Mark 10:2-16 Jesus loves family

Summary

The sermon explores Jesus' teachings on marriage, family, and God's original design for these institutions. Reflecting on passages from Mark and Genesis, it highlights how family, created as the pinnacle of God's perfect creation, often becomes a source of struggle and brokenness. Despite human failures and Satan's attacks, Jesus' love and protection of family remain central. The message also emphasizes how God's grace, forgiveness, and guidance help restore broken relationships and provide hope. Ultimately, Jesus loves and embraces every person as part of His family, regardless of past mistakes or current hardships.

Takeaways

• 🙏 **Grace and Peace**: The message begins with a greeting of grace and peace from God and Jesus Christ, setting a reverent tone.
• 📜 **Jesus and the Pharisees**: Jesus addresses the Pharisees’ question on divorce, emphasizing that it was permitted due to hardened hearts but was not part of God’s original plan.
• 💍 **God's Design for Marriage**: Jesus reaffirms God’s design for marriage, where a man and a woman become 'one flesh,' highlighting the sacredness and permanence of the union.
• ❌ **Divorce and Sin**: Although there are allowances for divorce in certain situations, such as abuse or desertion, Jesus emphasizes that divorce is never an ideal solution.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 **The Importance of Family**: The family is a core building block of God’s creation, meant to be a source of blessing and the primary venue for nurturing faith and values.
• 💔 **Devil's Attacks on Family**: The devil attacks families by fostering division and selfish behavior, aiming to corrupt the very foundation of God’s creation.
• 👶 **Jesus Loves Children**: When children were brought to Jesus, He welcomed them with open arms, stressing that the Kingdom of God belongs to those who receive it like a child.
• 💒 **Jesus as Protector of Families**: Jesus cares deeply about families and actively supports and blesses them through His presence, guidance, and forgiveness.
• 💖 **God's Unconditional Love**: Even when families break down and wounds run deep, God’s love remains constant. He provides comfort and healing through His church.
• 🔗 **The Profound Mystery**: Marriage mirrors the relationship between Christ and the Church—Jesus gave Himself up for His bride, the Church, symbolizing the depth of His love and faithfulness.

Q & A

What is the central theme of the sermon based on the provided transcript?

The central theme of the sermon is the significance of marriage and family in God's creation, and how Jesus values, protects, and redeems both, even amid challenges like divorce, broken relationships, and selfishness.

How does Jesus respond to the Pharisees' question about divorce in Mark 10?

Jesus explains that Moses permitted divorce because of the hardness of people's hearts, but at the beginning of creation, God intended for marriage to be a permanent union between man and woman. He emphasizes that what God has joined together, no one should separate.

What does the sermon say about the purpose of marriage in God's creation?

The sermon teaches that marriage was part of God's perfect creation and was designed as a means of bringing blessing to humanity. Marriage is foundational to society, family, and the passing of faith from one generation to the next.

How does the preacher describe the devil's attacks on family?

The devil relentlessly attacks families, both in society and behind closed doors, aiming to turn family members against each other. His efforts are strongest when he brings selfishness, betrayal, and conflict into homes, causing broken relationships and misery.

What does the preacher say about the role of family in a Christian's life?

The preacher emphasizes that family has a greater influence on a person's life than anything else, shaping a child's future success and faith. The family is a crucial space for spiritual growth and the continuation of Christian values.

What comfort does the sermon offer to those who feel broken by divorce or strained family relationships?

The sermon offers comfort by reminding individuals that Jesus loves and protects them, even if they come from broken families or have suffered through divorce. Jesus provides forgiveness, guidance, and strength to heal relationships and restore love.

How does the sermon interpret Jesus' interaction with the children in Mark 10?

The sermon highlights Jesus' love and care for children, noting that He was indignant when the disciples rebuked them. Jesus teaches that the kingdom of God belongs to those with childlike faith and embraces and blesses the children as a demonstration of His care.

What does the preacher say about society's current view of marriage and family?

The preacher critiques the growing attitude in society that sees marriage and family as either optional social constructs or oppressive institutions to be avoided. He argues that this view is backward and ignores the divine purpose and design of marriage.

How does the preacher connect the concept of marriage to the relationship between Christ and the Church?

The preacher references Ephesians 5, where marriage is described as a profound mystery that reflects the relationship between Christ and the Church. Jesus is the bridegroom who gave Himself up for His bride, the Church, and is always faithful, making the Church holy and blameless.

