The Life of Christ in the Synoptic Gospels
JESUS AND THE CHILDREN
The Life of Christ in the Synoptic Gospels
JESUS AND THE CHILDREN
Lesson Plan:
1. A Heart To Heart Talk (vs 30-32)
2. Lessons Older People Learn from Children (vs 33-37)
3. Jesus Welcomes and Blesses Children (10:13-16)
Lesson Setting: Time: A.D. 29. Soon after the Transfiguration; in the third year of the ministry of Jesus, and about eight months before the Crucifixion. The blessing of the children was in A.D. 30
Place: A house in Capernaum (Mk. 9:33), by the Sea of Galilee. In Perea, east of the Jordan.
The Story in History: Tiberius Caesar was emperor of Rome; Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea.
Research Thoughts: The child and the home. The child and Sunday Bible School. The child and the church. The reflex influence of the child on all those institutions. The child as an object lesson. How to bring children to Christ. What characteristics of childhood are referred to in Christ’s statement that "of such is the kingdom of heaven"?
Scripture Reading: Mark 9:30-32
1. A Heart To Heart Talk
Not long before the time of our lesson, Jesus had been transfigured before the three disciples who were best able to understand its meaning, that they might see His real glorious nature, i.e., not a mere man, not a mere teacher however loving and wise, but a Savior, the expected Messiah, the Son of God. Thus they would be better prepared to receive the strange, hard to believe, seemingly contradictory fact, as to the means by which He must accomplish His mission.
v 30 ... "And they went forth from thence," the region of Caesarea Philippi, the scene of the transfiguration and the healing of the lunatic boy at the foot of the mountain. On the long walk from the mountain down the Jordan, the disciples conversed together, and discussed the marvelous things Jesus said and did. As they "passed through Galilee" on their way to Capernaum, Jesus took them to some retired retreat, and repeated the truth He had before tried to impress upon them, that, as foretold about the Son of Man, He must be ...
v 31 ... "delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him," but they could not destroy Him and stop His work of redemption, for "after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day." These truths were not only essential to His redemptive work, but it was also essential that the disciples should know the truth beforehand, or their faith and hope would have been wrecked when the event took place. "And they were exceeding sorry" (Matthew), and ...
v 32 ... "they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him." In the darkness of the night, they did not look up and see the morning star shining in the words "shall rise again," the herald of a new day. There come periods in the history of Christianity, and in our own lives, when we feel as Luther no doubt felt when his wife asked, "Is God dead?" when amid persecution, sickness, loss, and the smoke and noise of the constant battle between Right and Wrong, we often forget the promises of our Father and are blind to the Morning Star. But the Star is in heaven, and the promises are as sure as God lives.
Scripture Reading: Mark 9:33-37
2. Lessons Older People Learn From Children
The Story: On the way down from Caesarea Philippi, as the disciples were following Jesus in the traveled way, they naturally began to discuss the events that had just taken place, and the hopes and dreams of the new kingdom over when Jesus was expected to reign. Of course they felt that they, as His nearest friends, would occupy the positions nearest the king. Three of them had been selected by Jesus to go on the special trip to the Mount of Transfiguration, and some of the others may have felt they ought to have had equal honor. Judas was treasurer of the twelve, why should he not have the ambition to be Lord High Treasurer when the kingdom was established? The keys had been given to Peter. James and John may have shown a tinge of the ambition which led their mother, later, to ask Jesus for the privilege of their sitting next to Jesus when He came into His kingdom. Probably they became somewhat excited in their earnestness, and their conversation rose to disputing in loud voices. A Lesson was absolutely necessary, for with such a spirit it was not possible for them even to enter the kingdom, much less to be of high rank there. But note carefully the wisdom and love in Jesus’ reproof of His disciples. (a) He reproved them in private, and not before a crowd, or any others than themselves. This is the only wise way of reproving errors committed in private, and often the wisest under any circumstances. Every parent, teacher, elder, preacher, and leader in the church ought to learn this lesson. Many a boy will stand punishment till he almost dies, if his companions are looking on, when he would yield to reason in a loving reproof by himself alone. (b) Verse 33 ... "in the house," which seems to have been their Capernaum home. Jesus waited till their excitement had calmed down, before He referred to their errors. (c) He sought to draw the story from themselves.
