100:00:00,800 –> 00:00:01,780The Holy Spirit200:00:01,780 –> 00:00:02,820The Bible300:00:03,840 –> 00:00:09,120You were in some way drawing near to Jesus Christ, but someone or something got in the400:00:09,120 –> 00:00:15,040way. Something another person who claimed to be a Christian said or did was a stumbling500:00:15,040 –> 00:00:20,379block to you, and now you have been kept at a distance from Jesus and you feel that you600:00:20,379 –> 00:00:23,700are not under His blessing.700:00:23,700 –> 00:00:27,980Welcome to Open The Bible with Pastor Colin Smith. I’m David Pick and, Colin, today we’re800:00:27,980 –> 00:00:31,680looking at some of the things that keep people away from Jesus.900:00:31,680 –> 00:00:36,299Yeah, we’re in Mark’s gospel. Try and picture this. There’s a whole crowd of folks light1000:00:36,299 –> 00:00:41,740round Jesus and there are some children who are coming to Jesus and the Bible says the1100:00:41,740 –> 00:00:46,060disciples rebuked them and they’re sending them away. Can you imagine this? Here are1200:00:46,060 –> 00:00:49,459the followers of Jesus and they’re pushing people away from Jesus. They think they’re1300:00:49,459 –> 00:00:57,520the wrong people, and it may have been your experience that someone or some set of circumstances1400:00:57,560 –> 00:01:00,919has just discouraged you from coming to Jesus.1500:01:00,919 –> 00:01:07,279And I want you to receive this message right from the Bible today, that Jesus Christ rebuked1600:01:07,279 –> 00:01:12,320those who were keeping the children away and he said, let the little children come to me1700:01:12,320 –> 00:01:17,839of such as the kingdom of heaven. I want you to hear the Lord Jesus Christ saying in regards1800:01:17,839 –> 00:01:24,000to you, let that man, that woman, that young person come to me today. Christ is reaching1900:01:24,000 –> 00:01:31,800out to you beyond those who have stood in your way and he’s drawing you and he is welcoming2000:01:31,800 –> 00:01:35,360you. This is a word of tremendous hope and joy today.2100:01:35,360 –> 00:01:40,139With that introduction, let’s get into God’s Word. And we’re in Mark chapters nine and2200:01:40,139 –> 00:01:45,959ten. As we continue the message, Jesus calls his people to become like children. Here’s2300:01:45,959 –> 00:01:46,959Colin,2400:01:46,959 –> 00:01:51,699Today as we open the Bible, I want simply to raise a cheer for marriage and to raise2500:01:51,699 –> 00:01:59,379a cheer for children and to help us to see that Jesus Christ is in the middle of both.2600:01:59,379 –> 00:02:05,779We’re going to see that Jesus seals marriages and that Jesus blesses children. So, I hope2700:02:05,779 –> 00:02:10,139you have your Bible open in front of you. We’re going to begin at Mark chapter 10, in2800:02:10,139 –> 00:02:17,380verse 1, we find Jesus as so often teaching the great crowds of people who came to him.2900:02:17,380 –> 00:02:22,360In verse 2, the pharisees come and they test him. They always seem to have an angle with3000:02:22,360 –> 00:02:28,419their question. This time their question is, is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?3100:02:28,419 –> 00:02:35,360It’s very interesting. Jesus is asked a question about divorce, but he answers with3200:02:35,360 –> 00:02:40,600some teaching about marriage. Now I want you to notice that it’s later3300:02:40,600 –> 00:02:45,940when the disciples ask Jesus in private about divorce that he answers them in the privacy3400:02:45,940 –> 00:02:52,800of a home. I think, by the way, that that is very significant because Jesus did not3500:02:52,800 –> 00:03:00,020come into the world to load guilt onto people for past failures. Important to remember that.3600:03:00,020 –> 00:03:09,779Remember on one occasion he spoke to a lady who had gone through no fewer than five divorces.3700:03:10,360 –> 00:03:18,740And Jesus does not condemn this lady. What he does, is he talks to her about becoming3800:03:18,740 –> 00:03:25,059a true Worshipper of God. See, that is the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus does3900:03:25,059 –> 00:03:33,660not focus on our past failures, but on present realities and future possibilities. And I4000:03:33,660 –> 00:03:38,500want us to see here, therefore, that the focus of our Lord’s teaching is very much on