JESUS LOVES THE LITTLE CHILDREN
Mark 10:13-16People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them. Can you get this picture in your mind? Jesus is constantly swamped by huge crowds of people. Frequently he has been unable to even eat because of the demands of the crowds. He has sought to escape with his disciples in order to minister to them and give them rest. People are constantly bringing the blind, the lame, the deaf, the diseased, and the demon possessed to him so he would heal and deliver them. And now we learn that parents and perhaps grandparents are bringing little children to him; infants, toddlers, and young children. Why? So that he would touch them. Inherent in the touch of Jesus is his blessing. If Jesus would touch them then they would be blessed. They would be part of his kingdom of followers.
The disciples were offended by this practice. We’re not really told why. But the disciples rebuked the people and tried to stop them from bringing the little children to Jesus. We can only guess why the disciples thought this was something that needed to stop. Did they think it was a waste of time? The little children could do nothing to advance the work of Jesus. They could not donate support to the ministry. They were not really aware of the blessing Jesus gave them. They could not influence other people to become followers of Jesus.
When Jesus heard what his disciples were doing he was indignant and 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. I tell you the truth, 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, put his hands on them and blessed them.
The kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Such as these? What does he mean? Those who receive his blessing without any sense of entitlement? Those who don’t try to offer any merit in exchange for the kingdom? Those who simply accept the blessing of Jesus? All of the above? Jesus said that the only people who will enter the kingdom of God are those who receive it like a little child. It is a gift of grace. It cannot be deserved. It cannot be earned. It is simply received because Jesus offered it.
We can only assume that Jesus blessed many, many little children during his ministry. There is absolutely no word mentioned or hinted at that every one of these little children ended up in the church when they arrived at their seniority. That isn’t the point. The point is that we should not only accept children into the family of God but we should seek them out and give them the blessing of Jesus. If Jesus blessed them, who are we to withhold his blessing from them? Are we not the hands and feet of Jesus on earth? May God keep us from following in the footsteps of the disciples and teach us to bless the little children and welcome them into the family of God!
The disciples were offended by this practice. We’re not really told why. But the disciples rebuked the people and tried to stop them from bringing the little children to Jesus. We can only guess why the disciples thought this was something that needed to stop. Did they think it was a waste of time? The little children could do nothing to advance the work of Jesus. They could not donate support to the ministry. They were not really aware of the blessing Jesus gave them. They could not influence other people to become followers of Jesus.
When Jesus heard what his disciples were doing he was indignant and 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. I tell you the truth, 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, put his hands on them and blessed them.
The kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Such as these? What does he mean? Those who receive his blessing without any sense of entitlement? Those who don’t try to offer any merit in exchange for the kingdom? Those who simply accept the blessing of Jesus? All of the above? Jesus said that the only people who will enter the kingdom of God are those who receive it like a little child. It is a gift of grace. It cannot be deserved. It cannot be earned. It is simply received because Jesus offered it.
We can only assume that Jesus blessed many, many little children during his ministry. There is absolutely no word mentioned or hinted at that every one of these little children ended up in the church when they arrived at their seniority. That isn’t the point. The point is that we should not only accept children into the family of God but we should seek them out and give them the blessing of Jesus. If Jesus blessed them, who are we to withhold his blessing from them? Are we not the hands and feet of Jesus on earth? May God keep us from following in the footsteps of the disciples and teach us to bless the little children and welcome them into the family of God!
posted by Shiloh Guy @ Wednesday, March 25, 2009
2 comments
2 Comments:
No necesitamos bendecir a los niños,ya el Señor Jesus lo hizo. Es deber de todo cristiano proteger la limpia conciencia de los niños ,y darle mas importancia que a nuestro trabajo,que a nuestro ministerio,que a nuestros bienes materiales.
Hermano en Lima,
May I most humbly suggest that if what you say is true then we no longer have to care for the poor because Jesus did it already. Then we don't need to care for the lame, the blind, the sick, or the deaf because Jesus did it. I believe we are to carry on the ministry of Jesus including welcoming the little ones into the family of God.
Thank you very sincerely for reading and commenting!
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