No Appointment, No Problem: Jesus and the Children
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. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them.
So it was with the disciples. As the crowds swelled around Jesus, so did the strain on his time and attention. Everyone wanted to see him, talk to him, be healed by him, and find purpose and direction through him. There weren’t enough hours in the day to accommodate everyone who sought an audience with Jesus.
In certain cases, the disciples took it upon themselves to manage Jesus’ schedule, to decide who got a backstage pass and who didn’t. Their intentions were good, for the most part. They wanted to protect Jesus’ much-needed alone time. Their track record as gatekeepers, however, left something to be desired.
One day, while Jesus and his entourage were in Judea, a group of parents brought their children to be blessed by Jesus. The disciples turned them away. Apparently children and parents weren’t high on the apostles’ VIP list. To add insult to injury, the disciples scolded the parents and children for “bothering” Jesus.
That’s when they discovered what really bothered Jesus.
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. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them. (Mark 10:14–16)
Jesus’ rebuke was especially pointed because the disciples represented him. If he hadn’t intervened, those children would have returned to their homes not knowing that he considered them part of his kingdom.
The disciples eventually became extraordinary ambassadors for Jesus. The number of transformed lives left in their wake testifies to this fact. Their example should encourage us to assess how we represent Jesus to others. Do we avoid sharing the message of Jesus with certain types of people? Or are we unafraid to share the good news of Jesus with people from all walks of life?
LIFE LESSON:
Like the first disciples, we modern-day Christ followers are called to help men, women, and children get to Jesus—not keep them away from him. Seek to be an ambassador, not a gatekeeper, and watch God transform lives.
This blog post is adapted from The Twelve Apostles, a special edition magazine that is now available in stores.
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