Access to C-Suites
Some folks just have a special way to connect with those who have power and influence. They know exactly who to talk to to gain access to C-Suites and the high level executives who work there.
Let’s face it, most of us don’t even know the building where the big wigs work much less what floor they’re on. But certain people have the ability to walk right in and sit right down with those in power.
Unlocking the Heavenly Corner Office
Did you know that Jesus gives His disciples the access code to unlock the heavenly corner office? I mean, it really doesn’t get any better than that! And, get this…the one who will take us there isn’t exactly a member of the board or even an administrative assistant.
In Mark’s Gospel, Christ gives a great big hug to a small little child and tells His team that this is how it’s done (Mk 9:36-37). If we will open our arms, our lives, and our hearts to those society shuts out, we suddenly gain unlimited access to just to our Savior but our Heavenly Father as well.
A Crazy Few Days
Before we dive into the specific scene, let’s zoom out just a bit for a little context. Jesus and His team have just arrived back at the headquarters of their Galilean ministry in Capernaum (Mk 9:33). It’s been a rather crazy few days to say the least.
If you’ve been following along in the first few chapters of John Mark’s bio of the Lord, you know there’s no lack of speculation about the true identity of the radical Rabbi/Carpenter from Nazareth. Who is He really?!?
A Non-Stop Miracle Machine
It all begins with the other two Members of the Trinity crashing the Son of God’s baptism in the Jordan River by His weird cousin John. That’s when a Voice from above announces, “You are My dearly loved Son, and You bring Me great joy!” (Mk 1:11).
Despite that ultimate attaboy, folks can’t figure out who He is. One thing they know for sure, He’s a non-stop miracle machine. Jesus regularly kicks demons to the curb, heals the sick and injured, and even brings dead people back to life!
Working Outside the Rules
While His popularity is blowing up in Galilee, the Jewish establishment sees Him as a clear and present danger. Our Savior regularly works outside their religious rules without approval from the Hebrew home office.
Jewish leaders actually believe the Lord gets His miraculous power straight from the pit of hell (Mk 3:22). It’s not long before they plan to eliminate their Jesus problem once and for all (Mk 3:6).
A Growing Scandal
The Lord has a ton of trouble convincing those who knew Him growing up who He really is. Folks in His own hometown are actually embarrassed by what they see as the growing scandal surrounding Joe and Mary’s oldest Boy (Mk 6:3).
Even His mom and siblings think our Savior is mentally unstable and is a danger to Himself and others (Mk 3:21). And you think your family puts the funk in dysfunction!
The Original Dirty Dozen
Along the way, the Son of God assembles a rag tag team of misfits and outcasts (Mk 3:13-19). Call them the original Dirty Dozen. Believe it or not, over the next three-and-a-half years He’s going to train them to change the entire world with His amazing message of grace.
Even when the Twelve have box seats for all sorts of miracles, they can’t wrap their brains around who He is. Like the time when the Son of God and the boys are caught in a nasty storm in a boat on the lake. After He instantly shuts down the squall with just the sound of His voice, they wonder “Who is this Man?” (Mk 4:41).
Putting the Pieces Together
That all changes when Peter puts the pieces of the puzzle together and announces, “You are the Messiah” (Mk 9:29). Jesus then goes on to fill the guys in on what’s about to go down. Rejection, betrayal, murder, and resurrection (Mk 8:31; 9:31). Don’t miss the resurrection part.
God’s View of Greatness
After coming home to Capernaum, He teaches His team a lesson on true greatness. In the Christ’s kingdom, things are upside down. Last in line is actually the front and lowly servants sit at the top of the org chart (Mk 9:35).
Which brings us to unexpected key to unlock access to the heavenly throne room. Jesus follows His up-is-down-first-is-last statement with a very practical example. “Then He put a little child among them” (v36).
Christ and the Little Kid
Mark describes the little kid that Christ puts front and center with the Greek word παιδιον/paidion. It’s actually a modified form of the term for child which usually means a baby or toddler.
This is no pesky middle schooler. In the original language, “little child” paints a picture of a kid well before puberty or someone who’s immature and still has a lot of growing to do. It’s also a term of endearment and parental affection.