the4100:03:38,520 –> 00:03:48,199dignity and the value, the beauty of God’s gift of marriage. Let’s look at what Jesus4200:03:48,199 –> 00:03:53,460teaches here in verse 6. At the beginning of creation, he says, God made them male and4300:03:53,460 –> 00:03:59,059female. For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother, and be united to his4400:03:59,059 –> 00:04:06,199wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one. And, therefore,4500:04:07,119 –> 00:04:14,119has joined together, let man not separate. Now, notice God’s pattern for marriage here.4600:04:16,440 –> 00:04:22,779I think we can build a very simple understanding of what marriage is, as God intended it from4700:04:22,779 –> 00:04:29,779the teaching of Jesus right here. First, Jesus says, a man. Now, notice that that is singular.4800:04:30,739 –> 00:04:36,980So, we’re reminded straightaway that marriage is an exclusive union between two people.4900:04:36,980 –> 00:04:41,700Second, he shall leave his father and his mother. In other words, marriage is not a5000:04:41,700 –> 00:04:48,200private arrangement, a sort of private agreement between two people, it is a public attachment.5100:04:48,200 –> 00:04:55,179It involves that leaving and it is known. He shall be united with his wife, united,5200:04:55,179 –> 00:05:00,339speaking of a lasting relationship that is to be characterized by love.5300:05:00,339 –> 00:05:02,519The man is united Jesus says to his wife,5400:05:02,519 –> 00:05:05,500and so quite clearly here the relationship is between5500:05:05,500 –> 00:05:11,059one man and one woman. The two, Jesus says, will become one flesh.5600:05:11,059 –> 00:05:17,480So, the loving union of their hearts will be sealed and will be strengthened by the5700:05:17,480 –> 00:05:20,679physical union of their bodies.5800:05:20,679 –> 00:05:23,739And then, Jesus says, what God has joined together,5900:05:24,179 –> 00:05:25,540let not man separate.6000:05:25,540 –> 00:05:29,279So, God is the one who actually seals this bond.6100:05:29,279 –> 00:05:32,200It is God who makes the two one.6200:05:32,200 –> 00:05:35,480The relationship is sealed by Him.6300:05:35,480 –> 00:05:36,859So I think putting these things together6400:05:36,859 –> 00:05:38,959from the plain teaching of Jesus,6500:05:38,959 –> 00:05:43,739we can define marriage as an exclusive, public,6600:05:43,739 –> 00:05:48,839lasting, loving union of one man and one woman and,6700:05:48,839 –> 00:05:52,480most important of all, that is sealed by God.6800:05:54,920 –> 00:05:59,600If you are married today, thank God for this special gift.6900:05:59,600 –> 00:06:02,679And if you find your marriage under strain,7000:06:02,679 –> 00:06:04,320or perhaps I should say when you do,7100:06:04,320 –> 00:06:06,600because that is our common experience,7200:06:06,600 –> 00:06:11,320remember that it is God who has joined you together.7300:06:11,320 –> 00:06:13,880This is not some sort of arbitrary agreement7400:06:13,880 –> 00:06:15,380just between the two of you.7500:06:15,380 –> 00:06:17,079God is in the middle of it.7600:06:17,940 –> 00:06:22,019Those God has joined together.7700:06:22,019 –> 00:06:24,500God’s tied the knot.7800:06:24,500 –> 00:06:28,579Think of it that way, and God ties a good tight knot7900:06:28,579 –> 00:06:30,920and he is with you in this.8000:06:30,920 –> 00:06:33,279His grace is sufficient.8100:06:33,279 –> 00:06:36,380And his purpose is good.8200:06:37,399 –> 00:06:41,600Jesus seals marriages.8300:06:41,600 –> 00:06:43,019This is a wonderful thing.8400:06:44,100 –> 00:06:45,140Now here’s the second thing.8500:06:46,059 –> 00:06:47,559I want us to notice from the Scripture this morning.8600:06:47,559 –> 00:06:50,500Jesus blesses children.8700:06:50,500 –> 00:06:54,640And here we’re looking at verses 13 to 16.8800:06:54,640 –> 00:06:56,799Notice from verse 10, if you just glance back,8900:06:56,799 –> 00:06:59,200that Jesus was in the house with the disciples.9000:06:59,200 –> 00:07:01,480That helps us to picture the situation,9100:07:01,480 –> 00:07:04,359and I assume he was still in the house in verse 13,9200:07:04,359 –> 00:07:05,660and Mark tells us that people9300:07:05,660 –> 00:07:10,160were bringing little children, presumably into the house…9400:07:10,160 –> 00:07:11,519They’re bringing him to