Letters From Grandpa #583

• LETTERS FROM GRANDPA
• 583

Dearest grandchild,

Today’s letter will be about becoming like a little child. Please consider: “At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:1-4)

Perhaps a little context will help us to focus on these words. Jesus had recently been on the Mount of Transfiguration with Peter, James, and John. This story was so important that it recorded three times in the Bible (Matthew 17, Mark 9, and Luke 9). Peter was so awed by the experience that it alone convinced him he was not following cleverly invented stories (2 Peter 1:16-18). Combining all three accounts we can clearly see why the disciples were arguing among themselves about who was the greatest.

• Coming down from the mountain Jesus forbade Peter, James, and John from telling anyone about their experience until after Jesus was raised from the dead (Matthew 17:9).
• This was obviously offensive to the curiosity of the other nine disciples.
• Further, the other nine were also embarrassed because they had just failed to heal a boy who was demon possessed from childhood (Mark 9:14-28).
• 2 Samuel 23:8-39 lists 37 mighty men who were followers of David. All of them were fierce warriors. The
• 1 warrior was Josheb-Basshebeth who killed 800 men in one encounter.
• When they came to Capernaum Jesus asked them: “What were you arguing about on the road?” But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.” (Mark 9:33-34)
• Jesus, the Son of David, was establishing a totally different kind of kingdom than David did! Jesus told the twelve that unless they changed their minds about greatness they wouldn’t even a part of this Kingdom.
• Against all human wisdom, in order to be great in the Kingdom of Christ they would have to become like little children (Matthew 18:1-6; Mark 9:35-37; Luke 9:46-48).

Elton Trueblood wrote about this and explained: “Our religion is one which challenges the ordinary human standards by holding that the ideal of life is the spirit of a little child. We tend to glorify adulthood and wisdom and worldly prudence, but the gospel reverses all this. The gospel says that the inescapable condition of entrance into the divine fellowship is that we turn and become as a little child. As against our natural judgment we must become tender and full of wonder and unspoiled by the hard skepticism on which we so often pride ourselves. But when we really look into the heart of a child, willful as he may be, we are often ashamed. God has sent children into the world, not only to replenish it, but to serve as sacred reminders of something ineffably precious which we are always in danger of losing. The sacrament of childhood is thus a continuing revelation.”

To emphasize this truth Jesus even rebuked His disciples for not honoring little babies: “People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell

you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” (Luke 18:5-17)

Humorist Erma Bombeck provides insight into the wonder of childhood with these poignant words: “In church the other Sunday I was intent on a small child who was turning around smiling at everyone. He wasn’t gurgling, spitting, humming, kicking, tearing the hymnals or rummaging through his mother’s handbag. He was just smiling. Finally, his mother jerked him about and in a stage whisper that could be heard in a little theater off Broadway and said, “Stop that grinning! You’re in church!” With that, she gave him a belt on his hind side and as the tears rolled down his cheeks she added, “That’s better,” and returned to her prayers. Suddenly I was angry. It occurred to me the entire world is in tears and if you’re not, then you’d better get with it. I wanted to grab this child with the tear- stained face close to me and tell him about my God. The happy God. The smiling God. The God who had to have a sense of humor to have created the likes of us. I wanted to tell him he is an understanding God who understands little children who pick their noses in church because they are bored. I wanted to tell him I’ve taken a few lumps in my time for daring to smile at religion. It isn’t a sin to smile. It isn’t a sin to be happy. It isn’t a sin to have joy…even when those around you don’t! Some may say that church isn’t the place to smile. I can think of none better.”

Isaiah looked into the future and by inspiration predicted a time when “The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.” (Isaiah 11:6) Please give serious consideration to these words for statisticians tell us that 83% of people who become Christians do so before the age of 18. After that, pride becomes so dominant that child like humility seems offensive and is extremely rare. How sad! Please don’t let pride rob you of eternal life for “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

I love you,

Grandpa Boyce