The great preacher and evangelist, Billy Sunday, said: “The only way on God’s earth you will ever solve the problem of reaching the masses is by getting hold of the children. You get boys and girls started right and the devil will hang crepe on his door.”
In Mark 10:13-16 we have an account (which is also found in Matthew 19:13-15 and Luke 18:15-17) of parents bringing their children to Christ. Being out of touch with the heart of the Lord Jesus, His disciples tried to restrain the parents and even rebuked them – as though it were below the dignity of their Master to be bothered with the little ones. But Jesus was displeased with them and proved He was the Friend of children, as He at once demonstrated. What can we learn about reaching children through Jesus’ interaction with them?
1. CHILDREN SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO JESUS! – “Suffer the little children to come unto me…” (Mark 10:14)
Study after study has shown that most people who receive Christ as Lord and Savior do so before the age of twenty. This is why the Bible places such a great emphasis upon the teaching and training of children. Evangelist Gypsy Smith once said, “Save an old man and you save a unit; but save a boy, and you save a multiplication table.” Children should be brought to Jesus!
2. CHILDREN NEED THE TOUCH OF JESUS! – “…that he [Jesus] should touch them…” (Mark 10:13)
Matthew’s account mentions that Jesus might lay His hands on them and pray for them (Matthew 19:13). Children need the knowledge of salvation which only comes through the grace of God revealed in Christ. They need the Savior’s transforming touch! I’m so glad He touched me and transformed my life!
3. CHILDREN ARE WELCOME IN THE ARMS OF JESUS! – “And he took them up in his arms…” (Mark 10:16)
What a beautiful picture of the love and compassion of our Savior. Just as a shepherd takes the little lambs up in his arms, the Good Shepherd cares for the little sheep and loves them. Yes, children are welcome in the arms of our Savior!
4. CHILDREN ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE KINGDOM OF JESUS! – “…for of such is the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:14)
This object lesson by Jesus was designed to teach about conversion and pictures childlike faith as the simple, helpless, trusting dependence of those who have no resources of their own. Children have open hearts and minds. We often feel, as adults, that in order for children to enter the Kingdom of God they must become like us. But Jesus used this occasion to show His disciples that they (and we) must become like the little children!
5. CHILDREN ARE BLESSED BY JESUS! – “…and [He] blessed them” (Mark 10:16)
The Greek word for “blessed” is a strong compound word meaning “fervently blessed.” In other words, Jesus’ action was not casual; He put His heart into it! We must ask ourselves the question of how much we love the little children. If we truly love them like Jesus does, we will do all in our power to reach them for Jesus while we can. And who knows? We may reach a young boy or girl who is destined to play a key role in God’s Kingdom!
The great Baptist preacher of London, C.H. Spurgeon, once said, “You may speak but a word to a child, and in that child there may be slumbering a noble heart which shall stir the Christian Church in years to come.” Beloved, let’s be about our Father’s business and do all we can to encourage and not discourage children and young people from coming to Christ!