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The Hands that Bless
The Hands of Jesus
The Hands that Bless
Mark 10:13-16 (NIV) – [13] People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him TOUCH them, but the disciples rebuked them. [14] When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. [15] I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” [16] And he took the children in his arms, put his HANDS on them and blessed them.
1. We are blessed when we bring people to Jesus and not rebuke them.
Rebuke (epitimao) means to express strong disapproval or to command with the implication of a threat. (Louw and Nida Lexicon)
Mark 10:46-47 (NIV) – [47] When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” [48] Many REBUKED him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” [49] Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”
Matthew 18:5-6 (NIV) – [5] “And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. [6] But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.”
Indignant (aganakteo) means to feel irritation, to be vexed, annoyed, angry, discontented. (Liddell and Scott Lexicon)
Matthew 21:14-16 (NIV) – [14] The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. [15] But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were INDIGNANT. [16] “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “‘From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise’?”
“The phrase ‘much displeased’ is too tame. Our Lord actually became indignant as He openly rebuked His disciples for standing in the way. Then He announced that the children were better kingdom examples than were the adults. We tell the children to behave like adults, but Jesus tells the adults to model themselves after the children!” (Wiersbe Commentary)
2. We are blessed when we help and not hinder.
“Jesus was often criticized for spending too much time with the wrong people—children, tax collectors, and sinners. Some, including the disciples, thought Jesus should be spending more time with important leaders and the devout, because this was the way to improve his position and avoid criticism. But Jesus didn’t need to improve his position. He was God, and he wanted to speak to those who needed him most.” (Life Application Bible Notes)
3. We are blessed when we just receive the Kingdom and not reject it.
Matthew 18:1-4 (NIV) – [1] At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” [2] He called a little child and had him stand among them. [3] And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. [4] Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
“Jesus explained that little children have the kind of faith and trust needed to enter the Kingdom of God. Anyone of any age who exhibits their kind of faith and trust is promised access to Jesus and to the Kingdom. Children represent the essence of discipleship, coming to Jesus in humility and receiving his blessing as a gift. Unless we can completely trust in God, we will never get into the Kingdom of God.” (Life Application Commentary)
4. We are blessed when we are child-like and not childish.
“We enter God’s kingdom by faith, like little children: helpless, unable to save ourselves, totally dependent on the mercy and grace of God. We enjoy God's kingdom by faith, believing that the Father loves us and will care for our daily needs. What does a child do when he or she has a hurt or a problem? Take it to Father and Mother! What an example for us to follow in our relationship with our heavenly Father! Yes, God wants us to be childlike, but not childish!” (Wiersbe Commentary)
1 Corinthians 13:11 (NIV) – [11] When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.
1 Corinthians 14:20 (NLT) – [20] Dear brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your understanding of these things. Be innocent as babies when it comes to evil, but be mature in understanding matters of this kind.
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By Bakersfield First Assembly
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The Hands of Jesus
The Hands that Bless
Mark 10:13-16 (NIV) – [13] People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him TOUCH them, but the disciples rebuked them. [14] When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. [15] I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” [16] And he took the children in his arms, put his HANDS on them and blessed them.
1. We are blessed when we bring people to Jesus and not rebuke them.
Rebuke (epitimao) means to express strong disapproval or to command with the implication of a threat. (Louw and Nida Lexicon)
Mark 10:46-47 (NIV) – [47] When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” [48] Many REBUKED him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” [49] Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”
Matthew 18:5-6 (NIV) – [5] “And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. [6] But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.”
Indignant (aganakteo) means to feel irritation, to be vexed, annoyed, angry, discontented. (Liddell and Scott Lexicon)
Matthew 21:14-16 (NIV) – [14] The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. [15] But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were INDIGNANT. [16] “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “‘From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise’?”
“The phrase ‘much displeased’ is too tame. Our Lord actually became indignant as He openly rebuked His disciples for standing in the way. Then He announced that the children were better kingdom examples than were the adults. We tell the children to behave like adults, but Jesus tells the adults to model themselves after the children!” (Wiersbe Commentary)
2. We are blessed when we help and not hinder.
“Jesus was often criticized for spending too much time with the wrong people—children, tax collectors, and sinners. Some, including the disciples, thought Jesus should be spending more time with important leaders and the devout, because this was the way to improve his position and avoid criticism. But Jesus didn’t need to improve his position. He was God, and he wanted to speak to those who needed him most.” (Life Application Bible Notes)
3. We are blessed when we just receive the Kingdom and not reject it.
Matthew 18:1-4 (NIV) – [1] At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” [2] He called a little child and had him stand among them. [3] And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. [4] Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
“Jesus explained that little children have the kind of faith and trust needed to enter the Kingdom of God. Anyone of any age who exhibits their kind of faith and trust is promised access to Jesus and to the Kingdom. Children represent the essence of discipleship, coming to Jesus in humility and receiving his blessing as a gift. Unless we can completely trust in God, we will never get into the Kingdom of God.” (Life Application Commentary)
4. We are blessed when we are child-like and not childish.
“We enter God’s kingdom by faith, like little children: helpless, unable to save ourselves, totally dependent on the mercy and grace of God. We enjoy God's kingdom by faith, believing that the Father loves us and will care for our daily needs. What does a child do when he or she has a hurt or a problem? Take it to Father and Mother! What an example for us to follow in our relationship with our heavenly Father! Yes, God wants us to be childlike, but not childish!” (Wiersbe Commentary)
1 Corinthians 13:11 (NIV) – [11] When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.
1 Corinthians 14:20 (NLT) – [20] Dear brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your understanding of these things. Be innocent as babies when it comes to evil, but be mature in understanding matters of this kind.