By Eddie Lombard
“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Mark 10:14-15
Who will be in the kingdom of God? Who decides who will enter the kingdom of God? King Jesus has a revolutionary answer!
People were bringing children to Jesus. His disciples, like the culture of the day, did not think this was a good idea at all. Children had no rights and were mostly overlooked.
The disciples thought: Here is our Christ, our King! Why bring the lowest of people to the King! Take them away, the King’s time needs to be used for kingly work and they are not worth the King’s time.
Jesus was indignant with His disciples and said:
“Let them come to me for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”
Jesus explains who will enter the kingdom of God and His answer is revolutionary. Entry is reserved only for those who come to Him. The disciples did not understand this. In effect, the disciples were choosing who would enter the kingdom. This made Jesus indignant because His disciples, the very ones that should be helping people to see the way in, were stoping “such as these” from getting in.
If the children had something “good” in them, something good that could be worth the King’s time just by being children, their entry would be on merit. Jesus had just shown in Mark 10:1-12 that no one has anything “good” in them that can give them entry into His kingdom.
“Anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like these little children” that came to him “will never enter it.” Vs13
The emphasis of this section is not on being like a child but on coming to Jesus as the only way in. It is only those who put their trust in Jesus and His way, who will ever enter the kingdom of God.
Prayer points:
- Ask God to help us see that no one has merit to enter the kingdom of God.
- Ask God to help us see that Jesus is the only way in to the kingdom of God.
- Thank God that the door is open to anyone who comes to Jesus.