"learning To Become A Little Child"

“Learning to Become Little Children”

Matthew 18:1-4

(The main thrust of this sermon is taken from a podcast by Marty Solomon)

When I became a parent and Mary Ellen came out of her infancy and was becoming a toddler I started seeing all sorts of new things.

It was like I was getting a glimpse of a perspective I had never seen before.

From our Scripture passage for this morning and many other passages we see there is something about the nature of a child’s understanding about his or her world that Jesus finds admirable.

But, if I’m being honest, I think it can be hard for me to actually consider a child to be an example of faith.

So, I want to try and get a better understanding of what Jesus is talking about…

…because it’s obviously important to Him.

Jesus was a Jewish Rabbi.

And a Jewish Rabbi teaches his disciples valuable and important lessons.

They are never meant to be easy or empty.

In the Gospels there are several instances when Jesus gathers children around Him.

Ever wonder how long this gathering takes place?

We’re not told.

I’ve always assumed that Jesus takes about 20 seconds to gather some kids up, looks at His disciples and other listeners and says: “Unless you have faith like a child you cannot enter the Kingdom.”

Then, I always imagined Him ushering the children away so that He could go on with His much more important and profound teachings for the day.

But after watching children for a while, I have started to question these assumptions.

Perhaps Jesus wasn’t just giving a 2-minute lesson that day.

Maybe it wasn’t like a quick children’s sermon given before the REAL message.

Maybe this teaching is much more profound.

Let’s imagine that Jesus and His disciples got up that morning and went out to do what they normally did.

They gathered in the synagogue study rooms for morning readings and then left for the day’s adventures.

And let’s picture, maybe Matthew asking, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

And then picture Jesus pausing and silently looking off into a nearby village…

…and without saying a word, marching off toward the houses.

Then Jesus gets to the outskirts of the village and sees a group of children—10 or 15 of them—playing in a field.

He leads His disciples into the field with the parents watching and welcoming Him and His disciples.

The disciples are watching and paying attention to Jesus’ every move as He scoops up a child and begins to playfully interact with the children.

As a disciple, your main duty is to mimic every move of your rabbi and so they start to play with the children as well.

Let’s imagine Jesus and His disciples spending the day with the children…

…telling them stories…

…playing games…

…maybe even taking naps…

…and the day starts to come to an end and a family insists that they stay for dinner.

As they begin to recline in the shade of a nearby tree Jesus says some of the first and only words He’s spoken all day.

“Watch the children.”

So, the disciples watch as they continue to recline and eat as the sun begins to set in the sky.

Then, Jesus calls one of the children by name.

He takes the child and pulls him close under His arm and He looks at all His disciples—making eye contact with all of them.

Then He says, “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

(pause)

There are great lessons to be learned from watching little children.

When Mary Ellen was about 1 year old I had her to myself for the day.

And it was a nice Spring day outside.

It was just Dad and daughter.

I took her to a local park.

And I decided I was just going to relax and let Mary Ellen be.

I wasn’t going to take it for granted that toys or swings were going to be what her entertainment of choice was going to be for the day.

I wanted to see what she would do if she was left to be the captain of her own ship.

She had just learned to walk.

And as many of you know, the whole experience of learning to walk is an incredible thing to observe as a parent.

There are certain milestones you wait for in a newborn’s life.

The first time she rolls over, the first time she crawls, the first tooth…

…but there is nothing that compares to the ability to walk.

And there’s sheer panic you feel as a parent if your kid isn’t walking as soon as your friend’s kid is.