The Gospel of Mark – Part 36

Enter the Kingdom – Mark 10:13-31

Mosaic Rockford – Dave Spooner – May 24th, 2020

Intro:

Coming off the heals of the “test” of the Pharisees and Jesus’ teaching on marriage and divorce, Mark records and connects us to another event that happened during this time, parents bringing their children to Jesus.  From this interaction and teaching we learn valuable lessons from Jesus about children and the kingdom of God.Mark couples this teaching to the interaction with a rich young man to further illustrate and explain how one is to enter the kingdom of God and the results of fully and faithfully following Him. 

Enter the kingdom like a child

Mark 10:13-16 ESV

And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” 16 And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

This is the primary passage for the dedication and blessing of children.  This is not infant baptism, because baptism is a choice made by the person being baptized, and this is the choice of the person or parent bringing the child to Jesus.Perhaps because of the pressure on Jesus from the crowds, or perhaps because the disciples undervalued the faith and importance of children, they “rebuked” the people from coming to Jesus.  When Jesus saw this, He was “indignant” – greatly displeased, vexed, outraged, incensed – that they would do this. Any word, action or activity that keeps children from connecting to Jesus and the kingdom of God greatly displeases Him.  This is the main reason why we should give ourselves to reaching the fostering the faith of children, they are valuable and precious to God and He recognizes their faith as valid and looks to bless them and their lives.  It is always better to reach and redeem someone at the beginning of their journey than have to rescue and restore someone later in their life.The kingdom of God belongs to children who have faith in Him.  And the truth is that no one will enter the kingdom of God unless they receive it like a child.  Entrance into the kingdom of God is granted as a gift as to a child not as something that can be earned as a reward. One has to receive it like a child in order to gain entry to it.  (See also Rom. 5:15-17, 2 Cor. 9:14-15)

Eph 2:8-9 ESV

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

To further illustrate and demonstrate this point, Mark records the interaction with the rich young ruler.

You cannot enter without full surrender

Mark 10:17-22 ESV

And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” 20 And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” 21 And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

Jesus and His disciples were leaving that place and as they had just set out on their journey, a man ran up to Jesus and knelt before Him.  You have to love this guy’s urgency, humility and sincerity.  He opened up the conversation with a recognition of who Jesus was as a “Good Teacher”.  Jesus then questioned him by stating that the only one who is good