One of Pete’s Kids?
So just who is this munchkin? Earlier in his bio of Jesus, Mark tells us how the Lord spends a good deal of time at Peter’s house in Capernaum (Mk 1:29). Throw in the fact that early believers were convinced Pete is the source of the info in the second Gospel. So could this be one of Pete’s kids?
Some denominations believe this toddler eventually grows up to be St. Ignatius, one of the first leaders of the church in Antioch in Syria. Whoever it is, Mark doesn’t tell us for sure. As a matter of fact, we don’t even know if it’s a boy or a girl.
A Hug from Jesus
But Jesus doesn’t just coldly set this little one in the middle of the living room and let everyone stare at them. The next thing you know, He’s “taking the child in His arms” (v36).
I absolutely LOVE the word the author chooses to paint the picture of this scene. He specifically selects εναγκαλιζομαι/enagkalizomai. It’s a compound verb which literally means to place someone or something into the crook of your arms.
Christ wraps His loving arms around this toddler and gives them a big hug. The Message melts your heart with it’s take of the same moment. We see the Lord “cradling the little one in His arms” (v36 The Message).
A Group Hug from the Son of God
The only other place we find this word anywhere else in Scripture is a little later in this same Gospel. When some moms and dads let their kids start climbing all over Christ, the disciples get their undies in a bundle. How dare these folks let their rug rats distract the Rabbi/Carpenter!
Instead of chasing them away, the Son of God scoops them up for a group hug. “Then He took the children in His arms (Gr. εναγκαλιζομαι/enagkalizomai) and placed His hands on their heads and blessed them” (Mk 10:16).
It’s just like that song a lot of us sang in Sunday School back in the day. “Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world.” There’s no doubt about the fact that kids have a special place in the heart of Christ.
The Disenfranchised and Underserved
But in the NIV Commentary of Mark, David Garland says the Lord’s point isn’t so much about how we should have some romanticized picture of children. We need to know that kids had zero status, power, or rights in First Century culture.
Christ is actually using this child to open His disciples’ eyes to the disenfranchised and underserved members of society. In those days, as it is in many places around the world today, kids are totally dependent on others, entirely vulnerable, and subject to their parents…especially their fathers.
Made in His Image
Our Savior selects a little one to represent those who are needy and lonely. He encourages us to seek greatness in God’s eyes by serving those who society sees as insignificant.
We need to see every single human being as having incredible value. God has created every single person we meet in His image (Gen 1:26-27). And His Son came on His amazing rescue mission to save each person we lock eyes with (Jn 3:16).
The Destitute, Deprived, and Disadvantaged
An English preacher named John Gill backs that up. He says Jesus wants us to know that He’s not just talking about how we treat children. We should show honor and respect to those whom society sees as worthless.
Gill cuts to the chase. Do you belong to Christ? Are you one of His? Do you bear His image? Are you on the business end of His grace? Are you loved by Him? If you check these boxes, then you have the privilege of loving and serving the destitute, deprived, and disadvantaged on His behalf.
Beggars Who’ve Found the Bread
Take a look around. Who does the vast majority of your community reject and ignore? Immigrants? Refugees? Convicts? Seniors in nursing homes? Single moms? The homeless? Custodians? The working poor? The mentally ill? Addicts? Do we need to go on? There are plenty to choose from.
Jesus wants His followers to open their eyes to those the rest of society chooses to not see. But let’s be careful not to get to full of ourselves when we serve folks in those situations. As someone once told me, we’re just beggars who’ve figured out where to get the Bread.
Welcome, Welcome, Welcome, Welcome
Meanwhile back in that crowded living room in Capernaum, Jesus explains the amazing consequences of what happens when we follow His example. “Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on My behalf welcomes Me, and anyone who welcomes Me not only welcomes Me but also My Father who sent Me” (v37).
I may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but it seems to me that Christ doesn’t want us to miss this idea of welcoming. I mean, He uses it not once, not twice, not thrice (that may be the first time I’ve ever typed “thrice” in my life), but a grand total of four times!
Opening Our Arms
Mind if we dive into the original Greek one more time? Okay, here we go. The word the ESV translates as “welcomes” (Gr. δεχομαι/dechomai) means to receive with open arms, take by the hand, greet with great hospitality, entertain, or accept.
