Let the Little Children Come to Me – Jim Wilkerson
In my experience as a minister in the church I have seen many issues become places of contention and division in the church. However, I have not seen any practical issue in the church cause as much difficulty as the nursery. I am not about to begin analyzing why because I would rather go sit in the emergency lane on southbound I-95 and count cars. However, I would rather take a look from Scripture as why the ministry of the nursery at Redeemer Presbyterian Church should be a joy for us whose joy is in the Lord of His children.
There is greatness in the Kingdom of God. The majesty of our Great God reigns in His Kingdom. The greatness of righteousness, joy and peace in the Holy Spirit reigns in His Kingdom over the kingdom of sin, sorrow, and strife (Rom.14:17). And the greatness of small and insignificant people are in His Kingdom. When mothers brought their babies to Jesus that he might bless them, the disciples rebuked them for bringing small and insignificant children into the presence of the King of the Jews. But Jesus responded with a rebuke of their pride and open arms of goodness toward the children welcoming them as those who belong to His Kingdom (Mt.19:13-15). All believers in the Lord Jesus Christ have the right to be called the children of God (Jn.1:12). Therefore all believers who are small and insignificant, poor in spirit (Mt.5:3) in need of a Redeemer, belong to the Kingdom of God. Therefore what God calls greatness should refocus our view of changing diapers, wiping away tears, rocking babies, feeding children, teaching children and correcting children during worship.
In Luke 9:47-48 we read, But Jesus, knowing the reasoning of their hearts, took a child and put him by his side 48and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one who is great.” In the context of Christ’s words the disciples were arguing amongst one another concerning who was the greatest. In the hearts of the disciples was pride that sought to exalt self. This “greatness” being the opposite of what we find in Jesus’ Kingdom, he must turn them inside out to make them useful for the glory of God in His Kingdom. Therefore he took this child to teach them in order purify their hearts for His Kingdom and their joy.
His teaching begins with putting them in the place of receiving a child. In that culture receiving children was insignificant and undignified. But Jesus made the receiving of children something great. He said participating in this lesser unimportant, degrading work was to Jesus great. If the disciples were to live as subjects of His Kingdom then they were to do the insignificant works in the name of Jesus. They were to do them in the love, power and grace that Jesus gives. And when they did they were actually living in communion with Jesus and fellowship with their Father in Heaven. Therefore to receive the child they would actually be humbling themselves as the least. But this humility in the work of receiving children is actually greatness in the Kingdom of God and joy in the fellowship of God.
Therefore God calls people who do nursery work, the receiving of children, great though they seem to be least. And with the those great ones who serve in the name of Jesus, by the grace and strength he provides, he promises communion and fellowship with Himself and the Father. When this kingdom view begins to pervade the minds and hearts of those at Redeemer Presbyterian Church then the nurseries of the church will be significant places filled with insignificant, undignified, unimportant members of the Kingdom of the Beloved Son who are communing by faith with the Father and the Son during worship.
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