Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”
“Let the Children Come”
I visit a lot of churches. There are 850 in the Philadelphia Area and I may have seen half of them by now. One thing that is pretty common in all of the churches is stained glass windows. There are two things that show up on stained glass windows more than anything else: Jesus holding a lamb, and Jesus surrounded by a group of children. These picture windows reflect the values of the people in the churches: Jesus as their shepherd and the value of children.
Jesus’ words: “Let the children come unto me” rings true in our hearts and our lives.
Today we have the privilege of baptizing one of our children: a child of God, a new life brought into the world not so many months ago. We affirm Jesus’ words this day by our actions, our words and our future promises. We value this precious moment in the life of the church and may it be a time of light shining from God into the life of this new brother.
First, some background about the Gospel text. The context of this passage from Luke was in the midst of a section in the gospel where Jesus was busy doing many things: healing, teaching, preaching and traveling. The pace of his ministry no doubt was constantly active and for sure the crowds were overwhelming at times. People wanted Jesus’ attention for many things. There was not even time to eat. So when mothers began to bring their infants it was probably the last straw for the disciples who…in their defense…were probably were trying to do crowd control. They told the mothers to not bother Jesus but that was not pleasing to the Lord and he corrected the disciples.
Jesus also used this rebuke as a teaching moment. For Jesus every encounter, every interaction is an opportunity to explain the meaning of the Kingdom of God.
What are the teaching points? First, let the children come! Children are important and should be included in all aspects of our church’s life and ministry. For us that means Sunday School or some kind of Christian Education some time during the week. It means worship that is accessible to children, VBS, including them in worship as participants and leaders, discussing and dealing with the issues of family and children as a part of the ministry of the church.
You have some wonderful programs here: pre-school, Sunday School (JAM), VBS. You welcome families with children and help them to feel included and important. Even your bathrooms are child-friendly!
But I need to ask you: what children are not here? Jesus wants all the children to come. Who can you bring to church who does not have a ride? What child in your family doesn’t get to come to church because parents work or don’t want to participate? What child in your neighborhood who lacks love in their life can you bring to church?
A second point from this text is this: “forbid them not.” We would all be quick to say that we don’t forbid children but many times we do. Sometimes it is about neglecting the ministries to children, or by getting annoyed with their noise, or sticky fingers or un-adult behavior.
More than that we “forbid children” in a larger sense by the way we are complicit with the world’s ordering of money as it pertains to welfare for children in poverty. We see it manifested in poor health care options, poor schools, tolerating neglect and abuse of children. Child pornography is a billion dollar business in this country. Children are trafficked. Children are used a soldiers. Christians need to be proactive in assuring the safety and health of all children by advocacy and personal involvement with those who are at risk.
My grandmother was born in 1874 and she worked at a clothing mill at the age of 8 years old and earned 3 cents a day working in a cold building to earn money for her impoverished family. Thank God for Christians back then. They banded together and appealed to the law makers and they wrote child labor laws so my grandmother would never have to work 12 hours a day like that and she got to go back to school. Today we can also be advocates for change to make life better for children who have no voice. May this church work to include children and advocacy for children and not forbid them.
May we also not keep children so busy with so many activities that they don’t have time for the spiritual journey of life. The spiritual dimension shapes character and values and teaches the things that lead to life eternal.
Finally Jesus reminds us: “The Kingdom of God belongs to children.” He said that that you can only receive the Kingdom of God with child-like trust and total dependence on God. Jesus used children to teach grown-ups the profound truth about faith. There is nothing we can do to deserve heaven. We can only trust God for salvation and depend on him, just as a child is dependent on their parents. We are dependent on God. Pride and self-sufficiency often gets in the way of people making a commitment to Christ. May this church be filled with faith in Christ for salvation and for the call to ministry with children and their families.
Today as we baptize a new brother into the family of God may we commit ourselves to faith in Christ and to ministries with children and their families. Jesus reminds us “Take care that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you, in heaven their angels continually see the face of my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 18:10)