Devotionals

13 People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 

People had probably seen or heard about the gift of healing that Jesus had given others through the laying on of his hands, so they began to bring their children to him for a similar blessing. We don’t know if these children were sick, but we can assume these children were loved by parents who wanted the best for them, who wanted to keep them free from disease and other problems. Children were vulnerable and in need of protection. In addition, children of the time held no real value in society. The disciples, perhaps trying to focus on more "important" matters, and to keep the crowds in order, tried to prevent people from bringing children to Jesus. 

Do we see children in the same light today? Are children’s needs given any priority in our society?

14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them…”

At the time of Jesus, the custom of having children blessed by a Rabbi was a long-held tradition coming from the time 

when Jacob blessed his grandsons by laying hands on them (Gen 48:14-16). At the time of Jesus, it was the fathers who had the responsibility for the spiritual development of the children (Eph 6:4) It is most probable that it was the fathers who were bringing the children to Jesus as the spiritual heads of the household.

Was your father involved in your spiritual upbringing? What did that look like? How has that been carried on to the next generation in your family? Is it only a father’s responsibility?

“…for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”

Jesus states that the Kingdom of God is for those who have a childlike faith. This refers to qualities like humility, trust, dependence, and openness to receiving God's grace, not necessarily literal childhood. Jesus, in welcoming and blessing the children, extends the love of God to those children as well as to us. Perhaps there is still a child hurting inside of us. Those who are vulnerable, those who are hurting are never sent away. They are given full attention and shown complete love. Jesus was and is delighted to do so.

Were you hurt as a child by someone who should have been aiding in your spiritual development? A parent, a teacher, or the church in general? Or were you ignored as being unimportant, told to be “seen and not heard”? Were you ever discouraged from asking questions about the message of the Bible?

15 “Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 

Two things I know about children: they ae full of questions, curious about everything; and they see wonder in things that we see as ordinary or unimportant.  The story of Jesus blessing the children is part of his teaching about welcoming God, opening ourselves up to the wonders of his kingdom. It’s okay not to fully understand! It’s okay to have questions! It’s okay to look at God’s creation and feel full of awe and wonder and just be present in its glory.

How will we know what God is asking of us, if we are not open to receive God as a little child, secure and trusting in God’s love for us?

 16 And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.

Jesus’ message to us is a reminder that if we wish to enter God’s kingdom, God’s eternal presence, we must learn to delight in the knowledge that God delights in us as his own children. Were you lucky enough to have parents or grandparents with whom you felt completely safe? Can you picture yourself as a child, curled up in their lap, feeling as if no harm could ever come to you as long as they were there? Yes, sometimes things in this world did hurt us, but there was always that loving adult to turn to for comfort. It’s like that with God, too. Jesus wants us to feel that same trust in Him. If you did not have that as a child, know that you can have it now, in Jesus. Trust in Him with childlike trust.

This week we held Vacation Bible School for children in our church and community. This is an important ministry since children are fully able to understand many spiritual truths. Children are the next generation of believers, and nurturing their faith now is crucial for the long-term health and vitality of the church. But children are not just the future of the church, but they are also vital members of the church today. Investing in their spiritual development is essential for the health and vitality of the church and for the growth of God's kingdom. Working with children, leading them in study of their faith, can often help adults grow in their own faith as well. There are always opportunities to support the Children’s Ministries here at CHPC, especially by helping out at Sunday school or VBS. Jesus wants the little children to come to him.  He wants you to come, as well.

1Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), 2 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw  the signs he had performed  by healing the sick. 3Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. 4The Jewish Passover Festival was near.

Reflection:  In a way, this is a perfunctory beginning to a wondrous gospel event.  Some food for thought: 

(1) Some time after this in biblical jargon could mean weeks or months.  The point here is some time has transpired.

(2) Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias) … for our river to the sea (Mediterranean) friends, the Jordan River feeds the Sea of Galilee from the north and flows out again in the south on its way to the Dead Sea.

