Text: Mark 10:13-16, Title: Separate and Distinct, Date/Place: NRBC, 3/2/08, PM
A. Opening illustration: A.W. Tozer says that people who are crucified with Christ have three distinct marks: 1. They are facing only one direction, 2. They can never turn back, and 3. They no longer have plans of their own. “…it is that God’s life is eternally within himself a fellowship of three equal and distinct persons, Father, Son and Spirit…”
B. Background to passage: After dealing with discipleship costs related to marriage, Jesus took on a second party related to the family—children. In similar fashion children can be pushed aside and stripped of rights and dignity in the midst of broken marriages and family. So Jesus teaches about children and our attitude and practice related to how we treat them.
C. Main thought: in the text we will see three truths related to distinctions we make
A. Role Distinctions (v. 13)
1. Peter and the disciples demonstrate to us their view of their role as disciples: spiritual bouncers. They had to keep all the less desirables out of the way of Jesus. They didn’t view themselves as ambassadors for Christ, but as spiritual gatekeepers determining who got to come near and who didn’t. The word for rebuke means to punish, and carries with it an air of arrogance that others would even assume that they might touch Jesus. It from the text it seems that it was fathers, or other male siblings bringing the children because of the masculine pronouns. But coming off of the teaching on divorce, Jesus implies that the responsibility of Christians regarding those who are powerless is to stand in the gap for them; to speak for those that have not voice enough to speak for themselves.
2. 2 Cor 5:20, Luke 14:23-24,
3. Illustration: Paul Harvey said, "Too many Christians are no longer fishers of men but keepers of the aquarium." There’s an old story about St Augustine. Early on in his Christian life, he was intensely absorbed in the writings of Cicero. And around this time, he had a dream that he had died. And now he was standing at the pearly gates. And the keeper of the gate said, "Who are you?" And he said, "I’m Augustine." Then the keeper said, "What are you?" Augustine said, "I’m a Christian." The gatekeeper said, "No, you’re not a Christian. You’re a Ciceronian!" Augustine said, "What are you talking about? I’m a Christian!" And the gatekeeper said this: "All souls on earth are judged by what dominated their interests. In you, Augustine, it was not the Christ of the gospel. It was the Cicero of Roman literature. You are not a Christian. You cannot enter here!" Augustine was so startled that when he woke up, he resolved then and there to be fully committed to Jesus Christ for the rest of his life. And to live for Him.
4. Some of us feel like God has placed us in positions of authority in the church to help keep certain kinds of people out. And notably there is a place for making discernments about what church membership should look like. But we must be careful that the distinctions we make can be biblically supported. For refusing on doctrinal or sinful grounds may be necessary, refusing on personal likes, dislikes, preferences, opinions, cultural traditions, age, race, color, sex, or gossip should be equally hated. We must remember our role to be ambassadors for Christ welcoming others to meet Him. And also the role that we have as those called to speak for the weak, powerless, poor, etc. How do you view your role as a church member or as a church leader? Are you like the disciples? Do you stand up for those unable to do so themselves?
B. Value Distinctions (v. 14)
1. The underlying attitude that fueled the disciples to do what they did was the lack of appreciation for children. The Greco-Roman society into which Christianity was born saw childhood as only a necessary evil that took place between birth and adulthood. They commonly exposed unwanted children instead of aborting them. There was no soft spot in the hearts of society for children in general as in our day. And even though the Jews were a little better about exposing children, they did not have the high view of children that the scriptures taught. And what we have in this instance is a case of disciples adopting the prevailing view of society as their worldview.
2. Ps 127:3-5, 128:3, Deut 28:4, Isa 8:18,
3. Illustration: Sometimes we call them little rug rats, or worse, the trouble with children is that when they’re not being a lump in your throat, they’re being a pain in your neck. In his blog, Michael Spencer has said that "work must be entertaining. Education must be entertaining. Marriage must be entertaining. Family life must be entertaining. Children must be entertained. Our lives must be full of more and more entertainment. Entertainment will save our economy. Entertainment is the ultimate judge of talent, worth and value. We are entertained from cradle to grave. Leaders provide it, and the mob insists upon it. Of course, religion, church and God must all be entertaining, or we will have nothing to do with them.
