HOFC Sermon Archive

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SERMON TIMELINE

10. Jesus Cleanses the Leper

11. Jesus Heals the Paralytic

12. Jesus and the Tax Collector

13. Jesus Questioned About Fasting

14. Of Wine and Wineskins

15. Jesus, Lord of the Sabbath & Resurrection Sunday 2025

16. Hard Hearts and Hard Thoughts

17. Three Responses to Jesus

18. Jesus Appoints the Apostles

19. The Family of Jesus

20. The Unforgivable Sin

21. The True Family of Jesus

22. Parable of the Four Soils

23. How Well Do You Listen

24. Parable of the Growing Seed

25. Parable of the Mustard Seed

26. Benefits of Private Teaching

27. Jesus Calms the Storm

28. Who is Afraid of Jesus?

29. The Touch of Jesus

30. When Familiarity Breeds Contempt

31. Principles of Evangelism

32. Weakness in the Seat of Power

33. The Need for Rest

34. Feeding 5000

35. Jesus Walks on Water

36. Healings at Gennesaret

37. The Danger of Traditions

38. The Source of True Defilement

39. Gentile Blessed for Her Faith

40. He Has Done All Things Well

41. Jesus Feeds 4000

42. Jesus Sighs

43. Beware of Leaven

44. The Blind Man at Bethsaida

45. Who Do You Say That Jesus Is?

46. Mindful of the Things of God

47. The Cost of Discipleship

48. The Value of a Soul

49. Ashamed of Jesus and His Word

50. The Transfiguration

51. The Disciples ask Questions

52. The Unclean Spirit

53. The Way to Greatness

54. Principles of Discipleship

55. God Hates Divorce

56. Jesus Blesses Children

INTRODUCTION

Last week, we read about Jesus teaching on the sanctity of marriage and how it is an institution ordained by God, and a bond that no man should break. We also talked about how marriage itself is symbolic of the relationship between Christ and the Church, and a few other reasons Satan continually attacks biblical marriage and the home.

Jesus began to be known throughout the land, and people would show up to where He would be for teachings, healings, to be blessed, and, as we will read today, to have their children blessed by Him.

We were discussing baptism last week in Monday night discipleship class, and one of the things we looked at is how there is no such thing as child baptism, especially infant, because of the biblical requirements of baptism, which is Faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 8:12), and repentance from sin (Acts 2:38). A child or infant cannot Confess Jesus Christ as it states to do in Acts 8:37.

Paul states in Romans 10:9 “…if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;”

But what we do see in Scripture as appropriate for infants and young children is blessing, often practiced today as child dedication, a practice observed by many Bible-believing Christians.

In today’s reading, we see “they were bringing children to Him so that He might touch them,” which is the laying on of hands and prayer. A blessing.

We read another description of this event in Matthew 19:13 “Then some children were brought to Him so that He might lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them.”

We have a scene that begins with the disciples, once more, appearing to think they are perhaps better than others, maybe a little arrogant. It was not many verses before this when they failed to cast out demons because they relied on their own ability instead of praying to the Lord, and after being rebuked by Jesus for their lack of faith, they immediately began arguing during their travels to Capernaum about who was the greatest among them, and Jesus once more straightened them out.

Today, we have our reading begin with the disciples preventing believers from approaching Jesus with children, and the scripture saying Jesus “became indignant.”

What is translated to indignant (ἠγανάκτησεν (ēganaktēsen)) comes from a Greek root word meaning “to be greatly afflicted.” It communicates moral displeasure or righteous anger provoked by something inappropriate. Most modern translations use this term because it preserves the ethical tone of the Greek.

The disciples were rebuking people who were bringing children to Jesus. Their behavior misrepresented His heart toward the weak and dependent. Jesus’ response was not mere sadness but a morally charged rebuke.

