To Such as These
Sunday’s message was all about how one of the most fundamental things that Jesus DID, was to inaugurate the Kingdom of God:
the reality that God is truly in charge in a way that touches real life for real people in real ways with real meaning in the real world we really live in.
In today’s bible reading in our Burning Hearts reading plan, Jesus (as he often does) addresses the Kingdom of God again, this time in reference to little children (“even infants”). Here’s what Luke writes in chapter 18,
15 People were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them; and when the disciples saw it, they sternly ordered them not to do it. 16 But Jesus called for them and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. 17 Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.”
People often wonder why the Kingdom of God belongs to children “such as these”. Is it because they’re innocent? Is it because of their childlike wonder? Is it because they are more virtuous than us adults who’ve made a lifetime of mistakes?
No! As James Edwards says in his commentary on Luke,
“Jesus does not bless the children for their virtues, but for their deficits.”
The Kingdom of God doesn’t come to us because of us – because of what we’ve accomplished or how worthy we are or how good we are at obeying the law (as was thought to be a big deal among the people Jesus was talking to). It comes to us because of God, his grace, mercy, and love. It’s not because of our virtue, it’s because of his. So as Edwards continues,
“They (little children) are important because of what they lack—they are small, powerless, without sophistication, overlooked, and dispossessed. Jesus thus emphasizes in the strongest possible way that the kingdom is offered to the helpless, needy, powerless, and weak.”
It is no wonder that in the parable immediately before this episode with the children, Jesus concludes his teaching (about a man whose only ‘worthiness’ was his unworthiness!) by reminding us that,
“all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Who is more humble than an infant that cannot feed themself, speak for themself, or go to the bathroom outside of their diaper!?!
In a world where we are tempted constantly to make a name for ourselves – and exalt ourselves – may we be a people who follow Jesus by humbling ourselves, and giving our lives to serve and lift up those around us.
How might we do this, even today?