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Heaven Belongs to Children

From there He went into the area of Judea beyond the Jordan [Perea].  Crowds gathered around Him again, and He taught them again, just as He had before.

Then some Pharisees came to test Him, asking Him if the Law [of Moses] allows a man to divorce his wife.  But He responded to them by asking, “What command did Moses give you?”

So they said, “Moses allowed a certificate of divorce to be written, and to divorce.”

 Jesus said, “Because of the hardness of your hearts he wrote this command for you.  But from the beginning of creation ‘male and female He made them... For this reason a man will leave his father and mother, and will be joined to his wife, and the two will merge into one flesh, so that no longer are they two, but one flesh.’  For this reason, let no one divide what God has joined together.”

Inside the house His disciples asked Him again about the same thing.  So He told them, “Whoever divorces his wife, and marries another, commits adultery with her.  And if a woman divorces her husband and then marries another man, she commits adultery.”

The people brought their young children to Him, for Him to touch them.  But the disciples tried to keep them from bringing the children.  When Jesus saw this, it made Him angry, and He told them, “Let the children come to Me!  Don’t stand in their way.  Because God’s kingdom is made up of children just like these.

“I tell you this truth: Anyone who does not receive God’s kingdom like a small child, will never enter it.”  Then He took the children in His arms and, placing His hands on them, He blessed them.

When He walked out onto the road, a man ran up to Him.  Getting down on his knees, the man asked Him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

But Jesus asked him, “Why do you call Me good?  No one is good but the one God.  You know the commands: “You shall not commit adultery. You shall not murder. You shall not steal.  You shall not give false testimony. You shall not cheat.  Honor your father and your mother...”

The man said, “Teacher, I’ve kept all of these since I was a boy.”

Then Jesus looked at him, and loved him. He said, “You still lack one thing.  Go and sell whatever you own.  Give  the money to the poor, so you will have treasure in Heaven.  Then come, take up the cross and follow Me.”

At these words the man’s heart fell, because he owned many possessions.  And he went away very sad.  Then Jesus turned and looked at His disciples and said, “How very difficult it is for the wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!”  And the disciples were shocked and confused by His words.

But again Jesus said, “Children, how hard it is for people who trust in money  to enter into the kingdom of God!  It’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a wealthy person to enter into God’s kingdom.”

Now the disciples were even more perplexed, asking among themselves, “Then who is able to be saved?”

Jesus looked at them and said, “For human beings, it is impossible, but not with God.  For with God all things are possible.”

Then Peter began saying to Him, “Look, we’ve left everything behind.  And we’ve followed You...”

But Jesus spoke up, “I tell you the truth.  Anyone who has left behind a house, or brothers, or sisters, or a father, or a mother, or a wife, or children, or fields, for Me, and for the Gospel, will receive a hundred times — here and now — houses and brothers, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and fields, along with the persecutions.  And in the age to come, they will receive life eternal.  But many who are on top now will end up on the bottom.  And those way in the back now will be moved to the front.” 

The Son of Timaeus

They were on the road, the one that leads up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was out front, leading the way.  The disciples were confused and frightened as they followed along.  So He brought the twelve in close again, and began explaining to them the things about to happen to Him, “Listen, we’re going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be turned over to the head priests and Scribes.  And they will condemn Him to death, and will hand Him over to the pagans.  They will mock Him, and beat Him with the whip, and spit on Him.  And they will kill Him.  Then He will rise again on the third day.”

Now Zebedee’s sons, James and John, approached Him, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we may ask.”

He said, “What do you want Me to do for you?”

And they said, “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right, and one on Your left, in Your glory.”

Then Jesus said, “You don’t know what you’re asking.  Can you drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism I’m baptized with?”

And they said to Him, “We can.”

But Jesus said, “Yes, you will drink the cup which I drink.  And you will be plunged into the baptism into which I Myself am immersed.  But to sit on My right and on My left is not mine to give, but is for whom it has been prepared.”

Now the other ten heard this and were angry with James and John.  But calling them near, Jesus told them, “You know that those acknowledged as rulers of the pagan nations are exalted above the people, and whoever is great among them exercises authority over the rest.  But that’s not how it will be among you.  Instead, whoever seeks to become great among you, shall be your servant.  And whoever among you wants to be a leader, he will be every-one’s slave.  Even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Then they came to Jericho.  And as He and the disciples were going out of Jericho, a large crowd of people walked along with them.

A blind man named Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) sat beside the road, begging.  Now when he heard that this was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to shout, saying, “Jesus!  Son of David!  Have mercy on me!”   A lot of people yelled at him, telling him to shut up.  But he shouted even more, and louder, “Son of David!  Have mercy on me!”

Jesus stopped and asked for him to be called.  So the people called to the blind man, saying, “It’s alright!  Get up, He’s calling for you.”

Then Bartimaeus threw his robe to one side, jumped up, and went to Jesus.

Jesus spoke to him, asking, “What do you want Me to do for you?”

And the blind man said, “My Lord, I want to see again.”

Jesus told him, “Go your way. Your faith has healed you.”  Instantly, Bartimaeus could see again.  And he followed Jesus on the road.