Today, we see that the disciples had persisted in their resistance to Jesus’ predictions of his suffering and death. He had already told them that he would die, so this was the second time he clearly told the disciples that he would be betrayed and killed. Whereas Jesus had spoken before about being rejected, this time he added the element of betrayal. He again said that he would rise from the dead after three days.
The disciples didn’t understand why Jesus would keep talking about dying because they expected him to set up a political kingdom. They didn’t know that Jesus’ death and resurrection would make his spiritual Kingdom possible. If Jesus died, the kingdom as they imagined it could not come. But they were afraid to ask him what he meant.
Clearly Jesus had his work cut out for him in teaching these disciples who would be responsible to carry on his mission. So he sat down in the house and called the disciples to sit at his feet. In a sentence, he taught the essence of true greatness, “Anyone who wants to be the first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else”. Greatness is determined by servanthood.
When Jesus took a little child in his arms, the explanation of greatness was made even more distinct. Only Mark mentions Jesus taking the child in his arms. When we receive Jesus, we actually “enter” or are “received into” his Kingdom. The way into this Kingdom is to turn to God from sin in the same spirit of humility that a child exhibits when he shows simple trust in someone he loves.
The disciples had become so preoccupied with the organization of Jesus’ earthly kingdom that they had lost sight of its divine purpose. Instead of seeking a place of service, they were seeking positions of advantage. Jesus used a child to help his self-centered disciples get the point. They were to have servant attitudes, being not “childish” (arguing over petty issues), but “childlike,” with humble and sincere hearts.
To cause a child or someone weak in the faith to lose faith means to purposely put a stumbling block in the way to make him or her trip and fall. To have a millstone tied around one’s neck and then be thrown into the sea meant certain death. Even the horror of such a death was minor compared to what this person would face in eternity.
All who desire to follow Jesus must remove any stumbling blocks that cause sin. Jesus did not mean to literally cut off a part of the body; he meant that any relationship, practice, or activity that leads to sin should be stopped. As a person would submit to losing a diseased appendage (hand or foot) or a sense (eyes) in order to save his or her life, so believers should be just as willing to “cut off” any temptation, habit, or part of their nature that could lead them to hold onto this world and turn away from Christ.
The reason? Jesus explained that it would be better to have lost some worldly possession, attitude, or action than to keep it and be thrown into hell because of it. This is true, radical discipleship.
In describing “hell,” Jesus spoke of a place where the worm never dies and the fire never goes out. Hell will be a place of unbearable and unending torment reserved for those who refuse to believe in Jesus Christ and the salvation and eternal life he offers.
Jesus then said, “Salt is good for seasoning.” In the ancient world salt was both a condiment and a preservative for food. Jesus had said to the disciples, “You are the salt of the earth” . They were to be life-producing agents in a dying world; they were to be preservatives in a world spoiled by sin. However, if salt loses its flavor, the flavor cannot be returned and it is of no value to anyone. Jesus stressed the responsibility of each disciple toward God. The disciples will be held accountable by God to maintain their “saltiness” (that is, their usefulness) by maintaining a close relationship with him.
SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)
When I read this passage today, I was impressed once again for the love that Jesus had and has for children - for young people and that we have to go above and beyond to build them and invest in them and we must do all we can to protect their innocence and purity and love for God.
CHURCH OF THE VALLEY'S MISSION IS EVERY KID
Not just rich kids…every kid.
Not just white kids, not just black kids…every kid.
Not just my kids, not just your kids…but every kid.
Not a lot of kids, not even most kids…every kid.
Not more kids than other organizations…every kid.
Not giving just a few kids the opportunity to receive Jesus…
but every kid
Not just the “in crowd,” not just the beautiful, the charming, but every kid.
Not just those with high potential, but every kid.
Not just the loved and loveable, but every kid.
Not just American kids, but every kid.
Every Kid!
A dream worthy of my time.
A dream worthy of my energy.
A dream worthy of my money.
A dream worthy of my life.
Connect every kid to God
Love every kid for God
PRAYER
Lord, I pray for every parent this morning. Walk with them. Remind them of their highest priority as a parent is to teach their kids about You. Lord, give our parents perseverance. Give our parents wisdom and insight in how to build their kids for You. Give our parents a desire everyday to teach biblical principles in their homes and to honor You in their homes.
"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates." Deuteronomy 6:4-9 (NIV)
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Thank you Pastor Mike for explaining how every kid should be brought to God and how every kid deserves a chance. There are students at my school that sit next to me talking about how they hate church and that it's boring. I hope that one day they understand the true meaning of church and its purpose.
ReplyDeleteLord, I want to thank You for the gift of the five senses: seeing, hearing, feeling, smell, and taste. I want to pray for students at my school to grow a relationship with God and to make it a better learning environment. In Jesus Name, Amen.
This is one of the most memorable, most powerful commentaries you have written to-date. Children. Kids. How Jesus Christ stressed His love for them, and stressed His concern for their protection against spiritual corruption. He spoke in strong, clear, direct language; warning those who would cause one of His little ones to sin.
ReplyDeleteIt is no secret that I was led to commit my life to Christ through one of His little ones -- my own son, Matt. I feel very strongly that the Children's and Youth Ministries are absolutely key to winning more disciples for Jesus, and possibly the most important means that COV has to "Change lives everywhere by building bridges to Jesus."
I pray for Pastor Daniel daily. He did a wonderful job on many levels with the kids at Heroes Winter Camp at Jennes Park. I am very thankful to the Lord that he has joined COV and is so committed to his ministry and His service.