What encouragement does the sermon give to those in troubled marriages or broken families?

The sermon encourages those in troubled marriages or broken families by assuring them that Jesus is present with them. He offers forgiveness, guidance, and strength to restore relationships, and His love can break down walls of contempt and bring healing and unity.

Outlines

00:00

🙏 Jesus Teaches on Divorce and Family

In this passage from Mark 10, Jesus is tested by Pharisees about the legality of divorce. He reminds them that God's original design was for marriage to be a lifelong union, citing that Moses only allowed divorce due to human hard-heartedness. Jesus emphasizes the sanctity of marriage, stating that 'what God has joined together, let no one separate.' He also speaks of the seriousness of remarriage after divorce, linking it to adultery. The passage transitions to Jesus’ interaction with children, as He blesses them and proclaims that the Kingdom of God belongs to those with childlike faith.

05:03

🌍 The Goodness of God’s Creation and Marriage

This paragraph reflects on the perfection of God's creation as described in Genesis 1, highlighting that everything God made was 'good.' However, it wasn't until Adam and Eve were created and joined in marriage that creation was described as 'very good.' Marriage and family were the crowning achievements of God's work. The creation of Eve from Adam's rib is seen as a demonstration of God's design for human relationships, making it clear that marriage was intended as a perfect union within creation.

10:04

😔 The Challenges of Family and Satan's Attacks

The focus shifts to the painful reality that, despite being part of God's perfect creation, marriage and family have often become sources of great misery due to sin. Families are subject to relentless attacks by Satan, manifesting in selfish behavior, neglect, and betrayal. The devil’s goal is to destroy the unity of family, often by turning loved ones against each other. The paragraph stresses the impact that family has on a person’s success in life and faith, pointing out that the strongest influence on a Christian child’s faith is their family, not their pastor.

15:06

💔 Divorce and Its Reality Throughout History

This paragraph discusses how the issue of divorce has been present since the time of Moses. Jesus rebukes the Pharisees' focus on divorce law, urging them to instead consider the divine institution of marriage. Jesus emphasizes that marriage involves God and is a spiritual union that no one should break. He also acknowledges that sin can sometimes break marriages, and while divorce is sometimes permitted, it is never ideal. Jesus stresses that a marriage should not only exist for personal happiness but is a fundamental aspect of God's creation.

💪 Jesus Protects and Restores Families

The paragraph reassures that Jesus protects families even when they face hardship. He is present in broken homes, offering forgiveness, guidance, and strength. Jesus' presence can help restore love and unity where there has been contempt and division. Even when families are deeply fractured, or children are caught in the middle of conflict, Jesus loves and blesses them, reminding them that they are never alone. He holds them in His arms and provides the care and protection they may not receive from others.

🛡️ Hope for the Broken: Jesus' Love for All Families

This section offers hope to those who feel far removed from the ideal family situation, such as those who have experienced divorce or estrangement. Even if someone feels past redemption, Jesus reminds them that they are still part of God’s family. They have a Heavenly Father who loves them and a spiritual family in Christ. The paragraph concludes by reminding Christians that Jesus died for all sins, and His love remains strong, even in the most broken circumstances.

💒 Christ and the Church: A Profound Mystery

The final paragraph delves into the deeper spiritual meaning of marriage as described in Ephesians 5. The relationship between husband and wife mirrors the relationship between Christ and the Church. Just as Christ loves the Church unconditionally and sacrificially, so too should a husband and wife treat each other with love and respect. Regardless of past mistakes or current struggles, Christians are reminded that in Jesus’ eyes, they are holy, blameless, and deeply loved. Marriage, therefore, reflects Christ’s love for His people.

Keywords

💡Pharisees

The Pharisees were a Jewish religious group known for their strict adherence to the Law of Moses. In the script, they test Jesus by asking about the lawfulness of divorce, which sets up a discussion on the nature of marriage and divorce from a biblical perspective.

💡Divorce

Divorce refers to the legal dissolution of a marriage. In the video, Jesus discusses divorce with the Pharisees, emphasizing that Moses permitted it due to the hardness of people's hearts, but God's original design was for a lifelong union between a man and a woman.

💡Creation

Creation refers to God's act of bringing the universe and all its inhabitants into existence. The script highlights the Genesis account, emphasizing that God saw his creation as 'good' and 'very good' when he created humanity and established marriage.

