Daily Devotions
Luke
Luke 18:15-17 "ANOTHER ILL-UNDERSTOOD AREA OF MINISTRY"
Day 222 – Luke 18
Text: Luke 18:15-17
ANOTHER ILL-UNDERSTOOD AREA OF MINISTRY
As Jesus ministered to the multitudes, He encountered many pockets of misunderstanding where ministry was concerned.
1. There was misunderstanding where ministry to “tax collectors and sinners” (Luke 15:1,2) was concerned . The Pharisees misunderstood Jesus completely
2. There was misunderstanding again where the Sabbath Law was concerned (Luke 14:1-6). Once again the Pharisees were mistaken concerning the application of the Sabbath Law.
This time round, it was the turn of the Disciples to be mistaken. They did not fully understand Jesus’ ministry to Children.
MINISTRY TO CHILDREN
Each and every day Jesus ministered to the crowds. About the only time when there were no crowds would be the late evening hours and the early morning hours. But then the Disciples knew that their Teacher spent many hours in communion with His Father in prayer.
The Pharisees were always looking at them. The multitudes were always bringing the sick to Jesus. The Disciples also wanted Him to spend time to teach them many more deep lessons of faith and life.
As if the day’s programme was not full enough, the crowds did something else that made the Disciples upset. We read,
“Then they also brought “INFANTS” to Him,
that He might touch them;
But when the Disciples saw it, they rebuked them (the crowds).”
Luke 18:15
Luke may not have had time and space to elaborate on the ministry of Jesus to children, but from the looks of it, He did not neglect the children. The Disciples just did not fully understand this ministry to children. Luke’s word was most illuminating. The crowds not only brought children, but INFANTS to Jesus as well.
WHY THE DISCIPLES FAILED TO APPRECIATE THE MINISTRY TO CHILDREN
Not everybody is able to appreciate Ministry to Children. Perhaps the Disciples reasoned thus:-
1. Jesus was already so busy, why begin another ministry?
2. Children, and especially infants, would not be able to understand the deep spiritual lessons the Master taught, why bring the infants to Him at all?
3. If the people were allowed to bring their children to Jesus for Him to touch (sign of blessing), then the crowds would swell even more!
4. What was the significance of being touched by Jesus anyway?
No doubt, the Disciples had good intentions in their heart. They loved their Master and they were already so conscious that He was worn out at the end of a long day! They did what they felt was right. They rebuked the crowds and tried to prevent them from bringing the children to Jesus to touch (and to play with them for a little while).
THE DISCIPLES WERE WRONG
The Disciples still had much to learn about their Teacher. They had not fully understood the extent of His heart’s compassion. They had not understood just how much Jesus was capable of loving people… including children and INFANTS!
Jesus called them to Him… both the Disciples and the parents who brought their children to be blessed, and then He taught them a deep and tender lesson about Children and ministry to them.
“Let the little children come to Me,
and do not forbid them;
for of such is the Kingdom of God.”
Luke 18:16
1. Children are not to be forbidden to come to Jesus!
a) He will receive them.
b) No matter how tired He may be, He will find time to receive them!
2. Can children be won for the kingdom of God? According to the Lord Jesus – “YES!”
a) Children are capable of understanding spiritual truths
b) They may not be able to understand all spiritual truths, but they can know that God loved them. They can respond to God. Thus they must be encouraged to come to Jesus rather than be forbidden!
3. What about infants?
a) We often fail to understand the heart of Jesus.
b) Can infants respond to their mothers and their fathers? Yes!
c) Can children receive blessings from the Lord? Again, Yes!
d) We do not know just how the Lord’s blessings would affect the children, but we can be sure of this- that no blessings uttered by Him would be in vain. His words would never return to Him void (Cf. Isaiah 55:11).
CHILDREN CITED AS AN EXAMPLE
Children are capable of faith that is astonishing. When taught about God, children can respond appropriately. Few adults know how to receive the Word of Truth Jesus taught. They question and doubt. They are suspicious and they twist the words of Jesus.
Children are wonderfully different. They can open up their hearts to Jesus. They may not even be able to say much, but a smile, a hug, a kiss… they all mean more than we can imagine. If in their little hearts they would receive Jesus as Saviour, they too would be admitted into the kingdom of God. Can adults do better than children when it comes to having faith in the Lord Jesus Christ?