Jesus9500:07:11,600 –> 00:07:12,839not to have him touch them,9600:07:12,839 –> 00:07:15,839but the disciples rebuked them.9700:07:16,940 –> 00:07:19,179Now I think we should maybe have9800:07:19,179 –> 00:07:21,839some sympathy with the disciples here.9900:07:21,839 –> 00:07:23,140I mean, if you were in a small group10000:07:23,140 –> 00:07:25,679mentoring situation with Jesus,10100:07:25,679 –> 00:07:29,899and every few minutes someone was banging on the door,10200:07:29,899 –> 00:07:31,700and pushy parents were coming in10300:07:31,700 –> 00:07:34,739with yet another group of children in tow,10400:07:34,739 –> 00:07:36,500I think after a while you would become10500:07:36,500 –> 00:07:37,660a little tired of it and say,10600:07:37,660 –> 00:07:39,660we’ve had enough kids coming in here10700:07:39,660 –> 00:07:41,779for one day, we want to hear more10800:07:41,779 –> 00:07:44,160of the teaching of Jesus ourselves.10900:07:45,059 –> 00:07:48,380And you know what it’s like when sports celebrities11000:07:48,380 –> 00:07:51,980or film stars are signing autographs for kids?11100:07:51,980 –> 00:07:54,980They’ll do a few, and then eventually they’ll turn away.11200:07:55,980 –> 00:07:58,339And that will be the end of it.11300:07:59,420 –> 00:08:02,920And apparently, Jesus didn’t turn away.11400:08:02,920 –> 00:08:04,420He didn’t make an end of it.11500:08:04,420 –> 00:08:07,859And the disciples decided that they would have11600:08:07,880 –> 00:08:09,899to deal with the interruptions for him.11700:08:10,760 –> 00:08:14,440And I can just imagine Andrew looking out of the window,11800:08:14,440 –> 00:08:17,100saying to Peter, as he sees more parents11900:08:17,100 –> 00:08:20,940with more kids coming up the path towards the house,12000:08:20,940 –> 00:08:23,380I can just imagine them saying to Peter,12100:08:23,380 –> 00:08:24,700what in all the world are we gonna do about this?12200:08:24,700 –> 00:08:26,600This is never gonna stop.12300:08:27,540 –> 00:08:28,679At least I can imagine,12400:08:28,679 –> 00:08:30,140and maybe you can picture this too,12500:08:30,140 –> 00:08:33,260Peter saying, don’t worry, Andrew, I’ll deal with it.12600:08:33,260 –> 00:08:34,320So he goes to the door.12700:08:34,320 –> 00:08:37,239And here are these parents with all these kids,12800:08:38,000 –> 00:08:40,119and they’re coming to Jesus so that Jesus might touch them.12900:08:40,119 –> 00:08:42,359And Peter says, I’m sorry,13000:08:42,359 –> 00:08:44,479Jesus isn’t seeing any more children today,13100:08:44,479 –> 00:08:45,880perhaps you could come back tomorrow,13200:08:45,880 –> 00:08:48,140and I’m sure he’d be glad to see your kids then.13300:08:48,140 –> 00:08:50,159Well, that’s not gonna go down too well13400:08:50,159 –> 00:08:52,900with most pushy parents, don’t you think?13500:08:54,760 –> 00:08:57,260I’ve come with my Benjamin to see Jesus,13600:08:57,260 –> 00:09:00,479and I’m not going until my Benjamin sees Jesus.13700:09:00,479 –> 00:09:02,940I’m not gonna have you stop me while you can imagine13800:09:02,940 –> 00:09:06,320how this gets a little hot under the collar after a while.13900:09:07,119 –> 00:09:08,780I guess it got hot under the collar.14000:09:08,780 –> 00:09:09,880Well, no more than yes,14100:09:09,880 –> 00:09:13,020because Mark says that the disciples rebuked these parents.14200:09:13,020 –> 00:09:15,760So this is becoming an ugly kind of an argument now,14300:09:15,760 –> 00:09:17,419a bit of a confrontation,14400:09:17,419 –> 00:09:19,739and in verse 14,14500:09:19,739 –> 00:09:22,200we are told that when Jesus saw this,14600:09:22,200 –> 00:09:25,280he was indignant.14700:09:25,280 –> 00:09:28,200Now I looked up indignant in the dictionary,14800:09:28,200 –> 00:09:33,119and it says it’s a mixture of anger and scorn,14900:09:33,340 –> 00:09:34,700and scorn,15000:09:35,659 –> 00:09:38,820and Jesus looked at his disciples just like that,15100:09:38,820 –> 00:09:43,500indignant, a mixture of anger and scorn.15200:09:43,500 –> 00:09:45,400So a little bit of participation here.15300:09:45,400 –> 00:09:46,460Would you turn just for a moment15400:09:46,460 –> 00:09:47,460to the person next to you,15500:09:47,460 –> 00:09:50,299and look indignant, just for a second, do you see?15600:09:50,299 –> 00:09:52,239Look indignant?15700:09:52,239 –> 