💡Marriage

Marriage is the union between a man and a woman, intended by God to be a lifelong partnership. The video underscores its importance as part of God's perfect creation and discusses the implications of divorce and marital fidelity.

💡Family

Family is portrayed as a fundamental unit in God's creation, meant for mutual support and the upbringing of children. The script discusses how the family, as the cornerstone of society, faces significant attacks from the devil but remains a primary means for passing down the faith.

💡Children

Children are highlighted as precious in God's kingdom. Jesus' blessing of children in the script emphasizes their importance and the need to nurture and protect them within the family structure.

💡Adultery

Adultery refers to sexual relations outside of marriage. Jesus states that remarriage after divorce equates to committing adultery, thus underscoring the sanctity and exclusivity of the marital bond.

💡One flesh

'One flesh' is a biblical concept describing the union of a husband and wife in marriage. The video discusses this union as God's design, where two individuals become one in a sacred and indissoluble bond.

💡Hardness of heart

Hardness of heart describes a state of stubbornness and unwillingness to follow God's commands. In the context of the script, it explains why Moses allowed divorce – because people's hearts were not fully obedient to God's ideal for marriage.

💡Forgiveness

Forgiveness is a key Christian concept involving the pardon of sins and reconciliation. The script talks about Jesus' ability to guide, forgive, and strengthen individuals and families, emphasizing that forgiveness can heal even deeply broken relationships.

Highlights

Jesus responds to the Pharisees about divorce, emphasizing that Moses allowed it due to hard-heartedness but that God’s original design was for marriage to be unbreakable.

God’s creation is described as ‘good,’ but only after creating humanity—Adam and Eve in marriage—does He call it ‘very good,’ emphasizing the importance of family.

The capstone of God’s creation, family, has become a source of great misery due to human selfishness and sin, leading to the breakdown of marriage.

Families have a profound influence on individuals, with family being the greatest predictor of a child’s success and faith retention, beyond what pastors can achieve.

The devil relentlessly attacks families, often working behind closed doors to turn members against each other and destroy the foundational relationships in God’s creation.

Jesus’ interaction with the Pharisees highlights that the breakdown of marriage and family isn’t new; it has been a challenge since the time of Moses and even Adam and Eve.

Jesus redirects the Pharisees' focus from divorce laws to God’s original purpose for marriage—where two become one flesh, a divine union not to be separated by man.

While recognizing the devastation that sin can cause in marriage, Jesus also affirms that divorce is never an ideal solution for a troubled marriage.

Jesus protects family not just by words but by becoming part of it, offering guidance, forgiveness, and strength through His Word and Spirit to restore broken relationships.

The sermon emphasizes that Jesus holds children in high regard, loving and blessing them, even when they feel neglected or used as pawns in their parents' conflicts.

For those who feel beyond redemption due to past family failures or painful experiences, Jesus reassures them that they still belong to His family and are loved unconditionally.

The Apostle Paul’s teaching in Ephesians on the profound mystery of marriage points to the relationship between Christ and the church, where Christ is the groom and the church is His bride.

Jesus is eternally faithful to His church, and despite shame, brokenness, or feelings of worthlessness, believers are made holy, radiant, and blameless through Him.

The sermon reiterates that family is not just a social construct but a divine institution meant to bless individuals and society, under God's definition and protection.

Ultimately, the message concludes that Jesus loves and protects families, and through faith, believers are assured of being part of His eternal family.

Transcripts

grace and peace to you from God our

Father and the Lord Jesus Christ well

listen again to Jesus encounter with the

Pharisees and then little children in

mark chapter 10 some Pharisees came and

tested Jesus by asking is it lawful for

a man to divorce his wife what did Moses

command you he replied they said Moses

permitted a man to write a certificate

of divorce and send her away

it was because your hearts were hard

that Moses wrote you this law jesus

replied but at the beginning of creation

God made them male and female for this

reason a man will leave his father and

mother and be united to his wife and the

two will become one flesh so they are no

longer two but one flesh therefore what

God has joined together let no one

separate when they were in the house

again the disciples asked Jesus about

this

he answered anyone who divorces his wife

and marries another woman commits

adultery against her

and if she divorces her husband and

marries another man she commits adultery

people were bringing little children to

Jesus for him to place his hands on them

but the disciples rebuked them 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

