Second Presbyterian Church

"Children of the Kingdom
Preaching From the Gospel of Luke"
June 26, 2005

Upcoming Events

Worship Schedule

Sermons

About the Church

• Accessibility to the Church

• Directions to the Church

• History of the Church

Church Staff

Groups & Organizations

• Boy Scouts of America - Troop 175

• Choirs

• Presbyterian Women

• SPY (Second Presbyterian Youth)

Committees

• Building & Grounds

• Church Growth

• Congregational Care & Fellowship

• Education & Nurture

• Finance

• Office & Personnel

• Stewardship

• Witness & Service

• Worship & Celebration

Ad Hoc Committees

• Architectural - Engineering

• Building Fund

Presbyterian Internet Sites of Interest

Virginia Links

• Virginia Cities

Web Site Statistics

Site Map

Second Presbyterian Church Homepage

Sermons Homepage » Sermons for 2005 » Sermons for June 2005 » Sermons from the Series on Luke

#55 in the Series on Luke
The Rev. Daniel E. Hale, D. Min.

• Psalm 8
• Luke 18: 15-17

Our scripture passage begins with an apparent change of subject from what goes before, and what comes after it. It seems to stand by itself, between the parable of the Pharisee and tax collector and the Rich Young Man (next week's sermon). If you wish, we can note that Luke has completed a digression from that of Mark's Gospel in the order of events of his Gospel. From here to the end of his gospel Luke follows Mark's order.

But Luke had reason for placing this story about the children receiving a blessing from Jesus. You can sense the contrast between these little children, infants, and the Pharisee whose self-righteous prayer we have just studied. You can sense the contrast between the little children who enter the Kingdom of God and the rich young ruler who could not manage his righteousness all by himself.

Both the praying Pharisee and the Rich Young Ruler were relying upon their own ability to earn and create their righteousness with God. They represent all of us who openly, or secretly hope to make ourselves good enough to go to heaven.

In our lesson people were bringing their infants to Jesus for a blessing. Perhaps they realized that Jesus was special. After all, they had noted and heard of the many great wonders he had performed. They might have even witnessed some of them! And who wouldn't consider bringing a baby to a man who was perceived as having special powers from God! A child, born in Palestine in that day and time, had only a 70% chance of surviving birth. The child, if it survived infant mortality, risked another 50% chance of dying before its 16th birthday. In other words, approximately 30% of all children born were still alive by the time they were 16 years old! With those odds, I would definitely bring my child to Jesus for a blessing.

But the disciples tried to discourage it. We do not know why. All we know is that their acts of discouragement to bring children to Jesus served as a notice to the readers of Luke's Gospel, that they did not yet comprehend the Kingdom of God and all the values that attend it.

We do know that women, children, the poor, the diseased were not considered very important in that culture at that time. They represented the "least important" people of that time. People, such as the praying Pharisee and the rich young ruler were examples of the important people that the society valued. They represented the movers and the shakers in their cultural milieu. The disciples were still learning that in the Kingdom of God, those who are important are switched with those whom we tend to consider unimportant.

So, Jesus is teaching the disciples - and the rest of us - that widows, orphans, the poor and the disenfranchised are the VIP's of the Kingdom of God. They are learning that the rich, powerful and famous tend to be the ones that do not enter God's Kingdom. "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God."

Jesus continued, "Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it." After reading a statement like that, I feel a little bit like Nicodemus in the Gospel of John, chapter 3. Jesus told Nicodemus that he must be born again. Nicodemus did not understand; he tried to understand what Jesus was saying in a literal/physical sense. Yet, the first image in my mind was somehow being transformed into a toddler so that I can enter the kingdom of God.

The reality of the matter can be stated in just one word: grace. The Grace of God is the only way. Look, again at the Pharisee of the previous verses. His prayer was a litany of accomplishments, about how strong his moral character was! The rich young ruler was also a man who had done well in keeping the 10 commandments since his Bar Mitzvah.

But what has a child accomplished? Nothing. A child, a baby does nothing but eat, sleep, and poop. So, what is it about being an infant that is so important? It serves as a model for us to become spiritual infants, at least at first. We need to acknowledge and confess that our greatest Christian deeds at not what get us into the Kingdom of God. To receive Christ as a little child doesn't mean that you or I have to become infants again. To receive Christ as a little child means confessing just how utterly helpless we are when it pertains to our redemption. As far as our own efforts, we can do absolutely nothing to earn our place in the kingdom of God!

In a way it is more complex for us as physical adults. We need to KNOW that we have to be like children who came with a sense of trust to Jesus for his blessing. Although we might acquire a lot of world smarts, we have to be like trusting little children when it comes to trusting in our Lord.

Don't get me wrong! I am not suggesting that we start acting like big babies or children. No one is suggesting that we behave immaturely. We need to act our age, whatever it is. We need to behave appropriately. BUT, when it comes to entering into a relationship with Jesus Christ and being a part of the Kingdom of God, then a sense of childlike surrender of our spiritual life is healthy. We need to know and confess just how dependent our lives are upon Jesus Christ.

It's like, well, flying in an airplane. Most of the time every passenger regresses somewhat once they are strapped in their seats with a seatbelt. Historically, that is why you have the flight attendants going up and down the isles offering food and drink. They are soothing the anxiety of the passengers by meeting their oral needs. But the reality of the matter is this: when you are strapped into your seat, Aisle 10C, and the plane is cruising at an altitude of 35,000 feet. You really don't have much control over your physical destiny! It's all in the hands of the flight crew, especially the pilot! If something should happen to the plane, there is little to nothing that you could do about it.

One of the reasons I enjoy flying is that this sense of utter dependence reminds me of how I should feel about Jesus Christ. It is empowering to be 35,000 feet in the air and to pray to the Lord a word of thanks that He is in real control of my life, not me. To me, that is what it is like to become as child. You know your life depends upon someone else: Jesus Christ.

"Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it" (v 17). Amen.

The Rev. Daniel E. Hale, D. Min.