Dear Christian friends:

Are you surprised because I greet you this morning as "children"? Maybe you think I have lost my mind and you think, "Why does he call us children? We are adults."

I have a good reason for calling you "children". I do not mean to shame you or insult you by that, no. But I wish to wake you up and impress upon you the very important lesson which Jesus long ago taught His disciples in our text. In this text He taught them that everyone in His Kingdom, also adults, must be like little children.

So today I want to preach to you about:


In our text we read how some mothers brought babies and children to Jesus to have Him touch them, but the disciples told them to go away and not bother Jesus with babies and children. But when Jesus saw that He was much displeased and said to the disciples, "Let the little children come to Me, forbid them not (don't you forbid them). God's kingdom is for such as these."

So here Jesus strongly preaches to all of us adults that babies and children are welcome in His Kingdom. Although many, like the disciples think that babies and children cannot believe, Jesus clearly says that they can and they do. We read, "He took them in His arms, laid His hands on them and blessed them." (verse 16) "He blessed them." That means He showed mercy and love to them. He forgave all their sins. He gave babies and children faith, hope, joy and comfort in Him their wonderful Savior.

Today Jesus blesses babies and children also. When we bring them to Him in Holy Baptism. We cannot thank Jesus enough for His care and plan to accept even babies into His Kingdom through the holy act of baptism.

After the babies are baptized they continue to grow in faith and comfort of Jesus when they experience the love and kindness of mother and father. When mothers and fathers are patient and kind to their baby they are teaching that baby also the love of God. Babies learn of God's love and kindness and forgiveness when mothers and fathers are like Jesus, kind and patient, especially when the baby yells and cries for food or a change of diapers. Although babies do not understand words and languages yet they still learn of Jesus' love through the sweet tone of mother's voice and her sweet and tender ways.

Sometimes parents are mean and cruel to their babies when they cry and yell. Such parents do not show and teach their baby the love and kindness of Jesus. Isaiah prophesied of Jesus, "He shall gather the lambs in His arms, and carry them in His bosom. Jesus did that with these babies in our text. He continues to do that today through Christian mothers and fathers. When mothers and fathers love their babies and take good care of them they are doing Jesus' wonderful work.

Later as the child begins to understand words and language mothers and fathers should teach them at home to pray easy prayers and songs. Also, show them pictures of Jesus and tell them the wonderful stories of Jesus. When they are old enough to go to Sunday School and Church parents should bring them to Sunday School, Church and confirmation class. They should also talk with the children sometimes and show interest in their Sunday School books and lessons and correct them and admonish them with God's love. Parents should be kind and forgive their children when they sin. In this way through daily life and experience the children grow up with a true clear understanding of Jesus and what forgiveness means. Don't be mean and strict parents who can't forgive and can't forget.

Jesus is very displeased if we parents bother children and forbid them to come to Him. As a church group we should provide good Sunday School both for our own children and for deaf children. Jesus wants them to come to Him and receive His precious blessings. Jesus is the children's Savior.

He is also the Savior for adults. But Jesus says that we must be like little children if we want to enter into His Kingdom and stay in it. (read verse 15) What does this mean for us? How are children different from adults? Children are not proud or self-righteous like we adults. They are not too proud to accept a free gift. Thursday evening you again saw them come to your door and say, "Trick or treats." They gladly accept free gifts. They humbly accept teaching and advice. Children are like a clean white paper, you can write anything you want on their hearts. They do not doubt or question their father, mother or teacher. They are eager to learn and follow.

That's exactly how we adults should feel about God our heavenly Father. We must not be proud and self-righteous. We must humbly confess our sins and unworthiness and that we are helpless as babies, we can't save ourselves. Only God's free gift of salvation in Jesus Christ can save us.

We must humbly accept that gift of God like children and then not question or doubt God's Word but believe and trust. We must also be eager to learn and follow our heavenly Father's commandments. The we will be like little children and can enter into His Kingdom and stay in it.

The Bible often calls the believers, "the children of God." Yes, Jesus is the children's Savior. Is He your Savior?

Amen.