Tag Archives: the Kingdom

Little Children: Mark 10:13-16

13 People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He 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. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.

Mark 10:13-16

27th January 2024: Horsham

There’s more going on in this short, familiar story than we might have been brought up to believe. It’s a beautiful story with layers of meaning. It’s about more than a group of mothers bringing their children to be blessed by Jesus. Actually, it’s not about that at all.

The Context: Jesus and the disciples are heading for Jerusalem. Jesus has told the disciples at least twice that he will be killed when he gets there. Along the way, there have been arguments and confrontation with Pharisees, teachers of the Law and others. Many of these people are out to get Jesus. They mean him harm. Maybe it’s not surprising that his closest friends have started to act protectively. At this moment, they look a bit like his ‘security’ detail.

The Disciples: As these people appear on the scene, the disciples rise as one to head off what they regard as ‘unwanted’ attention. These young men are Jews. In their culture , outside of their own families, children are of no significant worth.  They have done nothing to ‘earn’ their salvation under the Jewish Law. They have no wealth. They have no standing. They are not worthy of Christ’s attention. The security team ‘rebuke’ the people. Rebuke is a strong word. They shall not pass.

The People: We’ve been brought up and conditioned to see this as mothers bringing their baby to Jesus. The Greek word translated here as ‘people’ is masculine. That implies that the ‘people‘ were, or at least most of them were, men rather than women. Fathers and Grand-Father’s  bringing small children, Luke calls them babies, to Jesus (Luke 18:15). The children have no understanding of what is happening. They have no faith. They know nothing of God’s Kingdom. They have no idea at all who Jesus is.

The Rabbi: Jesus was indignant with his disciples. That’s another strong word. He was really not happy with them. The disciples see these little children as worthless – Jesus says you are wrong! We’ve seen before that Jesus is ready to reach out to children. Here we see that he has a heart for children. Even babies. ‘Let them come to me,‘ he says. for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.‘ It doesn’t belong specifically to these babies, but something about these tiny ones touches the things of God’s kingdom.

Jesus rebukes the disciples because they try to stop these little ones coming to Him. He has warned them before about being a ‘stumbling block’ for those who are drawing close to the Son of God. Never, says Jesus, discourage anyone from drawing close to me. Even – especially – if they seem to you to be of little worth.

The End Piece: This scene ends beautifully. Jesus, the rabbi, reaching out with both arms towards these tiny ones. Can you see the small child responding? There’s no delay. There’s eye contact. Do you see the unquestioning trust of the infant, arms outstretched, leaning forwards into the arms of the Son of God. The infant wants to be close to Jesus. This is not to be a blessing at arms length. Jesus embraces the children. Draws them close. Welcomes them in. Wraps his arms around them. Blesses them.

Those who come to Christ will do so as ‘spiritual babies’, trusting hands outstretched towards Christ, eyes fixed on Jesus, leaning in, drawing close into His loving embrace. They will receive his kingdom like little children, or not at all.

15 ‘Truly I tell you,’ says Jesus,  ‘anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 

Richard Jackson, West Sussex: LifePictureUK