OCT 4, 2009  SERMON ARCHIVE

Grace, mercy, and peace to you, from God the Father Almighty, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, AMEN

The text for our meditation today is a portion of our Gospel Lesson for the 20th Sunday of Pentecost, Mark 10:2-16. We will be concentrating on verses 13-16 where we read these words:

People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Beloved in Christ:

Do you remember when you were small, do you remember how you couldn't go on the best rides. You were too little and there was a plywood sign with a red line guarding the best rides. Unless you could measure up to that line, you had to be satisfied with the kiddie rides.

And do you remember the kiddie rides? You know what I mean, the kiddie rides where you went to get you out of the way while all the big kids got to go on the really fun rides.

Do you remember when you were small, you couldn't sit with the most interesting people when the whole family got together for a big meal. Do you remember the kid's table? You know I am still convinced that they always had better tasting food at the grown ups' table too!

Do you remember how, when you were small how you wanted to see Him. You wanted Him to notice you. Remember how it didn't happen, because you couldn't see through the crowds. You had to sit and watch the back of the pew in front of you and how you pestered your brothers and your sisters who were bored too. Remember how you wanted to see Him. You wanted Him to notice you. Instead you drew pictures on the bulletin, and sometimes in the hymnal. Sometimes, you were taken out. The only time people noticed was to frown.

because you were bad.

People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. So they were going to have to stay in the back, and try to see through the crowd, and play in the dirt. And wonder what He was saying. And get dirty, and get the grownups mad. They already seemed pretty mad. The disciples didn't want all those smelly, dirty, noisy kids interfering with the serious business of seeing Jesus.

When you were small, if you were very, very lucky, there was somebody important who didn't care about the rule that the little ones don't count. Maybe a grandpa, maybe an aunt or uncle. They'd stop talking serious talk with serious big people and turn to you and grin and give you a hug and a quarter and make you feel like the best and most important one of all.

This morning beloved, you are very, very lucky. For Jesus didn't care about the rule that the little ones don't count. The very, very important Pharisees were going on and on and on and on about divorce. The disciples were listening to the way Jesus handled them. It was all very, very important. It was so important that nobody dared notice that the Pharisees were really asking a 'no brainer' for God doesn't want husbands and wives to divorce anyway. He made them for each other. He wants them to love one another.

Divorce happens because people forget the great love God creates in them for each other.

And it happens because people forget about God too.

People make themselves bigger and more important than God himself. Anyway, that's what so many think. And Jesus wasn't taking the bait anyway.

He told these very, very important fellows about the hardness of their hearts the hardness that keeps your heart from melting when it should melt when you see the one He has given us.

That's when He saw the disciples shooing away the little children. And that's when we find to our delight that the Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of the Lord God Almighty, happens not to give two figs about the rule that the little ones don't count. "When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.'"

The kingdom of God belongs to such as the little children. How come?

Maybe because they still tend to have hearts that are easily melted?

Maybe because they know that they are dirty and smelly and not very much at all compared to Him?

Maybe because they know already that they don't really qualify for any of the privileges that more important types take for granted?

We are all dirty and smelly because of our sin. Although sometimes we all act like the very, very important Pharisees with their boring questions and indignant looks, is there anybody here today who doesn't really know that they are less like the wise, important, dignified Pharisees, and more like the smelly, dirty, not very important at all little children? We are unworthy in our sin. We don't deserve to ever see Jesus, or to get to listen to His Word. Dirty? Smelly? Way too small and unimportant? Yes

But, dear friends, Jesus doesn't care about that rule.

So He took each little one and held them. And He looked into her little angelic face and He blessed her. And he looked the little man in the eyes and He blessed him. And how did Jesus do this? How did Jesus bless the little children? Literally, He spoke a good word to each one. He spoke to them of His great love for each of them.

Dear friends, Jesus has done the same for you. He has picked you up this morning, and held you close and spoken a good word to you, because you are His beloved children

But, but, didn't he notice that they were dirty and smelly and needed a Kleenex, and needed their faces wiped and their hands cleaned and maybe even needed a diaper? Nope.

Doesn't He notice that you are sinful and shameful, and wholly unworthy in the presence of His holiness? Nope.

Why? Because like those children, you are the most important people in the whole world to Jesus those who know they are less than the least, guiltier than guilty, more ashamed than you can stand. He will never let you escape from His sight behind the more seemingly important types. Instead, He will reach out to you and bring you near, touch you and speak a good word to you.

You know, I remember when I was small, my Uncle Ernie always treated me that way. He had the most important job in the universe you know from the perspective of a seven year old boy my uncle worked part time in a grocery store, stacking all the candy. And he always had a desk drawer filled with candy.

And whenever he saw me he would pick me up, no matter how filthy I was, and he'd take me to his desk and speak a good word to me, and give me something wonderful to eat. How come? Simple. That was my uncle Ernie. I'm named after him, at least with my middle name, Ernest. No matter what else I might be, he always loved me for I always had his name.

Jesus will always pick you up and bless you and give you sweet and rich rewards. Why? Because you're so good, so important, so worthy? Nope. Because you are named after Him. Through water and His Word He made it so because that's what His promise is to you in Holy Baptism. You are named after Him. And Jesus will always keep you who have that Name, and touch you, and give you His good Word. Because to Him, you will always be the most important people in the whole world.

How important? You know it never dawned on me till years later that somebody had to pay for all that candy I ate. My uncle paid the price for his namesake. You know what? Somebody had to pay for all that sin and shame that otherwise surely condemns you. Your Lord Jesus paid the price of your sin by dying in your place He has paid the price to gain eternal life for His Names sake.

The Pharisees no, not even the disciples were as important as the little children that day for the Pharisees were all trying to make a name for themselves. The little children weren't so Jesus gave them His Name.

May the Lord Jesus Christ, who speaks to you today through His Word, which is empowered by the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit, may the Lord Jesus continually remind you who so often would seek to make a name for yourselves that you are already named in Christ Jesus your Lord.

And because you are, there's nobody in the whole wide world more important to Him, than you are.

It is for you, each one of you that Christ Is Risen.

AMEN