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“pt.3 To Receive the Kingdom”
In considering Mark 10:13-16 and the synoptic contexts surrounding its lesson we will ask the question

‘What does it mean “To Receive the Kingdom” as a little Child and yet be able to enter into it?

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Message

pt.3 To Receive the Kingdom

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Delivered on grego. 8-15-2023

2023

Our Call to Worship, congregational prayers and readings are primarily from the KJV.
and
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is from
The 1650 Scottish Metrical Psalter (SMP)
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• A Call to Worship the LORD YHWH together
• Prayer guided by the direct words of Scripture
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Compiled by JS LOWTHER
renewedcovenantministry.com
renewedcovenantministry@gmail.com 

Mar_10:13  And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.
Mar 10:14  But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
Mar 10:15  Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
Mar 10:16  And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.

 

Many parts of this section of Mark are similar to what we have covered prior from luke and Matt.
in this instance the word bless them is used, and the it is very clear Jesus took them up into his arms and received them in such a way as we have heretofore mentioned, and yet we also know thin in so doing he blessed them.

We have extensively covered the concepts in this scripture as a focus of many various contexts happen before and after this statement.
But we are now going to move on to the event that happens in the same order in Matthew, but is not found in Luke in detail, but is shared with us at a different point in Luke, and that is Jesus’ lesson on
“whosoever will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.”

Mat_20:20-34; in Luk_22:25-43 we are informed that Jesus in part taught the high points of this lesson immediately after he foretells of Judas immediate betrayal.

Where it follows our focal text in connection to the lesson given to the rich young rule where we will have been be informed of some other details:

Mar_10:17  And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
Mar_10:18  And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
Mar 10:19  Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
Mar 10:20  And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
Mar 10:21  Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
Mar 10:22  And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

2 major details are here to be noticed, here is where we are informed that Jesus did love the rich young ruler, and we may conclude that while he went away sorrowful, he in fact must have on account of the electing love changed his ways.
No doubt in the way we also had once had a change or if we are young will have a change if we are called unto it…
Look at what every believer must confess.

Eph_2:2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worked in the children of disobedience:
Eph 2:3  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Eph 2:4  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Eph 2:5  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

It is in this was we must process this interaction between Christ and the covetous ruler.
Here we meet him serving in the deadness of the law and not quickened by faith, alive in and of Christ.
Let me show you that conversion from the letters, the word’s the writings of the law which are good and truly God’s word, but we in doing them in our fault, with out faith in Christ are not sufficient’ of our self of our own goodness to be able servants of God’s covenant… because we are dead in sin… like the Rich young ruler is here yet veiled:

 

2Co 3:4  And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:
2Co 3:5  Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
2Co 3:6  Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
…
2Co 3:11  For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.
…
2Co 3:15  But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
2Co_3:16  Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.
2Co 3:17  Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

Now look at this lesson as it speaks to us in Christ’s stead holding that child, blessing that child, praying over that child which is the Kingdom, we are not able minister, servants deacons table -waiters of the covenant of God, the terms of His law until we have been made alive and able to hold that baby.

It is a curious thing to serve a baby, you are the parent, your child is commanded by God to honor you, and yet as a parent, especially a mother we serve and minister to the infant and child.
Even in their obstinacy of wanting to be held and fed at time… we with parental authority and love give them what they need even if they squirm and move and scream.
Sometime we have no Idea how to serve them, but as parent filled with love we look for away.
Here is another picture of the Kingdom we are to receive.

Look at what Jesus teaches exactly on this wise.

Mar 10:32  And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid. And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him,

 

Mar 10:33  Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles:
Mar 10:34  And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.

Mar 10:35  And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.
Mar 10:36  And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you?
Mar 10:37  They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.
Mar 10:38  But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?
Mar 10:39  And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized:
Mar 10:40  But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared.
Mar 10:41  And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John.
Mar 10:42  But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.
Mar 10:43  But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:
Mar 10:44  And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.
Mar 10:45  For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

 

Here is Jesus the master, the everlasting father, the prince of peace King of kings the lord of Glory serving the needs of his bickering disciples with love wherewith he loves them- as a child, needs all the things it needs, so are the disciples who are destined to be judges in the Kingdom of God judging us in whatsoever capacity that will happen. These men are part of the Kingdom, even in the greater thought of it, but before these judges get to judge, they must learn to serve, minister.
There was a time in America and after the time of Cromwell in England that ministers in politics, like ‘the prime minister’ was thought to be that, a servant.