00:09:53,900Oh, dear, there’s way too much laughing going on15800:09:53,900 –> 00:09:55,739for indignation, I think, at this moment.15900:09:55,739 –> 00:09:59,140But if someone managed to pull indignation on their face,16000:09:59,140 –> 00:10:02,119that is what the disciples saw in the face of Jesus,16100:10:02,119 –> 00:10:03,080and why?16200:10:03,919 –> 00:10:07,979Jesus was indignant because the disciples16300:10:07,979 –> 00:10:11,179were getting in the way of other people16400:10:11,179 –> 00:10:14,559coming to receive the blessing of Jesus.16500:10:14,559 –> 00:10:16,960And I want you to think about that,16600:10:17,900 –> 00:10:20,820because it may be for some of us in this congregation16700:10:22,159 –> 00:10:24,599that you felt your need of Jesus Christ,16800:10:24,599 –> 00:10:26,539you were drawn to Jesus Christ,16900:10:26,539 –> 00:10:29,500you were in some way drawing near to Jesus Christ,17000:10:29,500 –> 00:10:32,500but someone or something got in the way.17100:10:34,080 –> 00:10:36,419something another person who claimed to be a Christian17200:10:36,419 –> 00:10:39,520said or did was a stumbling block to you.17300:10:39,520 –> 00:10:42,880And now you have been kept at a distance from Jesus17400:10:42,880 –> 00:10:46,659and you feel that you are not under his blessing,17500:10:48,539 –> 00:10:50,380and Jesus won’t let it rest there.17600:10:52,000 –> 00:10:56,380I love the fact that Jesus removes the barriers17700:10:56,380 –> 00:11:00,700that might keep you from the blessing of God.17800:11:01,520 –> 00:11:03,239You’re listening to Open the Bible17900:11:03,239 –> 00:11:05,700with Pastor Colin Smith and a message called18000:11:05,700 –> 00:11:08,859Jesus Calls His People to Become Like Children.18100:11:08,859 –> 00:11:10,280It’s part of our series,18200:11:10,280 –> 00:11:11,900The Gospel According to Jesus,18300:11:11,900 –> 00:11:13,700based on Mark’s gospel,18400:11:13,700 –> 00:11:15,900and if you’ve missed of the series so far18500:11:15,900 –> 00:11:18,140or if you want to get back and listen again,18600:11:18,140 –> 00:11:20,059you can always do that by coming online18700:11:20,059 –> 00:11:24,020to our website openthebible.org.uk.18800:11:24,020 –> 00:11:25,539There you’ll find all the messages18900:11:25,539 –> 00:11:27,400that have already gone out on air.19000:11:27,400 –> 00:11:29,619You can also find Pastor Colin’s messages19100:11:29,659 –> 00:11:31,619as a podcast and those are available19200:11:31,619 –> 00:11:34,140on all the main podcast sites,19300:11:34,140 –> 00:11:36,419or you can follow a link from the website19400:11:36,419 –> 00:11:38,479if a podcast is a better way for you19500:11:38,479 –> 00:11:40,880to hear Colin’s teaching.19600:11:40,880 –> 00:11:42,359Back to the message now,19700:11:42,359 –> 00:11:44,640we’re in Mark chapter nine and ten,19800:11:44,640 –> 00:11:45,559here’s Colin.19900:11:45,559 –> 00:11:49,940I love the fact that Jesus removes the barriers20000:11:49,940 –> 00:11:54,400that might keep you from the blessing of God.20100:11:55,739 –> 00:11:57,059He said to them, verse 14,20200:11:57,059 –> 00:11:59,799let the little children come to me and do not hinder them20300:12:01,840 –> 00:12:06,400for the kingdom of God belongs to these.20400:12:06,400 –> 00:12:08,159Try and picture this in your mind.20500:12:09,840 –> 00:12:14,840You are coming up the path to the house where Jesus is.20600:12:14,960 –> 00:12:17,679You’re coming because you are drawn to him20700:12:17,679 –> 00:12:18,919and you feel your need of him20800:12:18,919 –> 00:12:20,840and you’re seeking a blessing from him20900:12:20,840 –> 00:12:22,200that you need in your life.21000:12:23,840 –> 00:12:25,000And you get to the door21100:12:26,000 –> 00:12:28,140and there’s a great burly fisherman21200:12:28,140 –> 00:12:30,020standing right in your way.21300:12:31,659 –> 00:12:34,179And what’s gonna happen next?21400:12:34,179 –> 00:12:36,179Jesus is in the house.21500:12:36,179 –> 00:12:37,599You can’t get to him.21600:12:39,400 –> 00:12:43,059Look, Jesus will not sit in the house,21700:12:43,059 –> 00:12:44,479letting that happen.21800:12:45,460 –> 00:12:47,140What does he do?21900:12:47,140 –> 00:12:49,940He gets up and he removes the barrier.22000:12:51,979 –> 00:12:53,979He rebukes Peter, he says,22100:12:54,000 –> 00:12:56,859Peter, get out of the doorway, let them in.22200:12:56,859 –> 00:12:58,460Let them come to me.22300:12:58,460 –> 00:12:59,659Let her come to me.22400:12:59,659 –> 00:13:00,900Let him come to me.22500:13:00,900 –> 00:13:03,320Let that little child come to me.22600:13:05,820 –> 00:13:07,020Don’t you hinder them.22700:13:09,700 –> 00:13:12,159That is a wonderful snapshot22800:13:12,159 –> 00:13:13,679of what Jesus Christ has done22900:13:13,679 –> 00:13:15,640by his coming into the world.23000:13:16,880 –> 00:13:18,640On the cross,23100:13:18,640 –> 00:13:22,239he breaks down every barrier on God’s side23200:13:22,280 –> 00:13:24,140that would keep you from coming to him.23300:13:24,140 –> 00:13:25,599That’s why in his death,23400:13:25,599 –> 00:13:30,059he dealt with sin, and death, and hell, and guilt.23500:13:32,119 –> 00:13:33,780He did that on the cross23600:13:33,780 –> 00:13:35,799to break down the barriers on God’s side,23700:13:35,799 –> 00:13:37,979and now by his Holy Spirit,23800:13:37,979 –> 00:13:40,640he breaks down all the barriers23900:13:40,640 –> 00:13:43,419on your side, fear,24000:13:44,840 –> 00:13:46,919your own sense of unworthiness,24100:13:48,059 –> 00:13:50,659your own sense that maybe he won’t bless me,24200:13:51,479 –> 00:13:54,739by his Spirit, he will break down every barrier24300:13:54,739 –> 00:13:57,820so that he will clear the way for you to come to him.24400:13:57,820 –> 00:13:59,400I want to say to you today,24500:13:59,400 –> 00:14:04,400don’t let anything stop you from coming to Jesus.24600:14:04,900 –> 00:14:06,900Anything another person has done,24700:14:06,900 –> 00:14:08,599anything that has got in your way,24800:14:08,599 –> 00:14:10,979anything that has brought pain into your life,24900:14:10,979 –> 00:14:15,979don’t let that stop you from coming to Jesus.25000:14:17,599 –> 00:14:19,580I love the way this point25100:14:19,580 –> 00:14:21,640is made so simply in a great hymn25200:14:21,640 –> 00:14:23,559that Billy Graham used so often25300:14:23,559 –> 00:14:24,840at the end of his Crusades.25400:14:24,840 –> 00:14:27,840You know that hymn, Just As I Am without One Plea,25500:14:27,840 –> 00:14:29,859and it talks about coming to Jesus.25600:14:29,859 –> 00:14:32,179And there’s one verse that says this,25700:14:32,179 –> 00:14:36,219”Just as I am, thy love unknown.”25800:14:36,219 –> 00:14:37,400In other words, God’s love25900:14:37,400 –> 00:14:39,400that’s beyond what I can understand.26000:14:39,400 –> 00:14:41,820”Just as I am thy love unknown26100:14:41,820 –> 00:14:46,580”has broken every barrier down.’26200:14:46,580 –> 00:14:48,780”So now to be thine26300:14:49,140 –> 00:14:52,940”and to be thine alone, Lord Jesus Christ, I come.”26400:14:54,700 –> 00:14:56,640It’s beautifully pictured here.26500:14:56,640 –> 00:14:59,260And it’s a picture that some of us need to take hold of.26600:14:59,260 –> 00:15:00,780This Sunday morning.26700:15:02,559 –> 00:15:05,400He’s broken down all the barriers on God’s side26800:15:05,400 –> 00:15:07,900that would keep you at a distance from God’s blessing.26900:15:07,900 –> 00:15:10,239And he breaks down by his Spirit27000:15:10,239 –> 00:15:11,940all the barriers on your side27100:15:11,940 –> 00:15:15,659so that you may come every barrier broken down.27200:15:15,659 –> 00:15:18,460Don’t let anything, anything,27300:15:18,580 –> 00:15:21,299anything keep you27400:15:22,260 –> 00:15:23,919from coming to Jesus.27500:15:25,419 –> 00:15:28,500And then he makes clear how it is27600:15:28,500 –> 00:15:31,539that we receive the blessing of God.27700:15:31,539 –> 00:15:32,419He says, verse 15,27800:15:32,419 –> 00:15:33,419”I tell you the truth,27900:15:33,419 –> 00:15:36,619”anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God28000:15:36,619 –> 00:15:39,539”like a little child will never enter it.”28100:15:39,539 –> 00:15:41,820How are you to receive the kingdom28200:15:41,820 –> 00:15:45,059is simply the blessing of life under God’s rule.28300:15:45,059 –> 00:15:47,559How am I to enter into this blessing?28400:15:49,159 –> 00:15:50,719The answer is, I come as a child.28500:15:50,719 –> 00:15:51,559What does that mean?28600:15:51,559 –> 00:15:55,780It means I come with nothing to offer28700:15:55,780 –> 00:15:57,500and everything to