Are you hindering or inviting the next generation into God's presence? When Jesus saw children, He didn't see an interruption—He saw an inheritance. The question isn't whether the next generation faces struggles, but whether our love will collapse inward or radiate outward. What if the greatest work of our lives is simply bringing them to Jesus?
Mark 10:13–16
"And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, 'Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.' And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them."
1. The disciples see the children as an interruption.
Mark 10:13
"And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them."
epitimaō (rebuke): to censure severely
Matthew 17:18
"And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly."
Every single generation believes the next generation is far worse and uniquely doomed in the future.
Nothing New Under the Sun
Ecclesiastes 1:9
"What has been is what will be,
and what has been done is what will be done,
and there is nothing new under the sun."
The question is not whether the next generation has problems. Every generation does.
The question is whether our love will collapse inward or radiate outward.
The Same Struggles, but LOUDER
Mark 10:13
"And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them."
The generation gap grows wider, not because of the presence of new problems or unprecedented circumstances, but because of a lack of love.
2. Jesus sees the children as an inheritance.
Mark 10:14–16
"But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, 'Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.' And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them."
"It is the bounden duty of every Christian congregation to make provision for the spiritual training of its children. The boys and girls of every family should be taught as soon as they can learn, should be brought to public worship as soon as they can behave with propriety, should be regarded with affectionate interest as the future congregation, which will fill our places when we are dead."
— J.C. Ryle
Does the love of God in you end with you?
Isaiah 39:7–8
"And some of your own sons, who will come from you, whom you will father, shall be taken away, and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon. Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, 'The word of the Lord that you have spoken is good.' For he thought, 'There will be peace and security in my days.'"
3. The greatest work we can do in this life is bring them to Jesus.
Mark 10:13
"And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them…"
prospherō (bring): to offer up
1 Corinthians 2:1–5
"And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God."
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