Jesus: As I was walking before you on our way from the mountain, I overheard you earnestly arguing among yourselves. Verse 33 ... "What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?" The Disciples are silent (for they had been disputing as to who was the greatest; and they were ashamed of it, in the presence of Jesus). Jesus knew, but it was wise to lead them to express their thoughts. The Disciples soon after this (Matthew) came to Jesus to settle the question, and asked Him, "Who, then, is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" Not to decide which of His disciples were greatest, but what was the test of greatness, on what principles could they decide the question on which they were disputing. "What seductive dreams of greatness and glory rose before these Galilean fishermen as the nearest followers of the great King!" Jesus (sitting down, assuming the attitude of a teacher): You have utterly mistaken the nature of the kingdom of heaven and what is greatness there!
v 35 ... "If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all," holding only a subordinate position. The Greek word for servant is properly an attendant at table. The emphasis is on desire. For seeking honor or place, the putting of self before patriotism and before the good of men, and the glory of God, is the exact opposite of the spirit which is the law of Christ’s kingdom, the spirit of love, of self-denial, of helpfulness of others, of humility. Therefore, the more anyone has of the desire to be first, the less he has of Christ’s kingdom. So that the very desire to be first makes him last by the very nature of things. The self-seeking spirit belongs to Satan’s kingdom, not to Christ’s. It is the spirit of hell, not of heaven. It begets evils innumerable, and sorrows unspeakable. Jesus illustrates the truth by an object lesson
v 36 ... "And he took a (R.V. ‘little’) child." Matthew says that Jesus called the child to Him, and therefore He was able to walk. He was probably one of the children of the household where Jesus was making His home.
v 36 ... "and set him in the midst" of the twelve who were listening to Jesus. (Note: Our recent lesson, "The Child in the Midst.")
v 36 ... "when he had taken him in his arms," O blessed child!
v 36 ... "he said unto them,"
v 37 ... "Whosoever shall receive one of such (little) children in my name," because he is like Me, because he has the humble, loving, trusting spirit that I have. To receive him is to welcome him into their hearts, to make his character their own. He that does this to the child, receives Jesus, loves Jesus, is filled with His spirit and life. (a) This fault of the disciples, which Jesus’ treatment of it, is reported in the Gospels because it was true, at this stage of their training. The picture of the disciples would have been incomplete, and have given a false impression, if only the good had been told. And this is one mark of the divine authorship of the Gospels. Men would naturally have concealed the faults of their saints and heroes "for the good of the cause," as the artist painted Alexander the Great’s portrait with a finger over the scar on his face. (b) The record is a comfort; for what Christian could find comfort for himself or for the church, if all the early saints had been represented as perfect? (c) From their faults and Jesus’ treatment of them, we see as in a mirror our own faults and how to overcome them. (d) We learn that it is possible to conquer our faults from the fact that the disciples overcame theirs. In judging any person’s character we must always take into consideration the place of any sayings or doings in his life and training. We must ever distinguish between what the apostles said and did in their early life under the discipline of Jesus, and what they did when they had learned their lessons. It is unfair to charge upon the apostles what they did in their school days. Here they disputed as to which should be greatest, but if there is one thing more characteristic of the apostles in their after-life than any other, it is their self-forgetfulness – their self-effacement, we may say. Where does Matthew ever say a word about the sayings or doings of Matthew? Even John, who was nearest of all to the heart of the Savior, and with Him in all His most trying hours, can write a whole gospel without ever mentioning his own name; and when he has occasion to speak of John the Baptist does it as if there were no other John in existence. So was it with them all. And thus did they at last attain true greatness in the kingdom of heaven. Note: Adults need children for their own training and Christian culture. They must receive children if they would receive Christ. While parents are to train the children for the kingdom of heaven, at the same time they will find that the care for children and the training of children are among the most effective means for the growth of their own characters. It is hard for any person to become his or her best without personal contact with the minds of children. If you have none of your own, then adopt them, gather a class in Sunday Bible school, beg for the privilege of teaching children, work with and for the children. Some years ago, in a little country church, the men of that congregation were lined up against one side of the largest Sunday school room, and young boys were assembled on the other, and to each man a boy was assigned. The apostles began as diamonds in the rough. But they were made of ‘diamond stuff,’ and by the training of Jesus the real nature of the diamond was shining forth.
Scripture Reading: Mark 10:13-16
3. Jesus Welcomes and Blesses Children
This beautiful story took place several months after the previous part of the lesson, as arranged in Matthew and Luke; but it is recorded here, because it was another side of Jesus’ teaching about children, and in subject the two belong together. One of the most beautiful and instructive things in the character of Jesus was His love for children. There must have been something very attractive about Jesus in His personality, the beauty of His spirit, the charm of His conversation, the love He bore to all. It is no wonder that they came to Him, and after the triumphal entry sang Hosannas in His praise.