receive.28800:15:58,619 –> 00:16:00,500That’s how children come.28900:16:00,500 –> 00:16:03,900Nothing to give, everything to receive.29000:16:05,140 –> 00:16:07,179By the way, if you just glance onto verse 17,29100:16:07,179 –> 00:16:08,580you’ll find that while the children29200:16:08,580 –> 00:16:10,859found it easy to come like that,29300:16:11,700 –> 00:16:13,979there was a guy who came soon after to Jesus29400:16:13,979 –> 00:16:15,299called the rich young ruler,29500:16:15,299 –> 00:16:17,219that’s how we refer to him.29600:16:17,219 –> 00:16:18,440He found that very difficult.29700:16:18,440 –> 00:16:20,719He says in verse 17, what must I do29800:16:20,719 –> 00:16:22,179to inherit eternal life?29900:16:22,179 –> 00:16:25,500He wants to offer Jesus something in exchange30000:16:26,580 –> 00:16:28,179and very interestingly, he’s the one30100:16:28,179 –> 00:16:32,559that goes away without receiving the blessing of Christ.30200:16:34,000 –> 00:16:36,219You can’t offer something in exchange30300:16:36,219 –> 00:16:37,320for mercy and grace.30400:16:37,320 –> 00:16:39,859You have to come empty-handed to receive.30500:16:39,859 –> 00:16:41,559Children find this easy.30600:16:41,559 –> 00:16:44,919High achievers find it very, very difficult.30700:16:45,919 –> 00:16:48,500Your knowledge, your background,30800:16:48,500 –> 00:16:50,599your achievement, your goodness contribute30900:16:50,599 –> 00:16:54,020nothing to receiving the blessing of God.31000:16:55,760 –> 00:16:57,780You come to him as one who has nothing to give31100:16:57,780 –> 00:16:59,000and everything to receive.31200:16:59,000 –> 00:17:01,039Nothing in my hand I bring,31300:17:02,159 –> 00:17:03,979simply to thy cross I cling.31400:17:03,979 –> 00:17:07,680If you feel that God has put you in a position31500:17:07,680 –> 00:17:09,479where you feel that you have nothing,31600:17:10,640 –> 00:17:13,119and you’re just exactly in the place31700:17:13,119 –> 00:17:18,119where you can come and receive his blessing31800:17:18,119 –> 00:17:21,579in a whole new way in your own life.31900:17:23,119 –> 00:17:24,479And then here’s the last thing which I think32000:17:24,479 –> 00:17:26,099is just very, very wonderful.32100:17:26,099 –> 00:17:28,699And may God seal it on some hearts32200:17:28,699 –> 00:17:31,020especially today.32300:17:32,199 –> 00:17:35,000That Jesus imparts God’s blessing32400:17:35,000 –> 00:17:37,099on all who will come to him.32500:17:38,160 –> 00:17:42,099He took the children in his arms, verse 16,32600:17:42,099 –> 00:17:46,520and he put his hands on them, and he blessed them.32700:17:48,619 –> 00:17:50,540Now here’s what has really struck me32800:17:50,540 –> 00:17:52,619as I’ve just pondered and meditated32900:17:52,619 –> 00:17:54,780on this picture in the scriptures33000:17:54,780 –> 00:17:56,319over these last days.33100:17:57,560 –> 00:17:59,859We’ve seen that the situation was one of33200:17:59,859 –> 00:18:03,900great stress and tension33300:18:05,380 –> 00:18:09,359and conflict and difficulty.33400:18:10,359 –> 00:18:13,339Think of what has just happened in this house.33500:18:14,599 –> 00:18:17,260The disciples have rebuked the children,33600:18:19,300 –> 00:18:21,280the pushy parents are arguing back33700:18:21,280 –> 00:18:22,719and won’t take no for an answer.33800:18:22,719 –> 00:18:25,099So there’s an ugly scene going on at the door.33900:18:26,060 –> 00:18:29,339Jesus looks indignant at the disciples.34000:18:30,619 –> 00:18:32,719There’s conflict going on everywhere,34100:18:32,719 –> 00:18:35,599and you say what kind of blessing from God34200:18:35,599 –> 00:18:37,260could ever been on in this house?34300:18:37,599 –> 00:18:40,800And we read in verse 16 that He takes these children up34400:18:40,800 –> 00:18:44,180in His arms and places His hand upon them,34500:18:45,680 –> 00:18:46,780and He blesses them.34600:18:49,680 –> 00:18:52,579If everything has to be as you would want it to be34700:18:52,579 –> 00:18:55,060in your life, your home, your family.34800:18:56,859 –> 00:19:01,040If everything had to be as we would want it to be34900:19:01,040 –> 00:19:04,839in our lives, our homes, our families before God’s blessing35000:19:05,280 –> 00:19:09,660could come, then God’s blessing would be very, very scarce.35100:19:10,839 –> 00:19:11,680Right?35200:19:12,619 –> 00:19:14,819If you have a stress-free home,35300:19:14,819 –> 00:19:16,819come and have a word with me afterwards.35400:19:16,819 –> 00:19:18,260I love to meet you.35500:19:18,260 –> 00:19:19,260I love to meet you.35600:19:20,979 –> 00:19:22,660Did you see the incarnation is reminding us35700:19:22,660 –> 00:19:25,479that the Word became flesh,35800:19:26,640 –> 00:19:29,300it came in not to an idealized world,35900:19:30,180 –> 00:19:35,000but a painful world of difficult disciples,36000:19:36,900 –> 00:19:37,939pushy parents,36100:19:39,780 –> 00:19:41,099stressed marriages,36200:19:42,339 –> 00:19:43,660messy divorces.36300:19:45,939 –> 00:19:48,939If you can just try and think of the tension in the room36400:19:48,939 –> 00:19:50,420with all that’s gone on36500:19:51,500 –> 00:19:54,040and then see that Jesus picks up the child36600:19:54,040 –> 00:19:56,780and places his hand upon one child36700:19:56,780 –> 00:19:57,739and another and another36800:19:57,739 –> 00:19:58,859and he breaks.36900:19:59,579 –> 00:20:00,579He blesses them.37000:20:02,180 –> 00:20:03,459You will be greatly strengthened37100:20:03,459 –> 00:20:04,739and greatly encouraged37200:20:06,060 –> 00:20:08,900in the middle of all the chaos of your life37300:20:10,140 –> 00:20:11,500in the middle of all the tension37400:20:11,500 –> 00:20:14,819in the middle of all the frustrations37500:20:14,819 –> 00:20:16,760in the middle of all the letdowns37600:20:16,760 –> 00:20:20,900in the middle of all that has gone wrong37700:20:20,900 –> 00:20:22,859in these last moments in this house37800:20:22,859 –> 00:20:23,939where Jesus was37900:20:25,219 –> 00:20:26,060staying38000:20:26,859 –> 00:20:30,579he imparts his blessing38100:20:30,579 –> 00:20:33,939on all who come to him.38200:20:35,420 –> 00:20:37,959This is the good news of the incarnation, is it not?38300:20:37,959 –> 00:20:39,939The Word became flesh.38400:20:41,699 –> 00:20:45,680And in Jesus Christ, God has entered the real world38500:20:47,099 –> 00:20:48,739real world you’re living in38600:20:51,099 –> 00:20:52,979husbands, wives, parents, children38700:20:52,979 –> 00:20:55,459aunts, uncles, flesh and blood38800:20:55,459 –> 00:20:58,780and he has come to remove all the barriers38900:20:58,780 –> 00:21:02,180that would keep you from God’s blessing in your life.39000:21:03,660 –> 00:21:07,219He reaches out to you even now to clear them away39100:21:07,219 –> 00:21:08,319so that you may come.39200:21:10,540 –> 00:21:12,540He tells you how that blessing may be yours.39300:21:12,540 –> 00:21:13,739You’ve got to come as a child.39400:21:13,739 –> 00:21:16,739Not bringing some kind of a perfect life to offer him39500:21:16,739 –> 00:21:19,859not having achieved everything to place in his hands39600:21:19,859 –> 00:21:22,760but nothing in my hand I bring39700:21:22,760 –> 00:21:25,439simply to your cross I cling.39800:21:25,439 –> 00:21:28,859I come with nothing to offer and everything to receive.39900:21:30,520 –> 00:21:33,319And you don’t have to have everything sorted out40000:21:33,319 –> 00:21:37,439in your life, your family,40100:21:37,439 –> 00:21:42,199or your home in order to come to this Jesus40200:21:43,459 –> 00:21:46,119because he’s come into this world as it is40300:21:46,119 –> 00:21:48,020so that in all the stress40400:21:48,979 –> 00:21:51,020and in all the tension40500:21:52,400 –> 00:21:54,380and sometimes in all the disappointment40600:21:55,699 –> 00:21:59,359you may come to him today.40700:22:00,560 –> 00:22:02,900And if you can picture this being the reality40800:22:02,900 –> 00:22:05,859by his Holy Spirit, he will take you up in his arms40900:22:07,020 –> 00:22:08,739and through Jesus Christ,41000:22:08,739 –> 00:22:12,739the blessing of God will be yours.41100:22:13,739 –> 00:22:16,160Well, I hope you can say that the blessing of God41200:22:16,160 –> 00:22:17,500is yours today,41300:22:17,500 –> 00:22:19,880that you’ve come to Jesus and received41400:22:19,880 –> 00:22:23,560the free gift of salvation that he offers to you.41500:22:23,560 –> 00:22:25,099Today’s message is called,41600:22:25,099 –> 00:22:28,060Jesus Calls His People to Become Like Children.41700:22:28,060 –> 00:22:31,099It’s part of our series, The Gospel According to Jesus41800:22:31,099 –> 00:22:33,579and if