Jan. 6th, 2021 just passed as I write this, the day on which hundreds or thousands stormed the US Capitol building after a pro-Trump rally. Multiple people have died related to the event and one woman was shot inside the Capitol building who later died. What can we say about this day? It was sad, ugly, tragic, and could have and should have never happened. As Christians, we best know how to describe the events of Jan. 6th, 2021: sinful.
I know the vast majority of you agree. I bring it up not to debate the stupidity of that event but to say that if you’re like me you wonder, what do I do to fix this problem? What can I do, if anything? And if you’re like me, you feel helpless and powerless. It feels like there is nothing I can do to help fix the problems facing our country. Being totally honest, writing a blog on Mark 10:13-16 certainly does not seem like a helpful solution.
Yet, I want to offer hope to you. Reading an ordinary blog or listening to an ordinary sermon on Mark 10:13-16 (or some other text of the Bible), from an ordinary guy, on an ordinary day, is part of the solution. It is precisely what our communities, cities, and country desperately need.
Mark 10:13-16 says, “And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. 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. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.’ And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.”
The scene in Mark 10 is not quite like the picture at the local Christian bookstore depicts it. It is more electric. Jesus has been teaching with authority, crowds are gathering, Jesus is making miracles happen, raising the dead, and rumors are swirling. His disciples are experiencing the same and also learning that this Messiah will apparently, oddly die and rise from the dead. This is a charged up reality and all the more when the disciples rebuke people from “bringing children” to Jesus.
The disciples apparently think Jesus, and they along with him, is far too busy for children. “Sorry everyone, we have bigger things to tend to.” Perhaps the disciples thought a “thank you” was in order for avoiding the time-waste of children. “But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant…” No “thank you” was coming from Jesus. He was angry. The disciples were opposing Him and His mission, apparently.
What’s going on, what’s causing the confusion where rubber meets road? Succinctly written, by trying to contribute to Jesus and His Kingdom the disciples were casting out those that couldn’t contribute. Young children were seen back then like they are seen today: they contribute nothing to anything except the problem. They are totally dependent on others for everything. They are so helpless they even know it and are frustrated by it. Perhaps for all time people have predominantly viewed children as a burden and a drag. Maybe that’s why people are waiting longer and longer to have kids, we call abortion “health care”, and find it odd when a woman dreams not of a career but of being a mom.
This text is highlighting this aspect of children as surrounding this event, and others like it, we are told of stark contrasts. Surrounding this story and others like it in other Gospels we see people trying to be the opposite of children. We see people wanting to contribute to their salvation, to “exalt” themselves, to be the “greatest”.
In our sin, we strive to grow up into adults who are independent of and self-sufficient from God. We think we can contribute to God, as though he needs us. Furthermore, like the disciples, we attached Jesus to this idea. We think this is what Jesus is looking for, people who don’t need him.
Then Jesus turns everything on its head: Jesus “…said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” This response is a major correction to how we view ourselves and our relationship to God and His Kingdom. Jesus says that if you want to enter the Kingdom, you must be like little, helpless, dependent, non-contributing children. The Kingdom is not achieved but received.
Do you know before God you contribute nothing but the problem? Good. Here is what Jesus offers you in vers 16: “And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.” As God’s creation, you are made for verse 16. You are made to find ultimate rest, joy, satisfaction, worth, and value in the embrace and blessing of Jesus, freely given to you. You do not need to work for it. It is a gift received. This is what we mean when we say salvation is through faith alone, by grace alone.
Having God’s blessing is only possible because of what Jesus contributed. Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone because of Christ alone. Jesus contributed the work of your salvation in his sinless life, sacrificial death, and victorious resurrection. The work is done. Your contribution only brings problem to the table. Through faith alone, enjoy the blessing of eternal life in Jesus.
What does this mean for you in this new year and in light of the events of Jan. 6th, 2021? It means you can actually get busy working for the glory of God and the good of your neighbor. You’re now free to work not to attain rest and to finally feel good about yourself; you’re now free to work from ultimate rest and security. As Michael Horton writes, “Since our good works cannot go up to God, they go out to our neighbors. You’re now free to work not for your salvation and worth but simply for the good of your neighbor. Jesus hasn’t called you to save America or the nation in which you live. He has called you to rest in His embrace and then love God and love your neighbor.
What does America need right now in light of Jan. 6th, 2021? What does your city, your neighborhood, your church need? We need child-like people secured in the arms of Jesus, busy living in the obscurity of ordinary life, in ordinary towns, in ordinary churches, in ordinary neighborhoods, ordinarily loving and serving ordinary neighbors, not to build an identity but simply because they care.