Bringing Children to Jesus: "And they brought" (v 13). To some house where Jesus was stopping (Mk. 10:10).
v 13 ... "young children," called babes in Luke, and small enough to be naturally taken in one’s arms (v 16).
v 13 ... "that he should touch them." Matthew says that He should put His hands on them and pray. The Jews were accustomed to value the blessing of the rabbis. Thus the Talmud says, "After the father of the child had laid his hands on his child’s head, he led him to the elders, one by one, and they also blessed him, and prayed that he might grow up famous in the law, faithful in marriage, and abundant in good works." The touching would make more real to them the fact of the blessing conveyed in this way, and would be an influential memory to the children all their lives long. To bring children to Jesus is to make them acquainted with Him and His character, so that as soon as they see Him they will love Him, want to pray to Him, and do His will. The home is the greatest means of bringing children to Jesus. The religious atmosphere of the home, its climate as it were, the living there in love and the beauty of holiness, training in the Bible and in loving service, family prayers, teaching the children to pray, and all that makes the home a house of God and a gate of heaven, i.e., such a home is the most effective way of bringing the children to Christ, and making them useful to the world. This is the business of parents. The future of their children depends upon it. Do you tell your children deliberately every day that you love them, or do you take it for granted and, therefore, cannot say it? It is easy for love in a home to die out simply because parents shrink from declaring it plainly, and openly. The home without family worship lacks the fullness of the greatest uniting power given by God or known to men. But is family worship always practicable in the busy, crowded live we live today? The increasing difficulty of finding time for family worship is only increased evidence of its need. And anything needed is practical. Anything that ought to be done can be done. It is simply a choice regarding which things that crowd our day shall be left out. Is Jesus Christ second choice in your home? Have you left Him out of your home life?
Illustration: A tired mother worn out with the care of her five boys, went away with them on a vacation, and rested by discovering song-cure. From that time on, every one of her boys grew up singing. None of them had a remarkable voice, but they all love music; it’s as much a part of their life as bread and butter. Why? Because of mother’s song-cure. Here’s how it worked. When any one of her boys did anything they shouldn’t, he was sent to his room to sing till he was ready to say, ‘I'm sorry.’ He may choose his own song, but sing he must. One was quick tempered. The mother laughed at the memory and said, "Have you ever tried to sing when you are mad? It’s not easy and you’ll find you can’t possibly do it and stay angry. None of my boys could, to save their lives. As for me," she continued, "I grew so interested watching the effects of the song-treatment on those lively boys of mine that I got rested before I knew it; and since I’ve come home, I’ve found it works exactly as well for other things."
The Church: The church’s care for children should stand in the forefront of its work. The older people need its religious services and training because by its inspiring services its members are best prepared to train the young. But in every way possible the church should provide the best for the children, for the Sunday Bible School, young people’s meetings, trips, and all that can help the children.
A Test: When asked what importance he placed on children in his ministry, Dr. James E. Priest once said to a large group of preachers, "Regarding children, I’ve never hesitated in my view, and maybe this will help you understand better my thinking on that subject. If I’m ever faced with having to make a choice between one child and two old men, I’ll take the child." The life and prosperity of Dr. Priest’s life-long devoted service to Jesus showed the wisdom of this Christ-like way of estimating childhood. Dr. Priest also said, "The triumphs of the church are to be won among the children; and if men and women are to be converted, it should be when they are children." "I’ll prove that statement to you," he said, and then he called upon those in the audience who were converted after they were fifty years of age to rise. A venerable-looking old gentleman rose with his wife. "Two," said Dr. Priest. "Thank God for that. Now will those who were converted after thirty-five please rise?" Not more than half a dozen responded; but as Dr. Priest called for those converted while under the age of twenty-one years, nearly everyone in the group rose to their feet. Dr. Priest smiled; and as the audience appreciated the value of the object-lesson he had taught in support of his statement, the applause was spontaneous and hearty.
Illustration: "Mother," a little boy once said, "how old must I be before I can follow Jesus?" The wise mother answered, "How old will you have to be before you love me?" "Why, mother, I always loved you."
The Apple in the Bottle: "On the mantel-shelf of my grandmother’s best parlor, among other marvels, was an apple in a phial. It quite filled up the body of the bottle, and my wondering inquiry was how it could have been got into its place. But the apple remained to me an enigma and a mystery. Walking in the garden I saw a phial placed upon a tree, bearing within it a tiny apple, which was growing within the crystal. Now I saw it all. The apple was put into the bottle when it was little, and it grew there. Just so we must catch the little men and women who swarm our streets, and introduce them within the influence of the Church; for, alas! it is hard indeed to reach them when they have ripened in carelessness and sin" (Spurgeon).
