Baptismal Meditation, January 25

Baptismal meditation for January 25:

Matthew 18:1-6

This passage in Matthew is parallel to the first part of Matthew 17 in our sermon text. As I mentioned in the sermon, Jesus’ reference to “little ones” in Luke 17 is not referring to little children, but to lowly people like Lazarus. But here in Matthew, Jesus applies this same comment to little children. There are two things I want to draw from this.

First, this passage does give support to the church’s practice of infant baptism. To be sure, this passage does not offer a complete defense, but it is relevant. Jesus uses a little child to answer the question, “Who is great in the kingdom of heaven?” and to make it clear that we ALL must become as little children to enter the kingdom. Given this, it would be very odd if the church excluded little children from its membership. We would be excluding the very members that Jesus says are models of true faith. It is a gift from God that there are children in the church, for that means we are constantly presented with instruction about humility and greatness in the kingdom of heaven. Baptist churches have children, of course, but they don’t welcome them into membership, they don’t put them on a pedestal as Jesus does.

Second, this passage contains an amazing promise and a frightful warning about our treatment of Jesus’ little ones. The promise is that those who receive little children for Jesus’ sake receives Jesus Himself. Brining Noble Victor into membership through baptism is a way of recognizing the body of Christ, that the Body of Christ includes small organs like this. It is receiving Jesus. But we also must hear the warning: If receiving a child is receiving Christ, offending a child is offending Christ. So I say to you as parents: Do not put any stumbling blocks in the way of your child; do not exasperate them, do not place burdens on them that they can’t bear, do not be a stumbling block by setting an example of unfaithfulness before them. And the same warning applies to the congregation as well.

Through this water, we receive this child into our company. Receive him in Jesus’ name, and so receive Jesus, and do not lay any stumbling blocks in his path.