the infant, arms outstretched, leaning forwards into the arms of the Son of God. The infant wants to be close to Jesus. This is not to be a blessing at arms length. Jesus embraces the children. Draws them close. Welcomes them in. Wraps his arms around them. Blesses them.

Those who come to Christ will do so as ‘spiritual babies’, trusting hands outstretched towards Christ, eyes fixed on Jesus, leaning in, drawing close into His loving embrace. They will receive his kingdom like little children, or not at all.

15 ‘Truly I tell you,’ says Jesus,  ‘anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 

Richard Jackson, West Sussex: LifePictureUK

Gospel of Mark

The Stumbling Block: Mark 9:42

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The Stumbling Block:

42 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea. 

Mark 9:42 (NIV)

10th December 2024: Horsham

In previous verses, Jesus encouraged the disciples to look at a small child. In a culture where children have no rights and are often overlooked, Jesus tells them that they need to become like this little one, recognising their own helplessness and dependence on God. Whoever takes the lowly position of a child, will become the greatest in his kingdom (Matthew 18:3). In Mark’s gospel, he tells them that they should welcome the one who is like a child (Mark 9:36-37). He uses the child as a metaphor for the follower of Jesus.

So we come to today’s verse, where again, that metaphor is used. It is a verse which should give cause for thought to every Christian teacher at any level, from University lecturer to Sunday School teacher.

As the previous verse was about encouraging other followers of Christ, this verse is a warning against discouraging Christian people. How easy it is, whilst in the position of teacher, to inadvertently say something which discourages or deflects fledgling faith, and which causes a new or developing Christian to stumble. In every Church, we lament the empty chair or the absence of adolescents, sometimes our own children. Yet how many of them have been ‘put off’ by a careless word or a destructive comment. We need to take the greatest care when we teach others.

Preachers, teachers, bible study leaders, youth leaders, children’s workers, Sunday school teachers – teaching matters of faith bring great responsibility.

‘Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.’ (James 3:1)

Our responsibility is to study and reflect, to pray and to listen, to prepare thoroughly before we speak.

Two bits of context. First, the millstone referred to in this verse would have been very familiar to Christ’s contemporaries. It is the large upper stone which is pulled round in circles by the donkey. It is heavy. Very heavy. Secondly, to the Jew, the sea is a place of great danger. It is to be feared. To be cast into the sea with a millstone round your neck would be an unspeakable horror to anyone.

So, teachers and preachers beware – however, in my personal experience, the discouragement does not always come from the teacher, but from someone in the congregation or bible study group. I have seen people speak in ignorance or arrogance, either speaking from beyond their own knowledge and experience, or simply failing to notice the undermining impact of their words on others.

So be careful, says Jesus. Pay attention to what you are teaching.

42 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea.’ 

Richard Jackson, West Sussex: LifePictureUK

Gospel of Mark

Who is the Greatest? Mark 9:33-37

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Who is the Greatest?

33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” 34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. 35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”

36 He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”

Mark 9:33-37

29th November 2024: Horsham

First, I want to focus on the argument which had been going on as the disciples walked along the road. When Jesus asked what they had been talking about, they didn’t answer. We’ve seen this response from the disciples before. Maybe this time they were just embarrassed because of what they had been talking about. Perhaps they were anxious of an uncomfortable response from their teacher.

Jesus knew these guys well. He knew exactly what they were talking about.

When he has a lesson to deliver, a rabbi sits down. Jesus sits down.

“Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” v35

In a world where power and strength rule, this is a paradox. ‘These words.. show that the maxims of the world are contrary to the mind of Christ.’ (JC Ryle,   p139). From the perspective of the world the very idea seems upside down. We need to remind ourselves that it is the world, rather than the gospel, which is upside down.

Wanting to be the greatest, wanting to be the best, is a prideful ambition. Jesus discourages pride and encourages humility. Scripture is big on humility. Moses was praised for his humility (Numbers 12:3). ‘What does the Lord require of you?’ asks the prophet Micah? ‘To act justly, love mercy , and walk humbly with God.‘ (Micah 6:8)

“He mocks proud mockers, but shows favour to the humble and oppressed.” Proverbs 3:34

Christ’s whole life is about humility. His attitude is to serve, not to have the place of honour and to be served. Not for nothing is he called the Servant King. Jesus knows that we all suffer from pride, but he encourages his followers to aim for humility.

Children have always been precious to their parents. However, we need to touch base with the fact that in ancient times, the view of small children was significantly different to ours. The risk of infant mortality was very high. Small children were seen as being of little value. The child has no rights. No possessions. They are a mouth to feed, yet they cannot contribute usefully to the family. Their value is lower than that of a servant. In context, pride looks at a child and says ‘this child is of no value at all.‘

I imagine that in the room or the yard in which Jesus was teaching, there may have been a couple of toddlers, playing in the corner. Jesus calls one of them over and sets it on his lap. ‘Look at this child,’ says Jesus, ‘If you welcome one who might seem worthless in my name, you welcome me.’  If we restrict our interpretation to a reaching out to small children we miss the point. Christ, the servant King, is showing us that His way is to look on the one who the world sees as having no value with the deepest compassion and love. In His sight they matter. He directs that the follower of Jesus should welcome them with an open heart.  ‘If you reject one like this,’ he continues, ‘you reject me.’

The End Piece..

‘Let your attitude be as that of Christ.’ Never forget that Christ is the Servant King. Aim to live in humility.

3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

(Philippians 2:3-5)

Now, just take a walk. Look around you. Look at the people you see or meet. Look for the one who is weak, vulnerable or alone in your town, your school, your workplace, your Church. Jesus says “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.” (v37)