Hindering Children From Coming to Jesus: "And the disciples rebuked those that brought them" (v 13). They thought that the mothers and children were hindering Jesus from what seemed to them to be His larger work of bringing in the kingdom of heaven.
v 14 ... "But Jesus ... was much displeased," because they so misunderstood His character and His work as to hinder any who wished to come to Him, especially children, the hope of the church, and the mothers, the best workers for His kingdom. They were blind to this great truth, and needed a lesson that would never be forgotten. Today, disciples often hinder children from coming to Jesus: (a) By setting a bad example. (b) By neglecting their spiritual training. (c) By a worldly home. (d) By indifference to the spiritual life. (e) By sneers or ridicule of the efforts of children to be good and their refusal to join in whatever is wrong or forbidden.
Christ’s Welcome to Children: "Suffer (permit) the little children to come unto me" (v 14). Because He wanted the little children, and the children needed Him. Children may know that they are welcome, for they have a special invitation from Jesus.
v 14 ... "For of such is the kingdom of God." Childhood at its best is the most truly and really divine thing in the world. It is the most complete and whole thing we have. It is human nature at its very best, highest and fullest and richest, before sin has very deeply entered. Wordsworth was right: Trailing clouds of glory, do we come From God who is our home; Heaven lies about us in our infancy. The development, evolution of the race, starts off from childhood. To bring to maturity is to keep young, to carry childhood into old age. The true teacher can go through the highest and most consummate mastery of expert subjects and make them interesting to the little child. Jesus cared for the children just because they were children, with all the possibilities of citizenship in the kingdom of God. In the case of the grown-up people there could never be the chance for the kingdom which was before these children. It is a joy and privilege beyond measure to have homes where children may grow in God’s precious Word, and to be permitted to teach and train, and guide and guard the young for what they may become in the kingdom of God on earth and in heaven.
v 15 ... "Receive the kingdom of God as a little child." The first fact about childhood is its dependence, and the glorious appeal of the child spirit is felt when they act upon this dependence. They not only fly to our arms when distressed or afraid, they yield themselves willingly to our guidance and control. And this is the first and last and the deepest fact in our relations to God, the Father of all. He sees our unlimited dependence on Him. The second fact about childhood is the simplicity of its motives. That, indeed, constitutes one of the great problems which parents and teachers meet in dealing with vigorous and happy young children. Too often, they have been caught in the net of complex moral standards, and the unselfish and selfish elements of life begin to be mixed up in their cup of experience. Parents and teachers have an awesome task, i.e., purify and simplify youthful motives. No wave of the hand, no sudden resolve, can secure it for us. The mighty power of God’s Spirit will grant it, but only as we steadily, humbly, and sincerely submit ourselves to that power. And His divine instrument is love. For nothing in the world is as wise as love, and nothing is so simple, direct, clear, and sure as the wisdom which it creates. "Of such is the kingdom of heaven." These are the childlike souls, these in whom faith, or the sense of dependence and love, with its purity or motive, are perfected.
Christ Blessing Little Children: "And he took them up in his arms" (v 16). To make them feel the loving warmth of His heart.
v 16 ... "put his hands upon them." ‘There is for the child no language more eloquent than that of touch.’
v 16 ... "and blessed them." The blessing of Jesus was not a magic touch, nor was it a sermon preached to the childish hearers. It was the kindly touch which spoke the interest of One who saw more in children than anyone else has ever seen. No father; no mother, without a feeling of dread, looks forward to the dangers, the pitfalls, the temptations, the fierce storms, the dragons and Apollynons, the deadly moral malaria, the enemies of every kind, which a child must meet. And so when our children are taken away from us to heaven, it is blessed, thrice-blessed, to know that they are safe in the "everlasting arms;" and Jesus now, as much as when on earth, takes them in His arms and blesses them.
Resolutions – Teachers: We will endeavor to bring every one of our students to Jesus. Parents: We will make our homes so perfect in the spiritual life that every one of our children will be attracted to Jesus. Students: We will go to Jesus now, and receive His blessing; we will love and obey Him; we will learn all about Him that we can today, preparing our lessons, being attentive in class, and seeking every day to something for others in His name.
Note: The next lesson (‘Prince of Peace’) is not in sequence with the time-line of the Life of Christ. We have placed it in the series of lessons for the possible purpose of being considered as a Christmas lesson. To stay within the time-line of the Life of Christ, please skip the next lesson and go directly to the lesson titled, ‘Mission of the Seventy.’
