Matthew 18 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. (NIV)
On this Labor Day weekend, I will again have the joy of being the speaker at the TRYAD camp (1). Roxanne and I will join Becki Graves and other dear friends at the Easter Seals Camp in Empire, CO (2).
Over four sessions, we will look at Matthew 18, Jesus’ description of what the Messiah’s family should be like. In session one, we’ll talk about those we should be like (see above). The answer is like the little child Jesus brought before His disciples. In the very next chapter (19:13-15), the disciples seem to have completely forgotten the lesson, as they try to keep children from Jesus. In the next chapter (20:20-28), James and John want the two power positions in the Kingdom. It was a hard lesson for them to truly learn, because they were, as we are, immersed in power hierarchy cultures. It has been so since the fall, when power, not love, determined who rules and how they rule (Genesis 3:16).
Jesus chose a child, not because of innocence, but because of the low status of children in their culture. We should also choose humility over power! Frankly, over my years, I have seen power-hungry leaders damage too many churches.
As we accept for ourselves the status of children, we also protect children. We live with pedophilia, child sex-trafficking, and child slave labor in our world. I know too well about sexual predators in churches, who served as ministers. Too often, in our gullibility, we failed to protect our children, while sadly protecting predators instead. Yet, it’s not only physical children we should protect, but also the weak and vulnerable in our world—the very ones whom Jesus served.
“The wrath of the Lamb,” is typically downplayed today, but Jesus is His most wrathful regarding those who cause a “little one” to stumble. Threatening a two-ton millstone around the neck, is not being meek and mild. At the end of this section, Jesus said something striking:
“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 18:10 NIV)
Jesus knew His Bible and knew that seeing the face of God was a BIG deal. He also knew that angels were not chubby little flying babies. Cherubim were God’s mighty servants—those with whom His enemies didn’t mess! Targeting children makes you one of God’s enemies and those who see God’s face, will know our faces.
That’s how important children are to our Lord, Messiah Jesus. If we wish to be important to Him, we must become a child in humility and protect them with courage.
Tim Kelley
(1) https://www.odmdenver.org/tryad
(2) https://www.easterseals.com/co/programs-and-services/play/rocky-mountain-village-camp/directions.html