Open arms. Grabbing by the hand. Just like Jesus has just hugged the little child, notice how there’s a physical aspect to this as well? That’s because they’re a whole lot more than warm, fuzzy feelings.
Mi Casa Es Su Casa
Love must be expressed. Just like the tune by Extreme, it’s more than words. Or as Olivia Newton John sings, let’s get physical. And I do love the title of Bob Goff’s book, “Love Does.”
Δεχομαι/dechomai focuses the attention on the one being welcomed and includes an attitude of friendliness and warmth. Picture sitting at home and hearing the door bell. When you open the front door, you see one of your favorite people on the planet. Make yourself at home! Mi casa es su casa.
Get Outside Our Comfort Zone
That’s why the Message puts Jesus’ words like this. “Whoever embraces one of these children as I do embraces Me, and far more than Me—God who sent Me” (v37 The Message). There’s something about pulling someone close and making contact.
Yeah, I know. Not everybody’s a hugger like me. But Jesus is challenging us to get outside our comfort zone in so many ways. Start with a handshake. Maybe a high five. Try a fist bump. Go on. I dare you.
Repping Jesus
Don’t miss Jesus’ three little words in this verse, “on My behalf” (v37). They’re key to His command here. Just about every other translation reads “in My name.” Anything we do on His behalf is done as His rep. It’s when we act as Christ’s hands and feet.
This is when our actions aren’t for our own best interests. We’re NOT manipulating the situation for what we can get out of it. It’s the classic “me third” attitude. Acting on Jesus’ behalf is when I put God first, others second, and me.
An Act of Worship
We do this because of all that He’s done for you and me. He lived the perfect life that I’ve failed to live. He died the death for my sin and rebellion that I should have died. He rose to a glorious new life that I certainly don’t deserve.
In other words, we can turn every moment of our lives into an act of worship for all He’s done for us. In a letter to believers in Colossae, a man named Paul says we’re to rep our Savior with everything we do. “And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father” (Col 3:17).
Unlocking Divine Access
When we open our arms, our lives, and our hearts to those who can’t do anything for us, something crazy happens. Something amazing. Something supernatural. Jesus says that sort of hospitality as His rep unlocks divine access.
Christ connects the dots on what happens when we open our lives to the forgotten and irrelevant. When someone does, they “welcome Me, and anyone who welcome Me welcomes not only Me but also My Father who sent Me” (v37).
A Package Deal
It’s a package deal. When we welcome children or anyone else on the outside looking in with open arms, they’re not the only ones. We’re also entering into a deeper relationship with Jesus and His Dad.
Our Savior says something very similar during a debrief of His disciples after sending them out on one of their first missions without Him. “Anyone who receives (Gr. δεχομαι/dechomai) you receives (Gr. δεχομαι/dechomai) Me, and anyone who receives (Gr. δεχομαι/dechomai) Me receives (Gr. δεχομαι/dechomai) the Father who sent Me” (Mt 10:40).
The Least of These
Just a couple of days before His betrayal and murder, the Lord makes the same point to the Twelve. He says something very special happens anytime we give a drink to someone thirsty, provide clothing to someone who has nothing to wear, open our home to a stranger, or visit someone behind bars (Mt 25:34-39).
Christ reveals that these acts of grace are actually moments of worship. “I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these My brothers and sisters, you were doing it to Me!” (Mt 25:40).
We Call It “Networking”
How often do we look to buddy up to somebody important, somebody with power and influence? We like to call it “networking.” But it’s just a nice way of saying I’m building relationships with the people who can do something for me.
Jesus wants His followers to turn that upside down. Instead of the rich and powerful, He calls us to throw the doors of our lives open to those who can’t do a darn thing for us. Instead, let’s take a look around see who needs our help? How can we use our position and leverage to give someone a hand up?
A Hug from God
You want a deeper relationship with the Son of God? You want more of the Heavenly Father in your life? The access code is quite simple really. Welcome the unwelcomed. Receive the snubbed. Embrace the ingored.
If you want a hug from God, it’s really as easy as hugging a child.
©2018
Jay Jennings
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