Proper 22B, 2024

Text: Mark 10:2-16

Title: Coming to Jesus 

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There are two ways to come to Jesus.

The first way to come to Jesus is in the way the Pharisees.  They come to Jesus to test Him, to see if He measures up, to see if Jesus knows the right answers that they have already figured out.

The Pharisees ask Jesus a question about divorce. They think they know the answer already. They have their own ideas and traditions about when divorce is acceptable or not.  They just want to see if Jesus is on their side.

This is a very tempting approach for you to take as well.

You know what’s right and wrong, good and bad. You’ve been around for a time, you’ve experienced a few things, you’ve got the world figured out.

You’re willing to give Jesus a try, to listen to Him for a bit, but only if He sees things your way.

So you come to Jesus to test Him, like the Pharisees did.

Maybe it’s divorce.  You’ve been through one.  Or you know someone else who has been divorced.  You’ve decided whether or not it was justified.  The case is closed, settled in your mind.  You’re not interested in a debate.  You don’t want to hear that perhaps you’ve got this one wrong, so you’ll listen to Jesus, but only to a point, only as long as He affirms what you’ve already figured out.

Maybe it’s not divorce.  Pick whatever contentious, divisive, complicated issue you’d like.  Abortion, LGBTQ rights, immigration, environmental issues, racial justice, something that you are passionate about.  You’ve probably got your position figured out, so much so that you argue your point online with complete strangers. 

And so when you come to Jesus, it’s merely for Him to tell you that you’re right, and everyone else is wrong, they all need to get in line.

To one who comes to Him in such a way, Jesus does respond, but not in the way that is expected, not in a way that can be controlled and converted into a soundbite.

To the Pharisees, He refuses to get sucked into an argument over divorce.  Instead, He reminds them that divorce was never God’s intention for His people. From the beginning, from Adam and Eve, marriage was a union created by God.  God is in the business of putting people together, not tearing them apart.

Now if your heart is hard, if you refuse to repent and be forgiven, if you refuse to forgive your husband or wife when they sin against you, yes your sin can tear apart what God has put together. 

The Pharisees should have been asking, “How do we keep and preserve marriages?  How do we honor this wonderful gift that God has given us?” rather than “How do we do divorce the right way?”

Let’s be clear.  There are situations where marriage has become so dangerous and destructive that a husband or wife needs out. 

That’s not what the Pharisees are up to here. They aren’t dealing with real people in real marriages.  They’ve come up with an abstract question in an attempt to test and trap Jesus. 

So, the way of the Pharisees is not the way to go.

What’s the alternative?  What’s the other way to come to Jesus?

It’s in the way of a child.

How do the children come to Jesus?

The short answer is that they don’t.  These kids don’t come looking for Jesus or track Him down.  They may not even know or understand who He is.

So, how do they come to Jesus?  Their moms bring them.  They are helpless.  They are clueless.  They don’t know their Bible like the Pharisees do.  They probably don’t understand why their mom has pulled them out of school and dragged them across town to see this strange guy.

That’s probably how you came to Jesus, too. Your mom, your grandma, another family member or friend brought you to Jesus.  Perhaps you were a child, a baby, an infant, too young to understand, too young to have a say in the matter, so young that you don’t even remember it, but you were brought to the font for Jesus to touch you and to bless you.

Perhaps you were a bit older, invited along to Sunday School or VBS, or a holiday church service.  You probably didn’t know what was going on, what to expect, but someone cared enough about you to invite you.

And to those who come to Jesus like this, His arms are open wide.  Despite what the disciples think, Jesus has time for them, in fact they are the whole reason why He has come.

Not for those who have all the answers, not for those who can do fine on their own, but for the little ones, the helpless ones, the snotty nosed kids who talk back to their mom, who push their little sisters, and who whine and throw a fit when they don’t get their way.

And that continues throughout life. 

These little ones for whom Jesus has come are not merely the babies and little kids.  It includes folks like you and me, who still talk back, and push others around, and whine and throw a fit when we don’t get our way.

The kingdom of God is for people like you, who don’t have all the answers, who don’t have anything to offer Jesus, who may be confused more often than not.

You need Jesus, just like the children did.

You need His touch and His blessing.

Jesus was not afraid to touch these kids, in fact He takes them up in His arms.  Remember who Jesus is.  The Lord God Almighty Himself.  The one who made the universe.  The one whom angels praise without ceasing.  He takes a child in His arms.  He gives that child His full attention.  He is there for that child in a way that no one else could ever be.

Because those arms, that today are cradling children, will soon be stretched out on the cross.  Jesus is on His way to Jerusalem, and when He gets there, He will lay down His life for all of these children that were brought to Him that day, and for all of His children gathered here today.

No matter how you came to be here today, Jesus is here for you

Jesus touches you with His nail scarred hands, and He speaks words of blessing to you.

You are precious, you are His own.  You are loved with an everlasting love, and you are completely forgiven.  You have an eternity of joy beyond your wildest dreams because He laid down His life for you. 

So, come now, once more.  Jesus is here to touch you, to bless you.

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