WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM BABIES
Luke 18:15-27, Mark 10:16
BABIES IN THE HANDS OF JESUS
V:15. \” People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them.\”
A. Why did the disciples try to prevent Jesus from touching babies?
1. God does not tell us, but maybe they thought Jesus had more important
work to do.
2. Maybe the disciples were following the tradition of overlooking the importance
of women and children.
B. Maybe the disciples forgot that male babies were circumcised on the eighth day
after birth in remembrance of the covenant God made with Abraham.
1. On the thirty third day, babies were taken to the temple to be dedicated to the
Lord. (Lev 12:4)
2. The Jews may have considered Jesus as one who could provide special blessings
to their children.
V:16-17. \” But Jesus called the children to him and said, \”Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
17 I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.\”
A. Jesus pointed to babies as the example of the attitude Christians should have for
the Lord.
1. Babies are dependant on their parents to feed them.
2. They are dependant on their parents to comfort them.
3.They are dependant on their parents to protect them.
B. Babies are innocent from birth.
1. They respond to their parents without questioning them.
2. Babies can\’t think or see past their present moment.
3. They don\’t know to worry.
C. Babies cry out for help.
1. They seek the parents approval and encouragement.
2. They respond to discipline.
3. God expect us to cry out to him when we need help.
D. The attitude of a Christian should be total reliance on Jesus.
1. Like babies, we should not worry about the next moment in time.
2. God has not given us the spirit of fear, but power, sound mind and love.
THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION
V:18. \” A certain ruler asked him, \”Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?\”
A. The rich ruler asked the most important question of his life.
1. A man in authority asked the most important question. What must I do to inherit
eternal life.
2. His first problem was his lack of understanding . To get an inheritance, he needed
a relationship with the Father through Jesus Christ.
B. Babies come to us totally dependant without anything.
1. The rich ruler came to Jesus with an independent spirit, dependant on his
position and wealth.
2. He really didn\’t need anything, but he wanted something additional.
3. I am not sure weather his question was for his soul or for satisfaction of his flesh.
ALL GOOD IS IN THE LORD
V:19 \”Why do you call me good?\” Jesus answered. \”No one is good — except God alone.\”
A. Jesus questioned the ruler\’s motive for coming to him.
1. Your motive for coming to Church determines what you get out of Church.
2. Do you have an earnest desire to know Christ or do you want to be in the
number that come to Church?
B. The ruler came to the right person to get the right answer.
1. He called Jesus a good teacher, but did he know who Jesus was?
2. He had heard the word eternal life, but he had not heard the teaching
concerning eternal life.
3. He knew that people followed Jesus, but he didn\’t have time to follow.
4. The crowd around Jesus caught his interest, but not Jesus.
5. He had a knowledge of the law, but not how it could improve his life
according to God\’s commands.
YOUR GOOD IS NOTHING BEFORE THE LORD
V:20-21. \” You know the commandments: \’Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.\’\”
21 \”All these I have kept since I was a boy,\” he said. \”
A. He was a good person, but he didn\’t know the love of his neighbor.
1. Jesus ask the ruler about the commands concerning the outward relationship
with his neighbors.
2. Outwardly, his resume was good.
a. He practiced a good religion.
b. He practiced looking good around his neighbors.
3. By his standards, he was obedient to the laws he considered important.
THE SOLUTION TO WHAT YOU LACK
V:22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, \”You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.\”
A, The real question is how much do you want a relationship with Jesus.
1. Are you willing to make a sacrifice to have Jesus as your Lord and Savior.
2. Do you really want Jesus to take control of your life?
2. Can you see eternal life with Jesus as better than this life without Jesus?
B. Jesus pointed to what the rich ruler relied on and where his trust was centered.
1. The ruler owned a lot.
2. There was poor around him that he did not make it his business to help.
3. All of his treasures were earthly and subject to destruction.
4. He was rich in the flesh, but poor in the spirit.
5. He was good to himself, but not good to those in need.
C. To gain eternal life there are several requirements.
1. Drop everything worldly that you depend on.
2. Trust Jesus.
3. Be generous to the poor.
4. Follow Jesus.
SALVATION IS A CHOICE THE WORLD CAN\’T MAKE
V:23. \” When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth.\”
A. His wealth was a stumbling block to any faith in Jesus.
1. Faith in Jesus requires you to give up everything that block your total dependency
on Him.
2. The rich ruler came to Jesus thinking eternal life was just another easy acquisition
to add to the stuff in his life.
B. The word \”sad\” is a change in his mental disposition.
1. It is an evaluation of the worth of his eternal life.
2. Joyfully, he want eternal life, but sadly it would cost him to much.
3. It was an earthly evaluation of a spiritual situation.
4. It was a short term decision on a forever benefit.
5. He weighed his money against the value of heaven.
HEAVEN REQUIRES YOU TO GIVEUP YOURSELF
V:24.-25 \” Jesus looked at him and said, \”How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!
25 Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.\”
A. If I think in the flesh, money buys happiness and everything else I want.
1. If think in the flesh, I can buy the needle and make it big enough me to
walk through.
2. It I think in the flesh, I can move to heaven and build a mansion.
a. After all we have people living in a space station.
B. Eternal life is gift from God that can not be purchased.
1. Heaven is made available to us through Jesus Christ.
2. It is hard to give up that which you have and are attached to, for that which
you can\’t see with your eyes or touch with your hands.
BELIEF IN JESUS IS THE KEY
V:26-27. \” Those who heard this asked, \”Who then can be saved?\”
27 Jesus replied, \”What is impossible with men is possible with God.\”
A. For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son, so that
everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16
1. Before the foundation of the world, God predestined us to be part of
the body of Christ. Ephesians 1:5.
2. We are saved by grace through faith. Ephesians 2:8
B. Salvation is never by the hands of man, it is a gift of God. Ephesians 2:9
1. Only those who are called by God will be saved. Romans 9:15,16
2. No one can come to Jesus unless he is drawn by the Father. John 6:37, 6:44
3. God called us out of the world to serve Him. Roman 8:30
JESUS CARES ABOUT YOU
V:16. \” And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.\”
A. We are all children in the hands of Jesus
1. He comforts those He loves with His arms
2. He protects us with his hands.
3. He is all the blessings that we need.
B. Jesus takes a special interest in those who put their lives in His hands.
As stated by Nelson\’s Bible introduction to Colossians:
1. Believers are rooted in Jesus.
2. Made alive in Jesus.
3. Hidden in Jesus.
4. Made complete in Jesus.
5. Clothed in Jesus love.
C. The peace of Jesus should rule in our hearts.
1. We are equipped to make Jesus first in area of our lives.
2. It is inconsistent for believer\’s to live life without Jesus.
THANK GOD THAT WE GOT THE CALL TO SERVE HIM
Rev. M. Mitchell
Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Church
5510 West Sam Houston Parkway
Houston, Texas
