IN THE ARMS OF JESUS
#136 IN THE ARMS OF JESUS
Scripture Mark 10:13-16 NIV Orig. 6-23-78
Rewr. 6-24-88
Passage: 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.
Purpose: Dedicated to the cause of the spiritual education of boys and girls through the church.
Keywords: Christ the Saviour Education Christian Education Heritage VBS
Introduction
A few years ago, late in the year, I was working with a young couple who were soon to be married. It happened to be one of those occasions where both participants were doing everything humanly possible to effect a sensitively done ceremony. And I was eager to help them.
They felt that this was the only way that they could look back upon their wedding day and rejoice in a day that had been commemorative to their faith in Christ as well as to their love.
Two days before the wedding, the newspapers told of another wedding. In fact, it was on the front page. The wedding thus described took place in New Roads, La. The bride/groom were dressed in the attire of witch/warlock. Their attendants were decked out as ghouls and southern belles.
The media would never have written up the wedding we were planning. They were all too eager to describe in full measure the frenetic energy of a society that has lost its way. It is this effort to expedite the abnormal that allows a sideshow to become acceptable, and the abnormal to become normal.
It is thus, with fear in our hearts, that we undertake a program of Christian education. If we do not teach others of Jesus, and His waiting arms, however will they learn? The paranormal, the abnormal, is the word the world passes on. Our word is spirit, and it is life. To that end, VBS is a vital part of our effort. We must teach our children, and all others whom we can, of Jesus, and of his waiting “arms” of blessing.
I. His Arms Speak First of Substance. V16 “And He took them up in His arms, put hands upon them and blessed them.” The substance here is seen in our Judeo-Christian heritage of family. One God: all living, all loving, working against the influence of Satan, who, by the way, is having a field day primarily on the back of religious organizers—TV entrepreneurs, denominational controversies, a New York preacher playing leapfrog with lies. If we don’t tell or show them what God is really like, who will? At Summer Theater in New Orleans, dissidents placarded Anita Bryant in the late 70’s: “Jesus may have died for sin, but not for mine.”
God has chosen to work through His church in accomplishment of His purpose. Satan is pleased to work through the ungodly. He takes greater pleasure in magnifying faithlessness of so-called believers. Did you notice the recent write up of dedication of the national headquarters of Atheists? Organized, they’re no threat. The threat is when we can’t muster interest in doing what we need. What have you invested in VBS? A lady in town called. She wanted her three daughters in VBS. She called back, “What can I do?” People ought to be standing in line to help. Are you?
Substance is also seen in our purpose. That purpose is to guide people in redemptive choices. Jesus’ parable of the prodigal was to make the point of the difference of life’s values, and difficulty of life’s choices. The pulse he came to eat was a cheap substitute. Your children, your neighbor’s children, are going to get wrapped up in something. Why not Jesus? The Greek for “took”—enagkalisamenos—means “folding in his arms.” If you’ve never “folded” a child in your arms, my heart bleeds for you.
The Kingdom of God is mentioned twice. It belongs to those who, like these children, are receptive. Jesus did not say it consisted of little children, he said it happens when those of simple spirit find true substance in Him. And it’s never been easy. Our forefathers tilled behind a hand forged plow, and unrelenting oxen, with blunderbuss for protection. They would have found it easy to live for Jesus in an air-conditioned home with a late model car, microwaves, and the like.
II. In This Light, His Arms Speak of Significance. V13 “And they brought young children to Him that He should touch them.” It is undoubtedly true that many parents have no interest in children coming to Jesus. In many instances, but not all, there is something we can do. Those who are grandparents, do you sacrifice your witness as an infringement?
To be truly redemptive, genuine parental responsibility must be proclaimed. It is never a problem to lead a child to faith whose parents are believers. It is a hundred times more difficult if one or both are not. The home must exercise responsibility. Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go.” 3 John 4: “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”
Some deny that the home can be what it once was, a vine-covered cottage down a quiet lane with happy, unthreatened children. But ours is a drug-sated, alcohol-scarred abused community of unconcern.
A father took a job in a distant city. He moved the family into a motel. Several weeks passed. A motel employee asked, “Little boy, don’t you have a home? I see you here all the time.” “Sure, we just haven’t found a house to put it in yet.” After we get settled, as believers, is when we need to do all we can to help other people to have a home to put in a house somewhere.
Let me try to define “home” for you. It is a place where individuality is happy to play second-fiddle to family. It is a place where neither children nor spouses have to play guessing games about love. It is a place where God’s Word and work are reverenced. It is a place where there are no distractions between the way one lives and what one says or teaches. The church, as an extended family, carries a correlation to the home.
III. His Arms Testify Ultimately of Salvation. V14b “Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not.” I see this as a positive admonition of need. The three verses just prior stress the sanctity of the home. Jesus is instructing the parents to take the lead in their children’s well-being (paidua). The word means “earliest childhood.”
I am reading salvation into this, of course. The parent expresses faith in the bringing. The child discovers faith as what was brought. There is a parenthetical warning here. Yes, some bring their children. Some merely avoid standing in the way, at least by intent. Some, thoughtlessly, prevent them. The spirit of Jesus is clearly seen in response to these variant attitudes. V14 “When Jesus saw this, He was much indignant”—NIV. The King James reads “displeased.” My Greek dictionary doesn’t describe “indignant.” It refers to “anger.” In this instance He was angry with the disciples. Be reminded, He was angry because they stood in the way.
Conclusion
“Nobody Said It Was Easy” is a term that all of us have used, or have had used on us. The book of which it is the title happens to be a book on parenting. It isn’t easy at home, or at church, but it must be done, and you ought to help.