Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” And He laid His hands on them and departed from there. Matthew 19: 13-15, NKJV.
Dear God, my heart rejoices as I contemplate Your love for little children. As we sit at Your feet and listen, may we learn to love them the way You did while You were here on earth; and the way You still do; as You watch over them from heaven above. In the precious name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
I have often asked the question: “What would the world be without children?” The question usually comes after I have been observing them at play; or just watching them do the cutest little things, without knowing that they were being observed! During the time that Jesus was here on earth, children were of little, or no importance at all. So it was not surprising that the disciples would seek to send them, and their mother’s away, when they were brought to Jesus to be blessed.
So many things would change with the coming of Jesus! “The first would become the last, and the last the first.” The “wise would be considered foolish, and the foolish wise.” And children, would become the model citizens of the kingdom of God, “… of such is the kingdom of heaven.” This is the way things are in His kingdom.
When the disciples came to Jesus, arguing among themselves about who was the “greatest in the kingdom,” He had a surprise in store for them. He would completely shock them with His definition of greatness, “Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18: 2-4, Emphasis provided).
Wow! This was a first, ever! You have heard me say this more than once, children, along with women, and slaves, were at the very bottom of the social ladder! On the other hand, the kingdom of heaven, was the ultimate expectation of the Jews! Two complete opposites! And here was Jesus telling them, “You cannot have one, without the other!” The great kingdom of God, must be received as a humble little child! It does not get more contradictory than that!
He went on to say, “Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me” (5). When you understand, that this was the Messiah speaking, and that the Messiah represented the great hope of liberation for the Jews, you can then appreciate why this would make no sense at all to Jesus’ disciples. How could receiving one of the most vulnerable members of the society of their day, be compared to receiving the Messiah? They only saw the contradictions. They missed the love, in what He was saying.
“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea (6). Jesus always selected His words very carefully. He only used strong words in the face of oppression; like when He pronounced the woes upon the Pharisees. That day His strong words were against anyone who hurt a little child.
Be very careful how you treat children; because “Jesus loves the little children of the world.”