Crawling Into the Kingdom
Luke 18:15-18:30
"Crawling Into the Kingdom"
A first grader became curious because her father brought home a briefcase full of papers every evening. Her mother explained, “Daddy has so much to do that he can’t finish it all at the office. That’s why he has to bring work home at night.” “Well then,” asked the child innocently, “why don’t they put him in a slower group?”
Opening Illustration: Everything in the mouth!
Aren’t children the best?
We have much to learn about the Kingdom of God. And children can teach us something about that.
Our story opens with people bringing their babies to Jesus so that He would touch them, hold them, and pray a blessing for them.
But the disciples didn’t think so. They became irritated with the whole scene, and began rebuking the parents to back off of Jesus. They probably felt like these people were wasting Jesus’ time. They probably felt like there were other “more important people” to reach than mere babies and little children.
But Jesus wasn’t irritated at all. He wanted the children to come to Him, so He called for them to come back to Him. (v. 16-17)
The second part of our reading deals with a different character.
A rich young ruler approached Jesus wanting to know what he could do to inherit eternal life.
The man seemed to think that he had been beyond reproof in keeping the ten commandments. Jesus said that he lacked one thing: he needed to sell everything of his and give away the money to the poor, and come follow Him.
This brought great sadness to the young man. He was not willing to make such a drastic move, so he went away disappointed.
This conversation didn’t unfold the way most people expected. On top of that, Jesus said that it would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter heaven.
Riches were seen by most as a clear indication of God’s blessing upon that person. Those who heard all of this became exasperated and wanted to know how anybody could be saved? (v. 26) (READ v. 27)
What a difference in reaction to Jesus. That blind unselfish trusting faith of the children to that of the young man who just could not give up his love of riches to give his life to Christ.
We simply just can do nothing else but crawl like children into the kingdom. We cant buy talk lie cheat or anything else but crawl like children.
In order to enter heaven, we must come by crawling into the kingdom as a child.
1. Crawl with simple childlike faith.
vv. 16-17 Children illustrate the kingdom of heaven. Why or How?
• Their childlike trust
• Their ability to easily love
• Their uninhibited nature
• They are utterly dependant
• They are simple – uncomplicated
• They have no achievements to boast about
• They have no status in society
• They are often just seen, but not heard
• They own no property
• They have really no legal rights
• The only anxiety they ever have is when they are separated from Momma or Daddy… and it is soon forgotten once they are picked up.
Did you see how the young man wanted to know what he hd to DO to get into the kingdom.
Unlike the children lets analyze this man.
Take notice of some of the differences between this man and the babies Jesus just blessed:
• He was rich
• He owned much property
• He was probably a little proud of his accomplishments
• He was certainly commending of himself in v. 21
• He was in the strong, youthful prime of his life
• He was self-sufficient
• He was high in society, respected as a “ruler”
• His wealth, in most people’s eyes, seemed to indicate God’s blessings
• His life was full, busy, and complicated
• His ambition wasn’t to trust, but to accomplish
2. We Crawl into the Kingdom to Open Arms
Eg of Child in bed in hospital. Aids Babies
The little children were openly accepted by Jesus.
Jesus has a special place in His heart for children… He has a special place in his heart for childlike faith in the warmth of his arms. Without questioning what have to DO to earn or enjoy that peace, we just simpy have to climb onto his lap and sit in his arms.
For a long time I put off Christ. I had a list of things that I wanted to sort out before I felt that I deserved the love of him. I thought I just was not good enough and until I was good enough he would not want anything to do with me.
In order to enter heaven, we must come by crawling into the kingdom as a child. Not asking what we have to do for the only thing we have to do is allow him to take us into his arms.
Have you found your special place in his arms. Can you smell the scent of his beautiful robes. Feel the tickle of his white beard against your cheek. Can you feel the strength of his arms across your chest. Do you know that love, and the peace that loves brings you. You deserve it simply because of who you are. As you are. Sins and all. He wants you to bring those to his lap blindly. For it is the love you feel in his arms that will make you understand that he will heal those sins.
3. We Crawl into the Kingdom for a Blessing
And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands on them. (Mark 10:16)
The parents of these children obviously saw something special in Jesus. They believed that His blessing would benefit their children, as they were committing them to God in their hearts.
Think about it for a moment… Jesus was holding in His open arms and blessing little children He created…
For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities -- all things have been created through Him and for Him. (Col 1:16) He has the power to give.
When we come to Jesus with childlike faith, we receive a blessing.
a. The Blessing of Eternal life (vv. 17, 26-27)
To enter heaven, we must trust in Christ as our Savior. This is not a weighty, intellectually heavy, complicated mental assent. But it is a simple adoration for Jesus and what He did for us on the cross.
How wide illustration
God so loved the whole world.
You may wonder, “What can I contribute to my salvation?”
Well, there is one thing… your sin. God takes care of its payment. Simply believe.
b. The Blessing of Abundant life
I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. (John 10:10)
If you are a Christian here who feels as though Jesus is so far away, will you let go of your worldly possessions that’s gripping your heart, and embrace a newfound childlike simple devotion to Jesus?
He will make your life so much more meaningful than any amount of money, worldly comforts, or peace in the family.
30th birthday – friends history all things that reminded me of Christs love. Abundance serving as a body of childlike believers.
Illustration: Commercial
Have you seen the commercial of the mother who is talking to her sad little boy? He’s sad because his mother is going away on a business trip. She can’t seem to cheer him up by offering to buy him the bicycle he wanted. So she says, “OK, you tell me what you really want, and I’ll do it.”
The next scene we see the little boy sitting right next to his mom on the plane and he has this big smile on his face. Then he says, “Does this mean I don’t get the bike?”
The point is this: the child didn’t care at all about his mother’s big-time career job. How important she was to her company didn’t matter. How much money didn’t matter. All he really wanted was to be with his Mommy. He just wanted love.
• That’s the kind of a heart Jesus wants from His children.
• Do you just want Jesus to love you and bless you?
• Do you need a blessing today?… Ask Him for it, and He will give it!
In order to enter heaven, we must come by crawling into the kingdom as a child.
• With a simple faith…
• To the open arms of Jesus…
• In order to receive a blessing from Him.