truly I tell you anyone who will not

receive the kingdom of God like a little

child will never enter it and he took

the children in his arms placed his

hands on them and blessed them

this is the gospel of our Lord dear

brothers and sisters in Christ and it's

not a throwaway phrase dear brothers and

sisters in Christ

in the very first verse of the Bible God

creates all the building blocks of the

universe in the beginning God created

the heavens and the earth then in the

rest of that first chapter God assembles

all those building blocks into his into

his perfect creation and the word that

he keeps on coming back to in Chapter 1

is good on the first day God saw that

the light was good then later he saw

that the land and the Seas were good and

the vegetation the Sun Moon and stars

the animals that fly through the air

swim through the water and walk on the

land every step of the way every step

along the way the phrase he keeps on

back to is and God saw that it was good

but then at the end of the chapter at

the end of chapter 1 when everything's

finished and Adam and Eve are husband

and wife in a perfect paradise then the

phrase changes then it says God saw all

that he had made and it was very good

when God caused continents to rise out

of oceans when he made vegetation appear

and set the stars in the sky and made

animals that glide through the air and

the water and the force all of that was

awesome it was good but it was missing

something it was like this luxury home

with everything in place but no family

to live in it that's because God was

saving the best for last that the people

for whom he had created this masterpiece

and only after he formed Adam out of the

dust of the ground and Eve out of Adam's

rib and and told them I've made all this

for you and I've made you for each other

only then was it perfect or as you'd

express it in Hebrew very good that

should help us to appreciate the the

opening verse of the first lesson we

heard today from Genesis chapter 2 the

Lord God said it is not good for the man

to be alone

he's not changing his mind from the end

of chapter 1 in in Genesis chapter 2 God

God takes us back to the sixth day and

he gives us greater details about his

creation of the first people or maybe I

should say the first family God created

Adam first Eve came later in the day and

in those intervening hours when it was

just Adam it wasn't good

Adam was missing something none of the

animals that God paraded in front of

Adam for him to name were suitable to

meet his need so after God shows Adam

his need then God fills his need with

Eve and establishes the first marriage

and the first family and it was very

good all that is to say that marriage

and family they they were essential

elements in God's perfect creation

so it's tragic irony that this capstone

of God's perfect creation should become

the source of some of God's creations

greatest misery and and you know that

I'm not saying that that every family is

only misery all the time but I also know

that you don't need me to launch into a

thousand examples for you to understand

what I'm talking about your family by

God's design has a greater influence on

you than anything else for better or for

worse the surest indicator of a child's

financial academic social marital

success is their family

the greatest influence on a young

Christian staying in the faith isn't

their pastor it's their family so it's

it's no wonder at all that the devil

should attack it so relentlessly and not

only in society at large in the media

and in in politics and on college

campuses his greatest efforts against

family take place behind closed doors in

individual homes when when a man and a

woman who voluntarily joined into a

union of one flesh for life hammer away

at their own foundation by by selfish by

selfish behavior by corrosive comments

and by betrayal the devil's efforts are

strongest against individual families

when when children treat their parents

like doormats or when parents neglect

their children or or just as bad as that

worship their children the devil's

efforts against family are at their

greatest when he works to turn husbands

and wives and parents and children and

brothers and sisters against each other

and thus pervert the capstone of God's

creation into one of its greatest

miseries and we don't have to look very

far at all to witness his success I

don't expect that any of us are gonna

walk out of church today thinking well

none of those scripture lessons said

anything to me

Jesus encounter with the Pharisees in

mark chapter 10 reminds us that that the

breakdown of the marriage and and the

family aren't anything new these were

issues in Jesus day there were issues in

Moses day all the way back to Adam and

Eve the Pharisees they try to drag Jesus

into the mire of their own internal

arguments about divorce law basically

how easy should it be for a man to

divorce his wife some Pharisees

contended that that divorce should be

allowed only in extreme circumstances

others argued that that as long as there

was any reason that was a good enough

reason as long as he he filled out the

proper paperwork against his wife is it

lawful for a man to divorce his wife

Jesus responds you're asking the wrong

question and you're looking at the wrong

Bible passage to try to find the answer

they were citing a verse in in

Deuteronomy where God regulated divorce

in order to protect people from becoming

its victims who were living in in a

world where people were hard-hearted and

and didn't respect God's institution of

marriage Jesus responds that instead of

arguing over the wording of regulations

for divorce you should be paying

