TURN and become like Little children

As we know, all of us will have to stand before Jesus one day.

If Jesus were to ask you “Why should I let you enter into Heaven?”

What will your answer be?

Common answers perhaps as follows:

• I believe I am good enough
• I have done my best to my abilities
• I have done lots of good works

And if Jesus were to reply and says” Well, they are all good answers but NO, you cannot enter.  That is not the correct answer that I am looking for.”

Will Jesus response stunt you? 

Of course, dumbfounded you would isn’t it!   

And the Lord then points to the signpost next to Him which reads

“Entry Requirement – Children only”

Matthew 18:3-4 (ESV)
3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Have you ever wondered to what extent; Jesus really meant when He responded to the Debate started by His 12 disciples in Capernaum that day?

Note: All the 12 disciples already

• received the gift of Salvation by Grace and
• entered the kingdom of God on earth (John 3:3 & 5) through Water Baptism but

NONE of them have entered the kingdom of Heaven yet then.

So, was it figurative (metaphorical or symbolic) or was it literal when the Lord said unless we TURN and become like little children, we will NEVER enter the Kingdom of Heaven as in the paradise of God aka the 3^rd Heaven that Apostle Paul has described?

If He meant it less than literal, why would Jesus woe the lawyers (Luke 11:52) aka those who were well versed in the law, fully grown-ups well respected teachers of the day (or at least until Jesus popped up and rocked their spiritual “industry” 2000 years ago)

Jesus implied knowledgeable lawyers are the very ones that took away the key of knowledge to the kingdom of Heaven.  Those who

• seems to hold the knowledge of God,
• the spiritual leaders of the day of Jesus were the one that did not manage to enter,
• were also the very ones that were blocking others from entering.

Luke 11:52 (ESV)
52 Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.”

Let’s play a game of literal.  Just for a moment pretend and take it seriously and assume that the Lord really meant unless we become like little children, we will REALLY NEVER enter the kingdom of Heaven.

So, what does that really mean to us?

First, we need to examine and define some specific characteristics of little children.

Hearts of Children

• Heart that is Innocent, Pure and trainable
• Untainted heart – tender like a circumcised heart

Ears of Children

• Ready and eager to hear
• All believing and trusting
• After hearing, having believed, they take it to heart what they believe

The world they live in

• Their world is a world of Literals and made belief
• They do not understand what is figurative (metaphorical or symbolic)

Those with uncircumcised hearts & ears resist the Holy Spirit and his prompting

Acts 7:51 (NIV)
51 “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit!

Christians whose hearts that are no longer child like are no different than the Israelite of old as spoken by Jeremiah –

Jeremiah 9:26 (NLT)
26 the Egyptians, Edomites, Ammonites, Moabites, the people who live in the desert in remote places, and yes, even the people of Judah. And like all these pagan nations, the people of Israel also have uncircumcised hearts.”

Secondly, in order to understand and appreciate what Jesus said in Matthew 18:3-4, we have to then apply literally the specific characteristics of children mentioned above in context to all that Jesus had said in His Gospel.

Though the bible is full of symbolism, however as to what Jesus have taught His 12 Apostles, we have to take it literally.

And only when we His disciple are able to ingest and live as little children based literally on all His teachings and commandments, then can we become the disciple whom Jesus loves – as like Apostle John with patient endurance.    

Apostle John, the disciple whom Jesus loves – not only obeyed all the commandments and teachings of Jesus; He even copied Jesus with regards to matters that seems insignificant (which is of non-obvious spiritual value or implications).

Examples

1.  John out ran Peter to the Tomb but stopped at the entrance. Peter went in. John did not go in.  Why?

John 20:2-5 (NIV)

2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” 3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in.

2. By the sea of Galilee, all the 7 disciples did not recognize Jesus, the Master and Saviour whom they lived with for 3 1/2 years. John knew it was the Lord, after encountering the miracle of big fishes. Peter jumped into the water, but John did not. Why? 

John 21:1-8 (ESV) Jesus Appears to Seven Disciples

21 After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” 6 He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. 7 That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. 8 The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off. 9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.

John didn’t go into Tomb

Maybe John was afraid to go into the tomb. Or is there another valid reason as to why?

John didn’t jump into the sea with Peter

John ran with Peter and out ran him before hoping it is an empty tomb. Why not Swim to meet the Risen Christ?

