All I Want Is You
Opening Prayer
I thank You, Jesus, that Your arms are always open to me. Receive me now as I come to You.
Read MARK 10:1–16
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
Jesus then left that place and went into the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Again crowds of people came to him, and as was his custom, he taught them.
2 Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”
3 “What did Moses command you?” he replied.
4 They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.”
5 “It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law,” Jesus replied. 6 “But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’ 7 ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, 8 and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
10 When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. 11 He answered, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. 12 And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.”
The Little Children and Jesus
13 People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Bring your mind to God and celebrate his blessing you with Spirit-filled wisdom through his written and living Word.Can you see two approaches to God in this passage: the Pharisees with their testing questions and the parents and children with a simple request for blessing?
Jesus is gracious with the Pharisees but points out the bigger picture beyond the Law (6–9). He emphasizes the point by welcoming the children. We do not experience God’s grace solely by digging up answers to difficult questions but by
understanding that he loves us and by sharing that love.
This is like coming together in marriage (6–8). In marriage one thing every couple can give to each other is themselves, nothing held back. It is so deep and significant that two people become one, joined by God. When sin destroys marriage it is devastating for everyone. Divorce is not part of God’s plan, though God in
his grace makes allowance for our failures (4,5; Matt. 19:9).
Children have little status in society. They rely on adults to take care of them. Jesus says we have to come to him with trust like theirs, with no reliance on our status and resources.
Apply
Celebrate God’s total acceptance of us as his little children. Rejoice at his willingness to be known by us.
Closing prayer
Lord, I pray for those who are struggling with their marriage. Help them to overcome the damage caused by sin.
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