It's A Small World...after All! Series

INTRODUCTION

One of the things I love about the Bible is that it is so full of variety. Last week’s passage we were talking about God’s definition of marriage, a pretty deep subject. And in the very next passage before us today, we see Jesus loving on little children.

If you’ve ever been to Disneyland or Disney World you’re familiar with the ride and the song, “It’s a Small World.” However, before it appeared at the Disney parks it first showed up at the 1964 New York World’s Fair. The ride was originally called “Children of the World” and when you rode through the exhibit, you heard the national anthems of dozens of countries played at the same time. When Walt first heard that he knew that wouldn’t do. So he commissioned the Sherman brothers, Disney writers, to come up with a happy song. The result was, “It’s a Small World” and they changed the entire exhibit to fit the song. The song was never copyrighted and Disney claims it has been sung and translated into more languages than any other song. It’s somewhat of a brain worm, so you may be humming it the rest of the day, which is better than some things that could be stuck in your brain.

When it comes to God’s world, it is a small world. God loves everybody, and especially small children. Children have always been interested in God. One Christian schoolteacher asked her young students to write some letters to God. I hope they make you smile.

Dear God, Thank for you’re the baby brother but what I prayed for was a puppy. —Joyce

Dear God, If you give me a genie lamp like Aladdin I will give you anything you want except my money or my chess set. —Raphael

Dear God, I want to be just like my Daddy when I get big but not with so much hair all over. —Sam

Dear God, I do not think anybody could be a better God. Well I just want you to know but I am not just saying that because you are God. —Charles

Dear God-Please put another Holiday between Christmas and Easter. There is nothing good in there now. —Ginny

We read Thos. Edison made light. But in Sun. School they that said you did it. So I bet he stoled your idea. —Donna

One of the most beautiful pictures in the New Testament is where Jesus takes little children in His arms and blesses them.

Mark 10:13-16. “People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 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. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’ And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.”

Parents are supposed to teach kids, but kids teach their parents a lot too. I read a blog by young mother who wrote about the things her son taught her. “I’ve learned that you shouldn’t toss baseballs up inside when the ceiling fan is on. I’ve learned that the doubled-pained glass in the window will not stop a baseball that was hit by a ceiling fan. I’ve learned that the motor on the ceiling fan isn’t strong enough to rotate a 42-pound boy wearing a superman cape, hanging by a dog leash. I’ve learned that when you hear the toilet flush, followed by the words, ‘uh oh’ it’s already too late. My son has taught me that the spin cycle on a washing machine can make a cat very dizzy. I also learned that a dizzy cat can throw up two or three times its body weight. Mostly my son has taught me that you can only survive parenthood with a sense of humor.”

As we study this touching scene where Jesus welcomes little children into his arms, I’d like to make four observations about children.

1. IT’S GOOD FOR PARENTS TO BRING THEIR CHILDREN TO JESUS

We read, “People were bringing little children to Jesus.” (Mark 10:13) These people who were bringing their kids to Jesus aren’t identified, but we may assume they were parents and grandparents.

It’s fun to bring your kids and grandkids to Jesus. A grandmother recently told me she was really excited that she was keeping all three of her young grandkids for the next week. She was so grateful she put an additional $50 bill in the offering plate the Sunday before they came. I asked her later how it went. She said, “They were really a handful, but we managed. The Sunday after they left I put a $100 in the offering plate!”