Thank you to Mark R for this message

Mothering Sunday

Mark 10:13-16

People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 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. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.

Let’s imagine this scene in Mark 10:13-16

It’s probably a beautiful sunny day by the River Jordan and imagine coming with your family and seeing Jesus ready and waiting to welcome you.

He’s got a special blessing lined up for your children…

But as you approach Him with one of your little ones, the disciples look at you crossly and then have a go at you for thinking Jesus is interested in your child…or any child for that matter…

You’re shocked…why are they like this?

And then you see Jesus out of the corner of your eye…

He comes over and shows His anger to the disciples for their attitude to your child…

And then He picks up your child in His arms, and blesses them.

Imagine your feelings towards Jesus as He shows His love towards your child…

…but also be aware of how you feel towards the disciples….

2 responses to Jesus: we can either be a bridge or a barrier to the Kingdom of God

To understand this, we need to ask ourselves: what does it mean to enter the Kingdom of God?

A kingdom is a place where a king or queen rules…

When Jesus began His ministry, He began by saying “The kingdom of God is here”

Much of Jesus’s ministry and teaching focused on the kingdom of God

We see that kingdom coming as the blind see, and the lame are able to walk again. Demons are cast out, disease is healed, and even dead people come to life again.

At the centre of the kingdom is Jesus. God’s kingly rule comes as Jesus brings the beauty of His Person into peoples’ lives.

What qualifies entry?

Jesus said “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

It’s the “little ones” who are qualified for entry into Jesus kingdom. It’s those who are “poor in spirit”, those who realise their need of God.

How can we be a bridge to help others to know Jesus rather than a barrier?

Firstly, we need to have a picture of God in our own hearts, a picture of a God who can be loved with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.

This doesn’t come from effort and striving, it comes through seeing Jesus in the Gospels – His beauty, His truth, and His Grace.

We see that ultimately at the cross, where He lays down His life that we might have life.

And as we come to this Jesus, the Jesus of the Gospels, His life is lived out in us. As someone has said: “Living out justification by faith”.

It’s the fruit of the spirit and the love that’s spoken of in 1 Corinthians 13 lived out in us and through us, being salt and light in a dark and often flavourless world.

Here’s what being a bridge to the kingdom of God looks like:

1 Corinthians 13:4

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

Be the bridge rather than the barrier!


Category: Sermons , The Bridge

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