I recently read of a restaurant owner who instituted a policy that wouldn’t have been well liked by Jesus. Instead of letting young children dine at his restaurant, he announced he was banning little ones under 6 years old from the upscale casual restaurant. He won’t allow the young customers because he feels they’re bad for business.
Like that restaurant owner, Jesus’ disciples seemed to believe children were bad for the business of the kingdom of God. But parents brought their children to Jesus so He could touch them. (Rabbis were known to lay hands on children to bless them.) The disciples, thinking that children were socially powerless and unimportant and should not be wasting Jesus’ time, rebuked the parents and tried to keep them away from Jesus (Mark 10:13). Jesus became indignant with His disciples (Mark 10:14). The word that Mark used to describe Jesus’ emotions carried the idea of deep displeasure with them.
Jesus rebuked them because they failed to realize that there are no outcasts or unimportant people in the kingdom of God. In fact Jesus used children (eager and dependent) as the quintessential example of how everyone should receive the kingdom (Mark 10:15). Then Jesus took the children into His arms and laid His hands on them—a visible means of conveying God’s blessing on their future lives (Mark 10:16).
Eager to get on with the business of life, adults can sometimes have little time and use for children—tiny people who do not wield political, social or financial power. But, as followers of Jesus, we’re called to see them as gifts from the hand of God, to welcome them in Jesus’ name and to remove obstacles that prevent them from coming to Jesus.
Let’s model Jesus to children, conveying His blessing on their future lives.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Matthew 18:10-22
More:
Read Psalm 127:3 and discover why we should have a welcoming attitude toward children.
Next:
How does Jesus’ attitude and actions toward children challenge your attitude and actions toward them? What can you do this week to remove obstacles and welcome and bless young ones?
jobert on July 26, 2012 at 7:00 am
😀
Lamont on July 26, 2012 at 3:34 pm
I think about Jesus’ special love for children every time I read about a child who has suffered from abuse or worse. There is a new incident almost every day. Children cannot determine the parents they are born to. They can’t defend themselves or move away so they become little victims. It’s a sad mess.
daisymarygoldr on July 26, 2012 at 9:03 pm
The disciples thought these insignificant little ones were bad for God’s business when in fact they are His business. I love children and have been teaching kids at church since my teenage years. They are like play dough—so teachable and trusting. There is no greater joy than to train children in God’s ways.
“People who do not like children are swine, dunces, and blockheads, not worthy to be called men and women, because they despise the blessing of God, the Creator and Author of marriage.” ~ Martin Luther
Thanks Marvin Williams for the reminder to be child-like and to not hinder children from coming to God.