I. PARENTS BRINGING THEIR LITTLE CHILDREN

a. They were trying to reach the Lord

i. We see in scripture many times Jesus acts in righteous anger

1. Mark 3:5 The hard hearts of the Synagogue

2. Matthew 21:12-13 Cleansing the Temple

3. As well as today’s verses

ii. And we see Jesus angry whenever anyone comes between God and His people

1. Woe against the leaders who shut the Kingdom (Matthew 23:13)

2. Condemning religious hypocrisy (Matthew 12:27-28)

3. Rebuking those who burden the people trying to come to God (Matthew 23:4)

4. Condemning the corrupt religious leadership (Matthew 16:6)

5. And don’t get me started on false teachers.

iii. The Greek word for children (paidia) used in Mark’s account can mean kids up to 12 years old. Luke uses the Greek word for infant (brephos), so it’s likely many were children of all ages present, but the specific incident took place with either a child under 12 or an infant, accounting for the two differing descriptions.

1. In Mark 10:15 we see Jesus “He took them in His arms, and began blessing them,” suggesting it was an infant.

b. The Disciples rebuking the parents.

i. For whatever reason, perhaps thinking the Lord was too important or busy for children, or that children were insignificant?

ii. Culturally speaking, in the ancient Mediterranean world, including Jewish society, children were considered dependents under authority, and not as individuals.

iii. They had no voice in public life.

iv. They were considered and symbolized as lowly, vulnerable, and the opposite of those who had honor or power.

v. Though culture considered them insignificant, Jesus reversed the expectations and stated, “Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”

1. Children and their innocence, as well as their faith and trust, symbolize what you need to enter the kingdom of God…else you will not enter at all.

2. Puts a new perspective on a society and culture that does not revere infants and children?

3. The killing of infants and children, whom Jesus Himself used as the illustration of the humility and dependence required to enter the kingdom of God, stands as a direct violation of God’s regard for life and a rejection of the very thing Christ said is necessary for entering His kingdom.

4. This brings understanding and places abortion in a new light, as a Satanic assault against Christ.

c. Jesus rebukes the disciples.

i. One must receive the kingdom “as a little child” to enter it.

ii. Jesus then takes the child, lays His hands on them, and blesses them. He prayed for them.

iii. Though busy and in the middle of ministry, Jesus takes the time to meet with parents and bless their children!

II. THE APPLICATION

a. If we use eisegesis

i. We can misuse these scriptures to support infant baptism

1. Which appears in early 200 A.D.

2. It began after the doctrine of “original sin” was developed, which states that infants are born with sin.

ii. The doctrine of original sin is not found in scripture.

iii. The bible teaches that each person is responsible for their own sin.

1. Ezekiel 18:20 “The soul who sins will die. The son will not bear the iniquity of the father, nor will the father bear the iniquity of the son; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself.”

iv. There is no command or example in scripture that infants inherit guilt from Adam; sin is a personal choice, not a transmitted legal curse.

b. Infant baptism in scripture

i. None

ii. Baptism requires faith and repentance, of which infants are incapable

1. Mark 16:16

2. Acts 8:37

3. Acts 2:38

c. Looking at the scripture through exegesis

i. Receiving the kingdom of God

1. Jesus teaches that the qualities of a child are needed to enter

2. Childlike virtues

a. Trust

b. Simplicity

c. Unassuming humility

d. Psalm 131:1-2

ii. To receive the kingdom, we must be “poor in spirit, meek.”

1. Matthew 5:3, 5

2. Matthew 18:3-4

iii. By receiving the children, Jesus demonstrates His love for children and willingness to take time for them.

iv. His disciples and followers should do the same

v. Are we being good role models to children?

vi. Matthew 18:6, 10

CONCLUSION

Therefore, we must receive the kingdom of God like little children with childlike trust and humility.

We will continue to offer child dedication at The House of Faith Church, to pray for the children, lay hands on them, and bless them in the name of Jesus.

We need to continuously pray for them and encourage them!

We also need to do all we can to put an end to the Baal worship, anti-Christ sacrificing of children through abortion. Pray for those who have been manipulated into abortion when they sought help, pray for those who have had abortions, so they know there is forgiveness and healing through Christ Jesus, and let everyone who believes in the false teaching of original sin, God does not send their little children who pass away to hell for eternity, as the Lord says, “for as such is the kingdom of God.”

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Thursday, March 12, 2026

Gospel of Mark Part 56: Jesus Blesses Children