Read Mark 10:13–16
Questions from the Scripture text: What (whom) did they bring to Jesus (Mark 10:13)? So that He might do what? Who responded, and how? Who sees this in Mark 10:14? How does He feel about their rebuke? What does He say for them to do? What does He say for them not to do? Why not forbid them? How does Jesus introduce the statement in Mark 10:15? What must everyone do in order to enter the kingdom? What three things does Jesus then do to the children (Mark 10:16)?
Next week’s Call to Worship, Prayer for Help, Song of Adoration, and Prayer of Confession all come from Mark 10:13–16, so that we will see that we are singing God’s thoughts after Him with Jesus Loves Me, This I Know.
The need of coming to Christ, Mark 10:13. The sinner desperately needs to know that Christ welcomes and blesses those who have nothing to offer Him. Apart from almighty, saving grace the only things an adult has more of to offer Christ is ability for sin, experience of sin, and guiltiness of sin. Certainly, the adults at the beginning of verse 13 know Jesus’s disposition to those who can offer Him nothing. They have good hope that He will care to touch them and good hope that He is powerful to help them by this touch.
The right of coming to Christ, Mark 10:14. This hope seems dashed at the end of Mark 10:13, but Jesus’s great indignation at the beginning of Mark 10:14 revives it. The Lord Jesus is furious with His disciples for hindering infants (cf. Luke 18:15) from coming to Him. Let us beware of doing that which infuriates the King of kings. He decrees that these infants must be brought to Him, because they are His subjects. He declares their kingdom membership, their covenant membership, their church membership.
The manner of coming to Christ, Mark 10:15. Infants in Christ’s church have the same right of access as adults in Christ’s church. And when adults come, they must come in the same manner as the children. We must be carried; we must be dependent; we must be receivers of unmerited, unaccomplished blessing. As we grow, we must grow in realizing, embracing, and enjoying our complete dependence upon Him. There is maturing out of childishness, but it is a maturing into greater childlikeness.
The manner of the Christ to Whom we come, Mark 10:16. Not only are the adults’ hopes not disappointed; but, their hopes are positively exceeded. All they had desired was a touch, but the Lord Jesus takes them up into His arms. In a subsequent action, He lays His hands upon them. The picture is precious: one arm bearing up the child, the laying of hands thus occurring by His crossing over with the other arm. Only then does the Savior speak (possibly pray) His blessing. And, as He is using both His arms for this, the process is repeated separately for each child. Each child his own embrace. Each child his own caress. Each child his own blessing. And just as we are no less needy of Jesus as adults, He is no less intensely and individually compassionate toward us. What love! What care! What a King! What a Savior!
What helpless ones of Christ’s do you bring to Him? How are you coming to Him? How do you know Him to be toward you?
Suggested songs: ARP131 “My Heart Is Not Exalted” or TPH478 “Jesus Loves Me, This I Know”
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