Children are sometimes treated as a distraction, an afterthought, or a necessary inconvenience. Jesus, the Son of God, would have us to view and treat children in a better way.
Jesus in Relation to Children
- Jesus was a child (Isa 9:6-7).
- Jesus healed the child of a Canaanite woman (Matt 15:21-28).
- Jesus cast a demon out of a child (Matt 17:14-18).
- Jesus raised a child from the dead (Mark 5:21-24, 35-43).
- Jesus used a child’s barley loaves and fish to feed more than 5,000 people (John 6:1-14).
- When Jesus cleansed the temple, children cried out, “Hosanna!” (Matt 21:14-17).
Children in the Teachings of Jesus
- Jesus warned his disciples not to hinder children in coming to him (Luke 18:9-17).
- My pride can hinder children.
- My unbelief can hinder children.
- My lack of knowledge can hinder children.
- My lack of planning, discipline, and devotion can hinder children.
- My unholiness can hinder children.
- Jesus put a child in the midst of his disciples to teach them about greatness (Matt 18:1-6).
- Children are innocent (1 Cor 14:20)
- Children are teachable (Isa 64:8)
- Children are humble (1 Pet 5:6)
- Children are sincere (Rom 12:9)
- Children are persistent (Luke 18:1-8)
- Children are dependent (Matt 6:25-34)
- Children are curious (1 Pet 2:2-3)
- Children are forgiving (Matt 6:14-15)
- Jesus revealed that whoever receives a child in his name receives him (Mark 9:33-37).
May the Lord teach us this profound truth—shaping young hearts for God is no trivial task and no small wonder.
This sermon was delivered on July 5, 2015.
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