( Mark 10, 2-9 (10-12) 13-16 ) - [ Deutsch ]
“People need families – children need parents.”
Sermon text: Mark 10, 2-9 (10-12) 13-16
I want to take you with me into the crowds of people who gathered around Jesus to hear about him. Imagine yourself standing in the middle of the events surrounding Jesus, in the middle of his listeners.
And you see: some Pharisees appear right in front of you.
“Is divorce allowed?” asks one of the Pharisees.
Jesus asks back: “What did Moses command you?”
The Pharisees answered that he allowed it.
“Yes, because of the hardness of your hearts he wrote you this law.” said Jesus; “But from the beginning of creation God created them male and female. Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother, and the two shall become one flesh. What God has joined together, let man not separate.”
What might the others have thought when they heard Jesus' answer? And how do we feel about his answer? Aggravation? Uncertainty? Feelings of guilt? Confirmation?
Even in the story of John 8, Jesus does not trivialize the guilt of the adulteress. He knows her guilt. Just as he knows about the guilt of other people: “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.”
I'm sure his answer was and will be taken very differently.
Jesus is repeatedly tested by the Pharisees.
However, in doing so, they offered him the opportunity to affirm that God created human beings and what God has ordained for human beings regarding marriage.
But suddenly everyone present is interrupted. Parents with children push forward to Jesus.
They too have heard a lot about him, his loving speech about God and his power. Now they want to go to Jesus so that he can bless their children.
But before they can get close to him, some of the disciples step in front of them and build themselves up in front of them like a protective wall. “What do you want?” they ask defensively. Don’t you see that we are dealing with serious problems here and discussing issues that are crucial for the future, and you come here with children and disturb us.” Jesus has more important things to do than take care of you! Anyway,.your children won’t be able to understand what Jesus has to say.”
“We wish that Jesus would bless our children,” the parents answer timidly.
Jesus suddenly stopped talking.
He looks at his disciples and is irritated. The atmosphere has changed.
Jesus becomes angry and sad at the same time. He approaches the disciples and the parents with their children calmly, but also with determination. Finally he says to his disciples: “What are you doing? Don't you understand anything?
A few hours ago I discussed marriage and divorce with the pharisees in front of your eyes and ears. I tried to make it clear to them and to you that all people have a share in the kingdom of God.”
Your hearts are as hard as theirs. You have a heart of stone, like all the people who think they are something better.
Look at the children.
Unless you become like children, you cannot participate in the kingdom of God.
What does that mean: Only if you become like children can you have a share in the kingdom of God?
Jesus senses the lack of understanding. He turns around and explains:
“Parents love their children, not because they do everything right, but for their own sake. And children trust this love.
Watch as they fall asleep in their mother's arms or jump to meet their father when he comes home.
Children are role models when it comes to trust.
They blindly trust the love of their parents, grandparents or even their siblings.
In the same way, God loves us for our own sake, and not just when we please him. He loves us without preconditions.
And he opens his arms when we want to jump to him and tell him what is in our hearts and what is bothering us.
Trust in God like a child.
Seek closeness to him – without fear.
We can learn that from the children.
Simply exist before God.
Sit down, lean on him and be silent.
It's so uncomplicated, child-like and easy to believe.
The world belongs in the hands of children.
And after Jesus has said all this, he turns around, goes to the children, takes them in his arms, hugs them and blesses them. He turns to the children. He once again breaks with all distance and also with the social conventions of his time.
At this moment, both the disciples and those listening to his speeches realize that something great is happening. At this moment Jesus opens up a very personal relationship with God to the children. He lets them feel his closeness, love and affection.
The kingdom of heaven belongs to those who are like these children.”
Jesus makes it clear here: The entire message also applies to children. The message of Jesus is such, that children can easily understand it, because it is simple.
Children are important people, full-fledged, equal, special creatures of God who can become role models for us
Jesus loves children - there is no doubt about it. Of course, this also includes disabled or sick children. Even if they are sometimes rejected by society: with Jesus they are exactly in the right place. We can say: Every child is worth living, yes, lovable!
For Jesus, children are just as important as adults. Children can even be role models for adults.
The following applies to our own behavior towards children: If God's love is in us, this must also be evident in our behavior towards them.
Kurt Marti (born 1921), a Swiss theologian and writer, wrote the following:
birth
I was not asked when I was conceived
and those who fathered me were not asked when they conceived me.
No one was asked except one and he said: Yes.
I wasn't asked when I was born
and she who gave birth to me was not asked about her birth either.
No one was asked except one and he said: Yes.
Amen