In my Bible study on Acts, I thought of making a sandwich – not an edible one, but an Acts 15 sandwich. Here’s the recipe:
Ingredients: problem, conflict, solution that brings unity in Christ. Mix well and set aside.
Next ingredients: problem, conflict, solution that brings agreement to work separately for Christ. Combine with first ingredients.
Directions: take a slice of Kosher Antioch bread, and spread it with Conflict-Over-Circumcision-Of-Believing-Gentiles brand mayo. Next, stack Jerusalem meat layered with Unity-Of-The-Spirit brand cheese. Top with another slice of whole grain bread made with organic Barnabas-determination and Paul-insistence. Cut the sandwicn in two. Season half of the sandwich with Barnabas/Mark brand ketchup and send it to Cyprus. Season the other half with Paul/Silas brand mustard and forward it to Syria and Cilicia. There ya have it – an Acts 15 sandwich.
Speaking of sandwiches, do you ever wonder why some seemingly insignificant verses of the Bible seem stuck between other passages of Scripture like a sandwich? Take Matthew 19:13-15 for instance. (“Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” And He laid His hands on them and departed from there.”)
What is the significance of this 3-verse passage of Scripture from the previous twelve verses that speak of God’s design for marriage and His hate of divorce (19:1-12) and the following eleven verses that deal with a rich man who loved his possessions more than he loved Jesus (16-26)? These are heavy topics.
Looking back, chapter 19 opens with Jesus having left Galilee and was heading to Judah and His mission at the cross. However, Jesus made many stops along the way to minister to crowds wanting healing, Pharisees wanting answers, disciples wanting no interruptions by children, and a rich man wanting to keep his all. Jesus addressed all the ‘wants’ with wisdom, patience, and love, and yet, He never compromised the gospel in order to make it acceptable to man.
To me, these three little verses (13-15) are the meat of the sandwich of Matthew 19 because it teaches many important lessons of life such as when divorcing parents become too self-focused on their circumstances, children suffer. When rich parents are self-fulfilling with possessions, children suffer. When man values Self above eveything else, someone suffers.
Verses 13-15 also reveal truth about Jesus – many are the children the world fails to value, and yet, Jesus took the time for children to bless them, to uplift them, and to love them. Unhurried. Focused. Gentle. Kind. Loving. That’s a lot to reveal about Jesus in a small passage of Scripture!
Jesus’ example should motivate believers to do a good work for those whom the world neglects.
Not all children, but millions enough make the neglected children and aborted babies in the world a significant black mark against our society, and as believers, we ought to do a good work for children, the elderly, the poor and needy, the lonely, the outcasts, and the underprivileged. When Jesus said, “Follow Me,” I think He meant in faith and in action.