John is the one that is always more than eager to be beside the Lord. Was it because he has already met Jesus right before hence though important but not as urgent?

Perhaps John could not swim. Or he was really needed with the rowing of the boat and the help to bring the catch of 153 large fishes that did not struggle as if willingly to be caught for the net was not torn after they were hauled in by Peter.  

However, the bible says that it was Peter who hauled in the 153 fishes. If Peter can single-handedly lift up the fishes by himself from the boat to the shore despite after having swam 90 meters to the shore, then the question is does John really need to be in the boat to help with the dragging in of the net and rowing of the boat along with the 5 others with the very tamed and gentle big fishes?

May be there is the need, maybe not. What if there is another possible reason why?  

What if John the disciple whom Jesus loved above the rest, was trying to literally copy whatever the Lord is doing and have done before as like a little child with the exception of dying on the Cross along with the Lord.

John did not go into the tomb perhaps because Jesus when He raised Lazarus from the dead, He did not enter the tomb as per John’s observation.

John 11:43-44 (ESV)
43 When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” 44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.

John did not jump into the water perhaps because based on John’s observation, Jesus either walk on water or in a boat whenever He was out in the waters. Jesus never got himself wet by swimming apart from being baptized by John the Baptist at river Jordon.

Well, maybe it is plain silly to ask these questions in the first place. Perhaps I should work on something more tangible.

Just one more question? Why is Apostle John the only Disciple that is written plainly in the bible that he is the disciple whom Jesus loved?

Hint: Apostle John is the only disciple that did not scattered like the rest and was in fact at the feet of the Cross when Jesus breath His last – John 19:26-27.

John was the only disciple that received, obeyed and completed the extra commandment that was given to him amongst the rest. He took care of Mary and honored her as would his own mother.

John 19:26-27 (ESV)
26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

Apostle John is the only disciple whom Jesus said IF, it is my will that John remain until Jesus come, what is that to you Peter?

John 21:20-22 (ESV) Jesus and the Beloved Apostle
20 Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” 21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!”

Apostle John is the disciple whom Jesus loved, the only disciple who was not martyred like the rest of the Apostles! Why?

Apostle John is the very disciple whom the Lord downloaded the book of Revelation to and written.

Apostle John perhaps is the only one disciple who took Jesus at His word 100% Literally to – TURN to become like little Children.

The only one who humbled himself like that child who set on the lap of Jesus that day.

Psalm 149:4 (NIV)
4 For the Lord takes delight in his people;     he crowns the humble with victory

John perhaps has since become one of the greatest in the kingdom of heaven because he lived by every word that proceeded from the mouth of the living God.

^{Child-like Love & Trust based on every word of the living God}

100%	Less than 100%	Barely
Greatest	Great	Make it
Bride	Bridegroom’s Friend	Commoner

Amongst all the disciples, Apostle John perhaps is the rare one amongst the 12 that really not just understood 1 Samuel 15:22 but also a doer and a finisher of it.

Has the Holy Spirit been prompting you of late to do something for the love of Jesus and love for His kingdom? Even if it is going to cost you something, will you respond by faith and love?

Apostle John listened to the voice of the Lord Jesus Christ and submitted

• to Jesus’s extra commandment that the rest of the 12 Apostle did not get to receive and
• He lived by what he heard (every word that proceeded from the mouth of the living God) till the day he died.

He who has an ear let him hear:

Obedience and Submission is better than Sacrifice and Fat of Rams!

1 Samuel 15:22  (NLT)
22 But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the Lord:     your burnt offerings and sacrifices     or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice,     and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.

So, should we just let this be a game of literals or do we have to really take God at His word to TURN and become like little children else we will NEVER enter the kingdom of Heaven?

Jesus came 2000 years ago to demolish the system of the religious spiritual leaders then because they were the ones that were preventing the little ones from entering the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus when he comes back, He will do the same thing again and both to the Anti-Christ and the False Prophet who will be the first to be thrown into the lake of fire at the end of the 7 years of Tribulation – Revelation 19:20.

1000 years later the Devil joins them where they were – Revelation 20:10.

James 1:22 (NIV)
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

Matthew 18:3-4 (ESV)
3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

So be like Apostle John

I Have TURN, Have U?