Jesus Blesses Little Children

In this part of the sermon: This section details the actions of the unnamed adults who brought children to Jesus, explaining their desire for Him to lay hands on them and pray for them, indicating their…

Martin uses the example of people seeking the Pope's touch out of superstition to contrast with the parents' desire for Jesus's prayer and blessing, clarifying their motives were not superstitious.

world? It was in their minds, bringing them to Jesus that he should touch them. Was this the kind of superstition that people show in Roman Catholic countries? When Pope Paul comes to visit, they'll do anything if Papa can but touch their children, feeling that somehow if the vicar of Christ will but touch their children, it will leave some kind of a good mark upon them for the rest of their days. Well, according to Matthew 19, 13, this was not the case at all. For in this parallel passage we read, Then there were brought unto him little children, that he should lay his hands on them and pray.

7:53 - 8:39 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall in no wise enter therein.

He illustrates the inherent sinfulness of children, noting their self-centeredness, egotism, and manipulative tendencies, to counter the idea that Jesus was praising an inherent subjective virtue in them.

And in this context, the little child, verse 15, is the babes, the brethos, the infants who have yet to develop their cognitive faculties. That when our Lord says unless you receive the kingdom as a little child, He is not pointing to any subjective internal state in the mind or soul of the child. Children are notoriously self-centered and egotistical. The Bible says they go astray from the womb speaking lies.

23:21 - 23:54 Read in full sermon

Driving home: And our Lord is saying, whoever shall not receive the kingdom as a little child, that is, receive the blessings of His saving grace and mercy in a posture of utter nakedness, helplessness and dependent-ness, unless we th…

Martin shares his personal practice of bending down to greet children at the church door, illustrating the physical posture Jesus would have taken to embrace the little ones.

He took them in His arms. He wrapped His arms around them. One by one or two by two, He took them up in His arms. Now you know well enough, if you are going to take a child up in your arms, you are going to get down where the child is.

26:12 - 26:28 Read in full sermon

The point: Go to Jesus now if you've never gone to Him and keep on going to Him every day of your life.

Martin recounts an anecdote of a little girl turning away and sticking out her tongue at him, using it as a vivid, relatable example for children of how they might be rejecting Jesus's invitation.

We had a visitor this morning who had a little girl with him. And when he came to the door I introduced myself and as usual when I saw he had a little one I can't remember when I was that small but I got enough sense to know that we adults can look very intimidating and kids have got to look all the way up and especially someone who's been up in the pulpit thumping and hollering and caring about like I do. So I always get down in my inviting posture. So as he was about to introduce his little daughter I got down got on her level stretched out my hand and put on my most kindly face and he said ...

52:05 - 52:42 Read in full sermon