attention to God's institution of

marriage a man and a woman a man and a

woman enter into it but God is also

involved by defying the laws the rules

of math and making one plus one equal

one

therefore what God has joined together

let let no one separate this strikes so

close to home for so many of us so let's

make sure we understand what Jesus is

and is not saying Jesus isn't

heartlessly shackling a woman to her

abuse

of husband he's not binding the

conscience of a man whose wife has

deserted him and their children this

isn't the only place in the Bible where

God speaks to marriage and divorce and

and God recognizes the devastation that

certain sins can inflict on a marriage

devastation that's akin to taking one

piece of flesh and tearing it into two

so that neither person is ever the same

again and and God recognizes that the

destruction of sin can sometimes result

in a situation where there are only bad

options so there are certain

circumstances in which God permits

divorce but Jesus also isn't saying that

divorce is ever a solution for a

troubled marriage or that a marriage is

worth continuing for only as long as as

it's bringing happiness and fulfillment

to both parties involved

it's still the capstone of God's

creation and the foundation of society

and the primary venue for the passing

down of the gospel from generation to

generation

even when Satan's attacks and our own

self-destructive self-centered behavior

bring broken hearts and misery into our

homes

Jesus loves family Jesus

protects family and of course family

isn't just a concept it's people so to

say that Jesus loves and protects family

is to say that Jesus loves and protects

people the growing attitude in our

society is that marriage and family are

at best social constructs you can take

them or leave them or at worst means of

oppressing the underprivileged so so

it's something we need to break free

from but those are exactly

backwards God designed marriage so God

gets to define what it is and what its

purpose is it's a fundamental building

block of society and of the church

through which God joins individuals

together for the purpose of bringing

blessing to everyone involved and he

doesn't just protect it by saying what

God has joined together let no one

separate it so if you're miserable

too bad you're stuck you signed up for

it Jesus protects family by becoming

part of it

a husband and wife who have built a wall

of contempt between one another through

their selfish behavior and their

corrosive comments and betrayal upon

betrayal they're not alone in that if

Jesus is in their home the God who set

the stars in the sky is with them to

guide them with His Word and to forgive

them through his promise and to

strengthen them by his spirit and if the

God who set the stars in the sky guides

and forgives and strengthens them that

means that they can get guide and

forgive and strengthen each other and

then that wall of contempt gives way to

love or children who feel like chess

pieces nothing but but weapons for mom

and dad to use against each other in

their struggle for control Jesus doesn't

leave them alone either the Savior who

with righteous anger

said let the little children come to me

for the kingdom of God belongs to such

as these he still holds them in his arms

and blesses them and loves them even

even if everybody else refuses to love

them but then there are also Christians

who feel like their way past all of that

because it's over the divorce papers

were signed long ago the wounds are

still raw and maybe it really was all

their fault or children who never knew a

mom and dad or who are abused or their

estranged and they can't remember ever

using the phrase my family in a positive

sense even if this sermon has made you

feel super uncomfortable because you

feel like you are way past anything that

Jesus says here you still have a father

the same God who set the stars in the

sky and you still have a brother the

same God who died on the cross to pay

for all of your sins all of your sins he

loves you with all of his heart and he

cares for you with all of his power and

in his wisdom he will supply you with

brothers and sisters and role models in

Christ who will love you too

let's wrap this up with a profound

mystery that the Apostle talks about in

Ephesians chapter 5 this profound

mystery he's talking to husbands and

wives so I guess it makes perfect sense

that he should take them back to God's

establishment of marriage for this

reason a man will leave his father and

mother and be united to his wife and the

two will become one flesh but the

profound mystery is that this one flesh

relationship he's talking about it isn't

just describing the relationship between

a husband and wife

he goes on to say this is a profound

mystery I am talking about Christ and

the church to the Christian woman who

feels like her husband no longer loves

her to the Christian husband whose wife

shows him no respect for Christian

children whose parents are too consumed

with themselves to have any concern for

them and they all feel like there's no

choice left but to fight fire with fire

or they're growing more and more

convinced that they really are worthless

God reminds them that they are

nevertheless still in a one flesh

relationship Jesus

is the groom and you are his bride he

gave himself up for you to make you holy

he washed you clean through baptism no

matter how shameful your past or pitiful

your president or bleak your future in

his eyes you are perfect

and radiant without stain or wrinkle or

any other blemish but holy and blameless

and he will always be faithful to you he

will never leave you Jesus loves family

and you are his family amen