Jesus and Children

 

“What Does Jesus Say About Children?”

Steve W. Reeves

steve@wschurch.net

 

INTRODUCTION:

A. When Albert Einstein came to America he bought an old two-story house within

    walking distance of Princeton University. There he entertained some of the most

    distinguished people of his day and discussed many important issues. Down the

    street lived a ten-year-old girl named Emmy who was having difficulty with her math

    homework. She heard of the man down the street who was a teacher so she

    knocked on his door and asked Mr. Einstein if he would help her with her math

    problem. He smiled and invited her in. After he had helped her he told her that she         

    was welcome to come and ask him for help whenever she needed it. When Emmy’s

    mother heard that her little girl had been going to Mr. Einstein’s house she was

    horrified. She told Emmy that she shouldn’t bother a man who was so important and

    busy. When she saw Einstein one day she apologized for her daughter. Einstein

    quickly replied, “She has not been bothering me! When a child finds joy in learning,

    then it is my joy to help her learn! Please don’t stop Emmy from coming to me with

    her school problems. She is welcome in this house anytime.”

B. Are children welcome in this house?

    1. According to Matthew 19:13-15 with parallel passages in Mark 10:13 and Luke

        18:15-17, we find Jesus receiving small children. “Then some children were

        brought to Him so that He might lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples

        rebuked them. ¹⁴ But Jesus said, “Let the children alone, and do not hinder them

        from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” ¹⁵ After

        laying His hands on them, He departed from there.”

    2. In the preceding chapter (Matthew 18:1-6) Matthew wrote that the disciples “came       

        to Jesus and said, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” ² And He

        called a child to Himself and set him before them, ³ and said, “Truly I say to you,

        unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom

        of heaven. ⁴ Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the

        kingdom of heaven. ⁵ And whoever receives one such child in My name receives

        Me; ⁶ but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble,

        it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to

        be drowned in thee depths of the sea.”

D. What did Jesus say about children? There are three traits of childhood that Jesus

    recognized a essential elements in the kingdom of God.

   

I. AWE AND WONDER

    A. Although Jesus is the creator of all things (John 1:1-3; Hebrews 1:2) He

        understands the sense of awe and discovery that is found in the heart of a child.

        1. Have you noticed the expression on a child’s face when they learn something for

            the first time?

        2. As a speech therapist my wife works with a lot of children who are

            developmentally challenged. I enjoy hearing her talk about the excitement of a

            child when they discover something new like how to say their name or how to

            ask a question. They become so excited over things we often take for granted.

    B. Oh, that we could all maintain the sense of awe and wonder possessed by

        children.

        1. The Psalmist began Psalm 8 with the words, “O Lord, our Lord, How majestic

            is Your name in all the earth” (verse 1). He went on to say, “When

            I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars,

            which You have ordained; ⁴ What is man that You take thought of him” (verses   

            3-4a).

        2. The Psalmist went on to declare, “I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and

            wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well”

            (Psalm 139:14).

    C. It is sad that we often lose our sense of awe and wonder as we grow older and

        become distracted by all of the details of life. Jesus longs for us to recapture the

        awe of children.

 

II. DEPENDENCE AND TRUST

    A. In Luke’s account of the children being brought to Jesus, he used the word for

        “infants,” or “babies.” These children could not come by themselves. They were

        dependent on their parents.

       1. Every parent here knows how dependent babies are. They cannot feed

            themselves. They cannot clean themselves or clothe themselves. They cannot

            talk, they cannot walk. 

        2. As they grow older they become less and less dependent. Unfortunately, the

            same also happens in our relationship with God. In our interaction with the

            world we lose our sense of dependence on God.

        3. Jeremiah said, “It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps” (Jeremiah

            10:23).

    B. Jack Exum told the story of a young preacher who went to a county nursing home

        where the poorest of the poor were taken when they could no longer care for

        themselves. During Sunday worship the young preacher assisted several of the

        residents with the Lord’s supper. One woman wore shabby clothes, had a strong

        odor and was unable to take the bread and cup herself. He put a bite of bread in

        her mouth and held the cup to her lips. The juice dribbled down her chin. Losing

        his composure the young man had to leave the room. He apologized profusely to

        the older preacher he was with. The older man said, “It’s okay. The same thing

        happened to me and then I realized how we must all look like that when we come

        to God.” It was his way of acknowledging our dependence on God even like that 

        of a child.

    C. Dependence and trust are evident in the words of Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the

        LORD with all of your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your

        ways acknowledge Him and he will direct your steps.”  

 

III. HUMILITY AND PURITY

    A. Jesus said, “Unless you humble yourself and become like a little child you cannot

        enter the kingdom of Heaven.”

        1. Children are not consumed by pride, envy or jealousy. They are not worried

            about impressing others.

        2. Children are pure in heart. Jesus mentioned both of these qualities in the

            beatitudes (Matthew 5:3, 8).

    B. Who is easier to teach? Someone who is proud and convinced that they have

        everything figured out? How about someone with humility who is willing to learn?

 

CONCLUSION:

A. There are two questions we need to ask today.

    1. Are children welcome in this house?

    2. Have we become like little children in our spiritual lives according to what Jesus

        says?

B. May we assist you with any spiritual need as we stand and sing?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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