Page 63 - Fundamentals Ebook

children to Him so that He might touch them; and the disciples
rebuked them. But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said
to them, ‘Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for
the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I say to you,
whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not
enter it at all.’ And He took them in His arms and began blessing
them, laying His hands upon them.”

Let me share the background. It’s almost comical for this occasion.
Mark 9:33-34, “And they came to Capernaum; and when He was in
the house, He began to question them, ‘What were you discussing
on the way?’ But they kept silent, for on the way they had discussed
with one another which of them was the greatest.” The disciples
walked in the doors and Jesus asked, “What were you talking about
on the way?”
Luke 9:47, “But Jesus, knowing what they were thinking in their
hearts, took a child and stood him by His side…” On the way to the
house where Jesus was, they were arguing about who was the
greatest. Use your imagination and picture this. These are rough
fisherman and their tongues are not tamed yet and they are deciding
which one was the best. I can hear James and John saying, “We
must be favorites. He invited us to go on the Mount of
Transfiguration.” I can hear Peter responding, “Which one of you
ever walked on water?” I can hear Judas say, “He chose me to be
treasurer. He must trust me.”

I don’t think that the fighting came to blows but I think it was heated.
As they got near the house they said, “Keep it down. Cool it. We’ll
discuss this later.” They came in the door and Jesus asked, “What
were you talking about?” They must have been shocked to hear that!
Mark 9:34, “But they kept silent, for on the way they had discussed
with one another which of them was the greatest.”

Even today, many Christians don’t understand what it means to be
childlike. They think it means that we should have the disposition
of a little child but when you read the New Testament you see that