Imagine yourself in church on a Sunday morning, and in a seat nearby you is a squirming, fidgety young child who keeps talking to himself as he tries to color a picture on a church bulletin. Do you find this irritating, wishing the parents had left the child home with a sitter, or are you glad the parents are bringing the child so he can hear about Jesus? In our short reading from Mark’s Gospel today we see some parents bringing their children to Jesus, and what the reaction of the disciples was.
In Biblical times, parents would sometimes bring their young children to favorite rabbis for them to lay their hands on them, pray, and give God’s blessings to the children. When Jesus came to town, there were some parents who, having heard Him preach and teach about God and His Word, wanted Him to pray for and bless their children (vs 13). What was the disciples reaction? They did not like it! They came up to the parents and actually rebuked and chastised them.
Why would the disciples object to a few small children? For most of history, up until a little over a hundred years ago, children were considered by most to be second class citizens. They had no rights or standing in society. No one would stop a parent from doing whatever they wished to their children. If they wished to beat them, they could. There were no such thing as family courts, protecting children. Children were good to work and bring in an income, as child labor laws didn’t really come into existence until the early 20th century. They were also good to care for parents in their old age, but otherwise they had no use or standing in society.
Jesus was often criticized for spending time with the wrong sorts of people, such as tax collectors, prostitutes, and now children. Even His disciples wanted Jesus to spend time with important people, those who could help improve His standing with religious or political authorities, or who had money to give. Children could not provide any of these, so they were a waste of time.
Jesus did not look at children this way. He saw their innocence, and their joy and wonder in life and creation. Most importantly, Jesus saw that they have great faith and trust. He reprimanded the disciples, telling them to let the children come (vs 14). He goes on to say that we must receive the Kingdom of God as a child (vs 15). This does not mean that one can only be saved when they are a child, as the disciples came to Jesus as adults, as did Paul in the Book of Acts, along with many great heroes of the faith throughout the years. God wants us to have the faith and trust of a child - childlike faith that is humble, trusting, and depending on God.
Children typically have no worries. They trust their parents to feed, clothe, and take care of them. They don’t have to know or understand everything. We shouldn’t have to know and understand everything from God, either. It should suffice us to know that God loves and cares for us, with childlike faith and trust. Children know that they can’t compare to a president or king. They know that the fireman is stronger and can protect them. They have an easy trust in the loving kindness and mercy of God, and that is what Jesus wants from us.
Back to our little child in church. Rather then wish them home with a babysitter, we should rejoice to see them in church! Children’s Sunday School classes are a very important ministry in any church, where the Word of God is taught to children. As a parent, I know that my soul could not rest until I knew that both of my children had accepted Jesus as their Savior. The older one gets, the harder one’s heart grows, and it is more difficult and less likely one will turn to follow Jesus. As Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them.”
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