And it is from the Lawful teaching of Christ that is found even in the Law that tells us of this servant ship that is required of judges, heads and rulers… like the rich ruler, who being a ruler was there for young but in a place of judgment in some way, a head of people in matters of law- this would be why he could hold his head up and say, and have greater implication to public, ” all these have I observed from my youth. “.

And so add an element of this lesson to your thoughts.

This man approaching Jesus is a ruler, a judge, a head of 10-1000s? he is an overseer a pastor of a presbytery of men as stated in Deut 1, he after the lesson concerning the kingdom, which is his political prerogative, lawful prerogative, stops Jesus departure and interjects his question
Mar 10:17  …. running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? 

Luke is the one who told us this was an archon- a head or chief, a ruler.

Luk 18:18  And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

Here we have a ruler of Israel, seeking answer from Jesus concerning Eternal life, on His knees kneeling to him and calling him Good master.

Exo 18:21  Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers…
Exo 18:22  And let them judge the people
If this man were a good judgeing ruler he would have
Deu 1:16-17
Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him.
… not respect persons in judgment…

 

This man must have been a servant to some extent, though he was yet to be converted to wholly follow Christ, though called and chosen, not yet raised to serve in the capacity needed to receive the Kingdom of Christ and of God in the way commanded.

The lesson Jesus teaches to the disciples is one no different than what God always commanded in Israel’s rulers, selflessness, devotion to justice and honesty towards those who are your superiors, your equals and your subordinates.
And yet in the lesson of receiving the Kingdom as a little child, in to our arm and blessing it we see the calling of the common Christian as well, Every Christian in this must have this type of disposition towards the source of Good, the Good master, Christ and God and our testimony must be one of insufficiency of our self and total sufficiency in God through Christ, as to make us an able servant / minister of the New covenant.
this is a common thought when you have an infant… how am I sufficient to do this task?

What is that New Covenant?
Jer_31:33-35

this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD,

• I will put my law in their inward parts,
• and write it in their hearts;
• and will be their God,
• and they shall be my people.
•  And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying,
  Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD:
• for I will forgive their iniquity,
• and I will remember their sin no more. 

  Those are the terms

Law comes with it, forgiveness by grace and mercy, knowledge of YHWH

To receive the kingdom is to receive the King’s dominion, His rule his love and His Law, and to be a servant enable towards this understanding.

The disciples are being given a glimpse into the service of Christ as we see the strife begin to arise for supremacy on those thrones Christ promised, and sets them back down and spoon feeds them a lesson from his self as a king, as the Psalm 2 Son of God and the Psalm 8 Son of Man who has dominion over the world and all in it and over all kings, princes and rulers… and yet as the Master, as the parent he receives his kingdom as he.

Here is my question to you and application…
How do you receive the Kingdom of God?

sufficient of your self, seeking to be a ruler?
Or as a little Child?

How do we receive the Law of God?
as source for wisdom and help, or as one proud self sufficient?
Pleased and delighted to have light in the law yes, but not proud.

How do we receive the new covenant the covenant of Grace?
Do we receive the covenant of the kingdom as the young ruler ruled, without the ability to leave all for it?
or do we receive the Covenant of Grace renewed in us by law, knowledge and forgiveness as a child in need of attention, willing to go to the place that kingdom calls us in its cries?

Do we desire to sit on thrones judging the world, yes, a promise we are given :

1Co 6:2  Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
1Co 6:3  Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

But do we desire to do so to minster the law and justice of God?

See, the young ruler wouldn’t hold the infant, not because he didn’t see it was his baby, but because it made him sad to get other things he liked more out of his hands.

2Co 3:16  Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.
2Co 3:17  Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
2Co 3:18  But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Weather we be Christians residing to pass by the laws of God, or if we be legalists willing to walk past the Grace of God, there is a blindness, and that blindness must fall away.
If we are Christians the know the law of God but are afraid to behold it’s light more clearly with open face… we need to change, we need to better realize our call to service.