Jesus and the Children

Mark
Written By Steve Estes

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Speaker: Steve Estes
Scripture: Mark 10:13-16
May 11, 2025

Sermon Notes

Mark 10:13-16, NIV: “People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.”

Mark 10:13-16, ESV: “And they were bringing little children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.”

Outline:

1. The story

  • The setting is unclear

  • What age were these children?

  • Why were the disciples rebuked?

2. Jesus rebuked disciples who kept children from Him

  • Parents become angry when they think their child has been wronged

  • How might adults today hinder children from coming to Jesus?

  • Jesus praises parents who do the opposite

3. Jesus blessed the children who were brought to Him

  • Consider what it means to bless someone

  • What sort of blessing were the parents seeking?

  • Consider the manner in which Jesus blessed them

  • What exactly was the result?

4. Accepting the kingdom of God like a little child

  • What Jesus doesn’t mean

  • What Jesus does mean

Steve Estes

Steve Estes has been senior pastor at Brick Lane Community Church in Elverson, Pennsylvania, for over thirty-five years. 

Steve’s books and other writings began with his longtime friendship with Joni Eareckson Tada. As teenagers, they grappled with why God allowed Joni’s paralysis in a swimming accident in the Chesapeake Bay. Steve left for college . . . they kept in touch . . . she liked the style of his letters. When her 1976 autobiography Joni spawned thousands of reader responses, she asked Steve to join her in crafting a follow-up. The result was A Step Further in 1978.

Later, Wycliffe Bible Translators commissioned Steve to write the biography of former college friend Chet Bitterman, a Wycliffe linguist who was kidnapped and murdered by political terrorists in Colombia in 1981. Other books and articles followed, including When God Weeps (with Joni) and A Better December (a giveaway book for non-Christian friends at Christmas.)

Steve was educated at Westminster Theological Seminary, Columbia Bible College and Jerusalem University College in Israel. He has taught homiletics at Westminster and is a board member of the Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation.

But Steve would say his most significant life achievement was persuading college classmate Verna Stoltzfus to marry him in 1974.  They now have eight children and more grandchildren than can fit in a van.

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