you’ve missed any of the series so far41900:22:33,579 –> 00:22:35,500or if you want to go back and listen again,42000:22:35,500 –> 00:22:38,239you can do that by coming online to our website,42100:22:38,239 –> 00:22:41,040OpenTheBible.org.uk.42200:22:41,040 –> 00:22:44,859You can also find Pastor Colin’s teaching as a podcast42300:22:44,859 –> 00:22:46,800and those podcasts are available42400:22:47,040 –> 00:22:48,760on all the main podcast sites.42500:22:48,760 –> 00:22:50,800Search for Open the Bible UK42600:22:50,800 –> 00:22:53,959and subscribe to receive regular updates.42700:22:53,959 –> 00:22:57,780Also available on our website is Open The Bible Daily42800:22:57,780 –> 00:23:00,599and that’s a series of short two to three minutes42900:23:00,599 –> 00:23:03,640daily reflections based on Pastor Colin’s teaching43000:23:03,640 –> 00:23:06,199and read in the UK by Sue McLeish.43100:23:06,199 –> 00:23:08,939There’s a fresh one every day on our website43200:23:08,939 –> 00:23:10,660and as a podcast.43300:23:11,479 –> 00:23:14,780Open The Bible is a listener-supported ministry.43400:23:14,859 –> 00:23:17,859We’re able to make the program and podcast available43500:23:17,859 –> 00:23:20,699as well as all the things that happen behind the scenes43600:23:20,699 –> 00:23:22,959because of your financial support43700:23:22,959 –> 00:23:26,680so thank you for giving to and supporting the ministry.43800:23:26,680 –> 00:23:28,680If that’s something you haven’t done until now43900:23:28,680 –> 00:23:30,260but you’d like to begin44000:23:30,260 –> 00:23:33,579by setting up a direct debit of five pounds per month44100:23:33,579 –> 00:23:36,780or more or a one-off gift of 50 pounds,44200:23:36,780 –> 00:23:38,859you’ll not only be supporting the work44300:23:38,859 –> 00:23:40,699but also we’d like to say thank you44400:23:40,699 –> 00:23:44,099by sending you a copy of R.C. Sproul’s book44500:23:44,099 –> 00:23:48,180The Advent of Glory, 24 Devotions for Christmas.44600:23:48,180 –> 00:23:50,239Colin, some people will be so familiar44700:23:50,239 –> 00:23:53,260with The Christmas Story, we feel we know it so well,44800:23:53,260 –> 00:23:56,119so how would this book be beneficial?44900:23:56,119 –> 00:23:57,939Well, the challenge when we’re familiar45000:23:57,939 –> 00:24:00,380with The Christmas Story is that we can very easily45100:24:00,380 –> 00:24:02,020take it for granted.45200:24:02,020 –> 00:24:05,920And so what we need to do is to stop and to think45300:24:05,920 –> 00:24:08,579and to wonder and to worship.45400:24:08,579 –> 00:24:11,140And this devotional by R.C. Sproul45500:24:11,140 –> 00:24:14,699is just a marvelous help for being able to do that.45600:24:14,699 –> 00:24:18,420He’s picked out 24 words that are at the heart45700:24:18,420 –> 00:24:20,400of The Christmas Story, I mean, they’re words like45800:24:20,400 –> 00:24:23,560virgin, and mother, and Bethlehem, and king,45900:24:23,560 –> 00:24:26,339and room, and angel, and glory.46000:24:26,339 –> 00:24:29,479And he has just four pages on each of these.46100:24:29,479 –> 00:24:34,020There’s insight, so that the story comes fresh to you.46200:24:34,020 –> 00:24:37,640It’s an absolute delight and it will be a gift,46300:24:37,680 –> 00:24:41,500I think, for anyone to use in preparation for Christmas.46400:24:41,500 –> 00:24:44,319Well, we’d love to send you a copy of R.C. Sproul’s book,46500:24:44,319 –> 00:24:46,420The Advent of Glory, to say thank you46600:24:46,420 –> 00:24:48,300for setting up a new direct debit46700:24:48,300 –> 00:24:50,000to the work of Open the Bible46800:24:50,000 –> 00:24:52,199for five pounds per month or more,46900:24:52,199 –> 00:24:54,579or a one off gift of 50 pounds.47000:24:54,579 –> 00:24:58,000Full details and terms and conditions are on our website,47100:24:58,000 –> 00:25:01,959that’s openthebible.org.UK, and you can give online.47200:25:02,839 –> 00:25:04,959For Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith,47300:25:04,959 –> 00:25:06,640I’m David Pick, and I hope you’ll be able47400:25:07,000 –> 00:25:09,160to join us again next time.47500:25:09,160 –> 00:25:11,579How do you measure goodness?47600:25:17,239 –> 00:25:20,219More importantly, how does God measure it?47700:25:20,219 –> 00:25:22,839Find out next time on Open the Bible.