INTRODUCTION
Children are wonderful creations of God. We love them and care for
them. Politicians and leaders of all kinds win votes by hugging and kissing
babies. Children hold a special place in our society. However, to understand
Jesus' words, this morning we must understand that children did not always
hold a special place in society.
Someone once offered these definitions of a child.
A child is someone who can wash his hands without getting the soap
wet.
A child is someone who is either being a lump in your throat, or a
pain in your neck.
A child is someone who is like wet cement. Whatever falls on them makes
an impression.
Speaking of wet cement, a child is a person who would learn how to
write much soon if a paper and pencil were replace with a stick and wet
cement.
A child is a person who can't understand why anyone would give away
a perfectly good kitten.1
EAVESDROPPING
When Jesus picked up a child in his arms, he was not doing his impersonation
of a politician. He was not running for office or trying to gain the sentimental
affection of the crowd. He had been eavesdropping on his disciple conversation.
The men had been talking about which of them was the most important to
group. It is anyone's guess as to who started the conversation. My money
is riding on John the beloved disciple and the brother of James for three
reasons. First, James and John's mother was the one who later tries to
reserve a place for her sons when Jesus enters into his glory. Their mother
is just one pushing mom. You know the type. The soccer mom who thinks that
her little darling is the best one on the team and makes sure the coach
knows that when the team all-stars are selected. That sort of striving
could have easily been passed on from mother to son. Secondly, John was
the younger brother of James. Younger brothers are often known for trying
to out do their older brothers. They often want to show their older brothers
that they are just as good or better. Third, both James and John were known
as the Sons of Thunder. They both had volatile personalities. A friendly
greeting was merely the prerequisite for ensuing argument.
I can almost picture the group of men jostling for position. When I
was an Associate Pastor, I would often take youth groups backpacking. The
competition for being first in line was intense. After a few hours of hiking,
the group would fall into a pecking order that would last the duration
of the trip. Attempts to advance in the line or rearrange the order were
met with fierce and almost cruel verbal assaults by the displaced students.
Jesus may have seen and overheard this jostling for position.
I admire our Lord's ability to use the teachable moment to instruct
us in faith. Rather than avoid a confrontation he picks up a child and
uses the child as a symbolic lesson for those men. We must be careful not
to confuse his message. In the book of Matthew, he uses a child to exhort
the disciples to take on a humility. Matthew records Jesus saying,
Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom
of heaven (Mt 18:4)
But Thomas Long, former professor of Preaching at Princeton Theological
Seminary reminds us that this is Mark not Matthew. The fisherman's nephew
is drawing our attention "...not in the child's attitude but in the attitude
of others toward [the child]."2
CONCLUSION
1 Brett Blair, Sermon Illustrations, Online: http://www.sermonillustrations.com/a-z/c/children.htm.
2 Thomas Long, Pulpit Resource, "Why a child?," No. 28, Vol. 3, p.
53.
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