Mark 10:13-16

CHRIST AND THE CHILDREN

‘And they brought young children to Him, that He should touch them.… And He took them up in His arms, put His hands upon them, and blessed them.’

Mark 10:13

The scene here is one of surpassing beauty. Preachers, artists, poets, have conspired to do honour to it. Christ rejoiced in the simplicity and trustfulness of children, and in the joy and gladness of their lives. He watched their games in the market-place. He took a little boy in His arms in an earlier chapter (Mark 9:36). And some of His latest words were: ‘Feed My lambs.’

I. What Jesus saw.—He saw young children brought to Him that He might ‘… put His hands on them, and pray’ (Matthew 19:13). Mark says ‘touch.’ It is the touch of Christ that saves sinners and makes saints. Why is one child so different from another? Because that child is ‘touched’ by the grace of Christ. Grace makes the difference. But Christ also saw His disciples rebuking those that brought them. Yet none are too young to be blessed by Jesus. ‘They enter the narrow way easiest who enter earliest.’

II. What Jesus felt.—He was delighted that the young children should come to Him, and ‘He was much displeased,’ or, as R.V. has it, ‘He was moved with indignation’ with those who would have kept them from Him. The Great Head of the Church did not think boys and girls of little importance.

III. What Jesus said (Mark 10:14).—Children are found in the Kingdom of God on earth, and they occupy a prominent place in the Kingdom of glory.

IV. What Jesus did (Mark 10:16. See also Isaiah 40:10; Zechariah 13:7).—The Greek word used for ‘blessed’ is used here only in N.T.; it means He rained down blessings on them: He gave a particular blessing to those particular children. Let us ask Him to do for us what He did for them—to take us in His arms, put His hands on us, and rain down blessings on us, giving us the child-like heart. Then we are safe.

—Rev. F. Harper.

Illustration

‘Some have thought that the Church is not warranted in the inference she has drawn from this incident, and expressed in the Office for Holy Baptism: “Nothing doubting but that He favourably alloweth this charitable work of ours in bringing this infant to His holy baptism.” But Christ not only took the infants into His arms, and communicated some grace to them, He also, at the same time, spoke about entrance into the “Kingdom of God,” i.e. the Church; and He associated these infants with that entrance, saying, “Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.” Thus He set His own seal to this act as a symbol of admission into His Kingdom, the Church, by that sacrament of baptism which He Himself afterwards instituted.’

(SECOND OUTLINE)

RESPONSIBILITY FOR CHILDREN

Notice:—

I. The sin incurred by throwing obstacles (wittingly or thoughtlessly) in the children’s way which may hinder their coming to Christ. Parents who believe that infant baptism is according to the mind of God and the teaching of Christ’s Church, and yet, through indifference or indolence, neglect that holy rite, do grievous wrong to their own souls and to the souls of those committed to their care. Coming to the details of everyday life, how few consider the extent to which children are effected:—

(a) By the conversation they hear.

(b) By the unwise way religion is put before them.

II. Remember the paramount duty of bringing your children to Christ.—If you wish your child to grow up into a religious and God-fearing man, then you must teach it the distinctive features of Christianity, and imbue it with the Gospel.

III. We ourselves must be like children.—If only to influence them aright we should cultivate a child-like spirit; for none can do good to others, or be good themselves, who are not lowly in character and conduct. But how are we to become like little children? In this way. We must be receptive, trustful, yielding up our wills. When those little ones came to Christ, they received what He gave as a free gift. They could have had no thought that they deserved it. And so must it be with us.

Rev. James Vaughan.

Illustrations

(1) ‘Religion, as presented to the minds of children by too many nurses, teachers, and even parents, consists in saying, “No”; it is: “You mustn’t do this”; “you mustn’t do that.” And so religion seems to be nothing but forbiddings and negations; the Sunday a dull and disagreeable day; prayer, a task; the Bible a lesson-book only; God, how severe! how fault-finding, difficult to please; how punishing, and how fearful! See to it, then, lest, having brought your children to Christ in baptism, you afterwards frighten them away from that very Saviour with Whom you think you have left them.’

(2) ‘A childhood without reverence, a childhood without any upward affection, a childhood to which nothing is mysterious, and, therefore, nothing sacred; a childhood with no heaven, with no encircling world about it save that of the men and women who minister to its wants; with a spiritual imagination wholly undeveloped; a childhood discontented, wearied, and without interest, satisfied with nothing, not even with self, though with no guide or hope towards improving that self. What picture so sad as the material prime that followers an unreligious youth!’