Let the Children Come

We are all familiar with the story recorded in the Gospels when some parents “brought their children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them” (see Mark 10:13 NLT). But His disciples rebuked the parents for not giving Jesus the proper respect due to a rabbi of His importance.

We are also familiar with Jesus’ characteristic response. The Gospel writers said that He was more than a little displeased, not with the parents, but with the disciples who were trying to keep the children at bay.

Rather, Jesus did not want anyone to hinder the children from coming to Him. He explained that we all need to become like children in our hearts to receive the Kingdom of God. Then He gathered them up in His arms and, as they say in the South, “He loved on them.”

I cannot think of anything that any child wants more than anything than being loved on.


Have you ever noticed that Jesus never ordered or commanded the children to come to Him? They came to Him because they wanted to. Why do you suppose they would do that? I believe that children wanted to come to Him of their own accord because they had seen His love as He traveled in and around their villages.

They may not have understood theology, and we have no record that He taught them any, but they knew by His reputation and their observation that Jesus was loving and kind and that being in His arms was a safe place to be.

There is a message here for us. We should interact with children with the very same love and kindness that Jesus did. And if we treat them (and others) just like Jesus did, they should be able to readily see Christ’s love and kindness in us.


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