4. We must value children. We must gladly receive the fruit of the womb. This has application to abortion, and we should fight for the value of the unborn, because they too are created in the image of God, and thus are valuable. But mainly this applies to children in general. Do we undervalue them by excluding them from worship? Is that an idea that we got from the bible or from culture? How do we speak of our own children? How do we view the mother who comes with seven children? Do we put a high priority on our children at New River with the highest standards and the biggest goals? Does the budget reflect this? Are we doing all in our power to encourage children to come to Him? We must be cautious, and continually self-examine, to see if we are deriving our theology, practice, or attitude more from our culture than from the bible and its Author. Sometimes its our materialism that we adopt from culture. Sometimes we operate in ministry or structure our churches based on our culture. It’s a constant battle, and sometimes it happens so subtly. Helps to go overseas on mission to expose assumptions we make everyday in our American lives.
C. Entrance Distinctions (v. 15)
1. Finally Jesus made a distinction that surely shocked the disciples and their Greco-Roman mindset. He said that unless you receive the kingdom like a child, you won’t get in. Emphasizing what he previously said about their role and value, Jesus says they are your true example. Many think that Jesus is pointing out inherent childhood qualities, but not so. The children being dealt with are “little,” probably very young, toddlers or infants. And Jesus is speaking of how children receive things—absolutely dependent, small, and powerless, with no claims, no credits, and no clout. They receive expectantly, but not with a sense of entitlement, and eagerly, but not deservingly.
2. Mark 9:42, Matt 5:3, Luke 18:9-14, 5:8, Rom 7:18, 1 Tim 1:15, Rev 3:17
3. Illustration: if I called Mackenzie down here right now, and told her that I have something for her, she would come and receive whatever I have, “The door of heaven is low; those that come with their heads high will not be able to enter”
4. With this truth we can examine our own sense of goodness and entitlement. When you received Christ, did you do so only to complete all the requirements to get to the heaven you deserved? How about now, for I know that when we were saved, we don’t know much, nor are required to know much. Do you feel like you are a pretty good person, deserving of the blessing of God? When we come to Christ, the one thing that you must know is that you cannot contribute anything of positive value to your salvation. Your goodness, church attendance, prayer, bible reading, etc, cannot add anything to your being accepted by God. We must come to Him and continue in Him with the understanding that we are absolutely dependent upon His mercy for acceptance into the Kingdom. We have much too high a view of self, much too low a view of the holiness of God, much to small of a view of the cross of Christ, and consider ourselves really not to bad. Jesus came not with a message of self-esteem or human value, but with a message that screams out His value and our wretchedness, His love and our hate, His goodness and our sinfulness. But He does not do this to leave us without hope. For it is ONLY when you and I realize our utter spiritual bankruptcy, that we can fling ourselves upon His mercy with its foundation on the cross.
A. Closing illustration: Charles Swindoll in his book on Grace puts it this way, "You want to mess up the minds of your children? Here’s how - guaranteed! Rear them in a legalistic, tight context of external religion, where performance is more important than reality. Fake your faith. Sneak around and pretend your spirituality. Train your children to do the same. Embrace a long list of do’s and don’ts publicly but hypocritically practice them privately . . . yet never own up to the fact that its hypocrisy. Act one way but live another. And you can count on it - emotional and spiritual damage will occur."
B. Close with a warning to hindering children within homes of faith, and encourage them to take up children in your arms and love them into the kingdom with a love that Christ provides.
C. Questions and Answers
Additional Notes
• The word for poor is the strongest possible term for extreme poverty, in which the described is in absolute dependence on the provisions from others. He has absolutely no means of supporting himself. The word actually means to cower or cringe. Notice the qualifying phrase “in spirit.” This conveys the idea of the attitude toward yourself that you are utterly and completely spiritually bankrupt without God; that you are completely dependent on Him for everything. It’s the attitude that everything you are is because of Him. It also conveys the idea that this attitude is not external, but internal; not showy, but hidden; not fake, but real. It is not self-hatred, but simply an honest, biblical evaluation of your own personal righteousness
