To such belongs the kingdom of God
Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. – Luke 18:16
Mark 10:13-16
13 One day, some parents brought their children to Jesus so that he could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him.
14 When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. He said to them, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children.”
15 “I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”
16 Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them.
The value placed on children has varied from culture to culture throughout history. Concern over rapid population growth in modern China led to the development of informal guidelines to encourage later marriages and longer intervals between births. This policy was summarized as “later, longer, fewer.” In 1979, a one-child policy was mandated to alleviate social, economic, and environmental problems.
Families were offered incentives like financial rewards and better access to education for their children, while those who didn’t comply faced penalties like fines and loss of employment. Children were not greatly valued in this context.
However, things were quite different in Jewish culture in the first century A.D. The sentiments go back to the time of The Fathers: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
In Genesis 30:1, Rachel, Jacob’s wife, expresses her frustration and desperation to him (Hughes). Rachel is unable to have children, and her demand, “Give me children, or I’ll die!” reflects the significant cultural value placed on childbirth, as well as her personal anguish over her inability to conceive.
Placing hands on children for prayer and benediction originates in Genesis 48:14-15 (Swete). It was a common desire among Jewish mothers to have their children receive a blessing from a revered and notable Rabbi, particularly on the occasion of their first birthday. It was because this tradition that children were brought to the Lord Jesus Christ on such a day.
How old are the children?
Several Greek words for children are used in the New Testament. In Mark 10:13 the Greek word ispaidion, which refers to prepubescent children of either gender. Paidion is typically translated as child or little child.
Mark 10:13-16
13 One day, some parents brought their children to Jesus so that he could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him.
16 Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them.
The full impact of this scene is grasped only when we consider its timing. He was en route to Jerusalem for the final week of His life, culminating in death on the cross. He was fully aware of the fate that awaited Him. The looming specter of His crucifixion was never far from His thoughts.
However, despite the overwhelming impending doom, He still made time for the children. Amidst the shadow of imminent sorrow, He found time to touch their heads with His hands and bless them, hold them close, smile and laugh, and perhaps even engage in some brief play, enjoying their shrieks of joy and laughter.
Perhaps He calls each of these Jewish children by name: Benjamin, Sarah, Ruthie, Michelle, James, and Joseph. Close your eyes and imagine for a moment. Do you see Jesus running His fingers through their hair? He quietly whispers, “Just as I planned before the world began, it turned out so lovely.” He softly declares, “Oh dear ones, it is for you that I am about to die.”
REFLECT & PRAY
“We tell the children to behave like adults, but Jesus tells the adults to model themselves after the children!” (Wiersbe).
Father thank You that You are really my Father and I am Your child by adoption into Your Forever Family. Hold me close and allow me to experience Your gentle love and embrace. May I never hurt Your heart again by my insensitive actions.
INSIGHT
Have you ever been interrupted while heading to an important meeting or sporting event? It can be very frustrating. How did you respond? What happens when you have important plans and your own small children want to play with you? How do you act? Could your response be reminiscent of W.C. Fields’ snarky remark, “Get away from me, kid; you bother me.”
Such comments are typical of our fallen DNA. Somehow, we think it’s all about us, but not so for the Lord Jesus Christ.
The disciples became agitated when the parents brought their children to Jesus. They lashed out, rebuked, and scolded the parents. Why did the disciples do this? On the one hand, could it be that they considered the children a distraction? Or perhaps they were trying to protect the Lord Jesus Christ from the crowds who had previously thronged Him.
Mark 5:24 And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him.
The text doesn’t provide the why behind their actions. Perhaps it was a little bit of both. They wanted to protect Him and keep Him on task.
What they didn’t realize was that Jesus was on task. This became a teaching moment for the Lord Jesus Christ that echoes through the centuries. He was showing the world how the Father reaches out to touch every one of us equally, with no favoritism or bias.
But there’s more.
The Greek term for indignant is ēganaktēsen, which conveys a deep, emotional response. It comes from the verb aganaktéō, which combines ágan, meaning ‘intensely,’ and áchthos,which translates as‘pain’ or ‘grief.’ It signifies more than mere annoyance. Jesus was deeply moved to anger, experiencing genuine pain. His heart ached at the way the children were being treated.
Despite the significant time the disciples had spent with Him, they still couldn’t grasp His essence. They didn’t understand His spirit and loving heart. His desire goes beyond just spending time with children; He deeply cherishes these moments. He is passionate about offering them affection and warmth, about enveloping them in His arms and pulling them close – so close that they can hear the rhythm of His heartbeat.
Mark 10:14 But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them!
But there’s even more.
Mark 10:14 For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children.
We enter the kingdom of God by faith. We come like little children: helpless, unable to save ourselves, totally dependent on the mercy and grace of God (Wiersbe). “Little children are paradigmatic disciples, for only empty hands can be filled” (James Edwards).
What qualities in young children should we emulate? They are trusting, receptive, and dependent. They possess great faith and count on others for their care and protection. They have short memories. When others hurt them, they forget “and forget so completely that they do not even need to forgive” (Barclay).
Entering the kingdom of God requires faith like that of a child: helpless and unable to save ourselves. We lean on God’s mercy and grace. We believe that the Father loves us and provides for our daily needs. How does a child react to pain or trouble? They seek comfort from their parents. This behavior serves as a model for how we should approach our Heavenly Father. Indeed, God calls us to be childlike but forsake childish ways (Wiersbe).
To such belongs the kingdom of God
The Father always has time for us! “The height of Christian experience is to be blessed by Jesus” (Kaleb Allen).
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
© Dr. H 2024
Dr H Reflections 