An Exposition of Mark 10:13-16

Today Jesus is going to challenge the status quo as it pertains to

children. I titled this Learning Lessons from Little Ones because there are

multiple lessons going on here. This isn’t just a lesson on loving little

people. That’s part of the text. God loves children as we will see today.

But this passage is also very clearly about discipleship. There’s teaching

about becoming a Christian and what it means to relate to the Lord Jesus

Christ as a disciple. There’s teaching broadly about the value and worth of

others, that when it comes to other humans you can’t value a book by the

dust jacket.

So today Jesus is absolutely going to teach us about how much he loves

children, and beyond that how children demonstrate principles of God’s

kingdom. These were important lessons for the disciples to learn, and now

you and I as well.

4 Activities as Jesus Captures a Teachable Moment with Youngsters

1. Jesus chastises the disciples for dismissing them (13-14a)

2. Jesus clarifies his perspective concerning them (14b)

3. Jesus capitalizes on them for an object lesson (15)

4. Jesus cares for them personally and spiritually (16)

Mark 10:13–16—13 And they were bringing children to Him so that He might

touch them; but the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw this, He

was indignant and said to them, “Permit the children to come to Me; do not

hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 “Truly I

say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will

not enter it at all.” 16 And He took them in His arms and began blessing

them, laying His hands on them.