(3) Crowds of people were following Jesus because of the miraculous healings that he performed.  This is, indeed, earth-shaking, but the point I want us to note is that Jesus was always looking for places of solitude.  In this situation, Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. We have to assume this is a reference to the hill country east of the Sea, known today as the Golan Heights.  But, again, like Jesus in this situation, it is important for us to go to our mountainside to spend some quiet time with our Jesus in conversation and in the Word.  John 1:15 is left out of our devotion, but … 15 Jesus knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, WITHDREW AGAIN TO A MOUNTAIN BY HIMSELF.  There is a lesson and an example for us to follow!   Now, hang on to your hats, a miracle is about to happen!

5When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6Jesus asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

Reflection:  This is a set-up for an error that we often make, that is, we can limit what God does through us by assuming we know what God can and cannot do – wrong!  Is there some seemingly impossible task that you believe God wants you to do?  Have you been asked to perform a task associated with the church – God’s church?  The point:  Do not let your estimate of what cannot be done keep you from taking on the task.  God is a miracle machine, and that machine CAN work in you!  So, trust God to provide the resources when he gives you a mission.  Let’s go a little deeper with our example from the gospel of John.

 5When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6Jesus asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. 7Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”

Reflection:  Look at verses 5 and 6 again.  The question of the day … Where do we get the food to feed these folks?  Note:  Jesus specifically asks Philip.  Now, Philip would probably have a solution because he was from a town not too terribly far away … about 8 to 10 miles.  Well … a solution, but not a good one!  But we know what Philip doesn’t … Jesus is testing him.  Why would Jesus do this?  Jesus wants to strengthen Philip’s faith by asking for a human solution when he knows that none exists!  Jesus is highlighting the miracle that he was about to perform.  It was not bread that Jesus was seeking from Philip, it was faith!  Jesus is in total control of this situation; this is a mind-blowing Sunday School lesson!  Jesus is not limited by OUR inadequate resources.  But, more about this later

 8Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “9 Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”

Reflection:  John makes an intriguing point at this juncture … contrasting the disciples with a young boy.  The disciples certainly had more available resources, but they knew it was not enough, so they ended up giving nothing.  The young boy had limited resources, but he gave all that he possessed and it made all the difference!  When Jesus performed his miracles, he usually preferred to work through people.  In this case, Jesus took what the young boy offered and turned it into one of the most spectacular miracles recorded in the gospels!  What about us?  If we offer nothing to God he will have nothing from us to use … in this case you should take a hard look at your relationship with God.  But if we give to the Lord what little we have, he can take it and turn it into something important; something that will further the Kingdom of God.  It begins with a faith that yields to the message that our Lord gives to us.  Remember that God recognizes no barriers … “I’m too old” or “I’m too young” or “I’m too much of anything.”  We are never too anything to be of service to our Lord!  And, remember … who gave us our resources in the first place?  Yield to your God!  Use your God-given resources for his purposes.

10Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.”  There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). 11Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted.  He did the same with the fish. 12When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over.  Let nothing be wasted.” 13So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. 14After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.”

Reflection:  We don’t know how many people were actually on the Golan Heights that day, because Scripture refers only to 5,000 men.  The curious mind would quickly imagine a significant number of women and children, thus our true total … 10,000? 15,000?  20,000?  This was a miracle of true biblical proportions – pun intended!!  We can play with numbers all day, but let’s not forget the leftovers.  God gives in abundance.  Our God takes what we offer in time, ability, or resources and multiplies its effectiveness far beyond our wildest expectations.  When we yield in service to our Lord, we come away with the satisfaction of the fullness of Jesus Christ in our souls … he satisfies us with a full measure of himself!!  John 4:32  But Jesus said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.”

1Come, all you who are thirsty. Come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat!  Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. 2Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy you?  Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest fare. 3 Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live.  I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love, promised to David. 4See, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a ruler and commander of the peoples. 5Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations you do not know will come running to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendor.  6Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. 7Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts.  Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

Reflection:  We have all experienced some form of hunger, and we all have eaten a meal that is not satisfying!  The Bible uses the food metaphor because the writers knew the listeners would understand that there is a deeper hunger within us that is certainly not physical hunger.  Our bodies want nourishment, but our souls hunger for even more.  We must strive for the soul-satisfying nourishment of our Lord.  Isaiah 55:2  Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?  God uses physical food to point us in the direction of spiritual hunger.  Think about your life and the question asked in Isaiah 55:2.  Have faith.  Yield and listen to the direction from your Savior.  Respond and experience the fullness of Jesus Christ in your soul.  Brothers and sisters, it is a call to action.  Amen.