Jesus Blesses The Children Series

The Great Commission

Part 21 – Jesus Blesses the Children

Pastor Bruce A. Shields

House of Faith – www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org

ANNOUNCEMENTS

6:00PM Evening Service at the church –

Cancelled because of graduations

WHERE WE ARE AT

† Disciples argue about who is Greatest?

† Jesus speaks to them about offences and followers.

† Attacking Children of God

† Jesus Speaks on Divorce

† Jesus Blesses the Children

SCRIPTURE READING

Mark 10:13-16

13 People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch 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 I tell you the truth, 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, put his hands on them and blessed them.

I. People came to Jesus

Again we see people putting forth the effort to get to Jesus.

Story of 2 Farmers from the movie last night at Family Movie Night.

We saw ‘Facing the Giants’.

Two farmers prayed for the rains to come, but only one prepared his field believing God would answer. The rain came, who was the one who received a harvest from God? Obviously, the one who prepared his field believing God would answer.

We need to make an effort and do our part in having a relationship with the Lord.

The man at the water did not receive his healing because he would not get off his mat and get down to the waters edge.

a. They brought their little children to be touched and blessed by Jesus.

The description of the children here is ‘little’, this implies very young children, perhaps toddlers and younger.

Their parents wanted Jesus to touch them, and bless them.

b. The Blessing.

This custom is recorded in;

Genesis 48:8 – 20 where Joseph took Ephraim and Manasseh to be blessed by Israel (Jacob).

A blessing with hands laid upon them.

Genesis 48:8 – 20

8 When Israel saw the sons of Joseph, he asked, "Who are these?"

9 "They are the sons God has given me here," Joseph said to his father.

Then Israel said, "Bring them to me so I may bless them."

10 Now Israel’s eyes were failing because of old age, and he could hardly see. So Joseph brought his sons close to him, and his father kissed them and embraced them.

11 Israel said to Joseph, "I never expected to see your face again, and now God has allowed me to see your children too."

12 Then Joseph removed them from Israel’s knees and bowed down with his face to the ground. 13 And Joseph took both of them, Ephraim on his right toward Israel’s left hand and Manasseh on his left toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them close to him. 14 But Israel reached out his right hand and put it on Ephraim’s head, though he was the younger, and crossing his arms, he put his left hand on Manasseh’s head, even though Manasseh was the firstborn.

15 Then he blessed Joseph and said,

"May the God before whom my fathers

Abraham and Isaac walked,

the God who has been my shepherd

all my life to this day,

16 the Angel who has delivered me from all harm

—may he bless these boys.

May they be called by my name

and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac,

and may they increase greatly

upon the earth."

17 When Joseph saw his father placing his right hand on Ephraim’s head he was displeased; so he took hold of his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. 18 Joseph said to him, "No, my father, this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head."

19 But his father refused and said, "I know, my son, I know. He too will become a people, and he too will become great. Nevertheless, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his descendants will become a group of nations." 20 He blessed them that day and said,

"In your name will Israel pronounce this blessing:

’May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.’ "

So he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.

c. Today we have child dedication.

Today we continue this with Child Dedication.

This IS NOT a Child baptism. A child can not have an understanding to make a choice for Jesus Christ.

But rather a dedication, dedicating your child to the hand of God to determine His path in life.

This is still no guarantee that the child wont grow and depart from that path, but a blessing from God that states you are submitting your child to God.