The Great Identity Problem: He said what?
There is a passage in the New Testament that amazes me. Jesus does something so different than what the disciples expect that they are beyond confused! Mark 10 tells us this story.
In Mark 10:13-16 we read, “People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me. Don’t stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” After taking them in his arms, he laid his hands on them and blessed them.”
What just happened? Well, it relates a lot to identity! The disciples see parents bringing their children to Jesus and they begin to rebuke the crowds. See, to their human eyes, these children are not worthy of spending time that close to Jesus. The children are not important enough. In context, we also know that Jesus is actively teaching the crowds as this happens. To the disciples, the teaching is more important than these children.
Yet, Jesus does something so different. Jesus does not agree with the disciples. Instead, Jesus says, “Let the little children come to me. Don’t stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Here is a group that is undeniably looked down on. Yet instead of scolding them, Jesus says that the disciples need to be more like these children!
Now, the purpose of this post is less about talking through how our faith should be child-like and reliant on God and is more about how Jesus sees these children. See, there is a great lesson for us from how Jesus interacts with these children. Jesus did not care what their position was, Jesus loved the children. Just as Jesus loved the little children, we need to love the people around us. Even if we do not agree with them on everything, or think they are the most fun to be around, we are called to care for them, just as Jesus cared for these children and just as Jesus cares for us. No matter what society says about someone, they are of worth in God’s eyes and we need to treat them like that.
So, what can we do with that practically? Let me encourage you with two things. First, we can treat people like God designed! We can love the people around us regardless of their position in the world because they are made in the image of God. Remember, this series started with us talking about the creation of Adam and Eve. We saw that they are made “very good indeed.” So are we and so are our neighbors! One great way that we can show Christ’s love is to love the people around us!
A second great way is to bring people to Jesus! Our mission at Cornerstone is to connect people with Jesus. Just as the crowds were searching for answers, so is our world. We can help in that by connecting people with Jesus and inviting them to join us at church as we connect with Jesus. Our Savior told his disciples to let the children come to him. How wonderful that our savior welcomes anyone and everyone regardless of their background. We can bring the people around us to Church and let them connect with Jesus because just as Jesus welcomed those children, He will welcome the people around us.
Pastor Daniel