Mark 10:13-16 — Blessed to Be His Child

Mark 10:13-16

Hook's Jesus and the Children

And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”  And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

As I have written previously, Jesus took little children seriously. He was greatly displeased that his disciples considered him to be too important to take time to bless the children that the parents brought for him to bless. He said that children should neither be forbidden from coming to the Lord, nor should our attitude or actions cause them to stumble (see the previous post). In fact, Jesus said that we all must receive the kingdom of God like a little child, or we cannot enter it. What does that mean?

Does it mean that if we don't get saved when we are children it is impossible? No, although statistically speaking people who don't get saved as children are less likely to get saved as adults.

What Jesus means is that we need to humble ourselves to come to him with all the trust, faith, enthusiasm, wonder, and love that a child does.

·         We cannot come as a sophisticated adult—reasoning, demanding, or negotiating.

·         We must come as a humble child—believing.

v. 16 "And he took them up in his arms, put his hands on them, and blessed them."

 

I think it must have been wonderful to be one of those children. But then I realize the blessing I have in Christ now as a child of God by faith. God is still in the business of hugging and blessing all who come!