Jesus and the Children

Where Jesus was. Jesus had come to the area of Judea on the other side of the Jordan River. Crowds gathered again, and He taught them, as He always did (10:1). He was on His way to Jerusalem, where He would soon give His life on the cross. They brought them. “Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them” (10:13). Luke tells us that some of them were infants, tiny babies (Luke 18:15). These families wanted Jesus to put His hands on their children. A good thing to do. Bringing children to Jesus is one of the best things a family can do. Today parents, grandparents and teachers do it when they pray with you, read the Bible with you and take you to church. The disciples stopped them. “But the disciples rebuked those who brought them” (10:13). To rebuke means to scold someone and tell them to stop. Most likely the disciples thought Jesus was too busy, or too important, to spend time on little children. Even close friends get it wrong. These men loved Jesus and followed Him every day. But this time they were standing in the way. We can do the same thing if we act as if some people are not important enough for Jesus. What we learn. Jesus is never too busy for you. You do not have to wait until you are older to come to Him. And you can help bring others to Him, the way these families did.

On the road (10:1). Jesus had come into “the region of Judea by the other side of the Jordan.” Crowds gathered again, and “as He was accustomed, He taught them again.” A little later on this same road He told the twelve that in Jerusalem He would be killed, “And the third day He will rise again” (10:34). The Savior who welcomed these children was on His way to the cross. Paidion (10:13). “Then they brought little children to Him.” The word for a little child is paidion (say: pie-DEE-on), a young child. Luke says “infants” (Luke 18:15). Some of these children were babies in their parents' arms. That He might touch them. The families were not asking for a sermon or a miracle. They wanted Jesus' hands on their children. They believed that being near Him was good for their children, and they were right. Rebuked (10:13). “But the disciples rebuked those who brought them.” To rebuke is to scold sharply. Most likely the disciples thought they were guarding Jesus' time for more important people and more important work. Maybe they also thought children were not important enough for Him. Standing in the way. The disciples meant well, but they stood between people and Jesus. Anyone can do that, by treating some people as too young, too small or too unimportant for Him. For you. Thank God for the people who brought you to Jesus, whether parents, grandparents, teachers or friends. Then ask Him to make you someone who brings others close to Him, never someone who stands in the way.

People brought their children to Jesus so He could touch them. Those families did something very good. They wanted their children to be near Jesus. Who brings you near Jesus today? Maybe it is your mom, your dad or your grandma. It might be a teacher at church. When they pray with you, they bring you to Jesus. But Jesus' followers told the people to stop. They were His close friends, but they got this wrong. Jesus is never too busy for children. He is never too busy for you! You can bring your friends to Him too.

Families brought their little children to Jesus. They wanted Jesus to touch them. It is very good to bring kids to Jesus!

Jesus saw it. “But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased” (10:14). Jesus was not just a little bothered. He was upset, because His friends were keeping children away from Him. Let them come. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them” (10:14). To forbid means to stop someone or not allow them. Jesus gave two commands: let them come, and do not stop them. Of such is the kingdom. Then Jesus said, “for of such is the kingdom of God” (10:14). The kingdom of God is God ruling as King over His people. Of such means of people like these. God's kingdom belongs to children like these, and to everyone who comes to Jesus the way they came. Not too small. The disciples acted as if children were not important enough for Jesus. Jesus showed that children matter very much to God. Not too young. You do not have to wait until you are grown up to follow Jesus. A child can love Him, pray to Him, trust Him and obey Him right now. What we learn. Jesus wants you to come to Him. Talk to Him in prayer and read His Word. Never think you are too little to matter to Him, and never treat anyone else as too little either.

Aganakteo (10:14). “But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased.” The Greek word is aganakteo (say: ah-gah-nahk-TEH-oh), to be indignant, strongly upset at something wrong. The same word describes the anger of the ten disciples at James and John a few verses later (10:41). Jesus' anger here was holy: He was upset because children were being kept from Him. Two commands. “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them.” The first command opens the way. The second closes off every excuse for blocking it. To forbid is to hinder or stand in the way. Of such (10:14). “For of such is the kingdom of God.” The kingdom of God is God's rule as King, which Jesus came to bring near (Mark 1:15). Jesus says it belongs to people like these: not only to children, but to everyone who comes to Him the way a child does. Not because children are sinless. Every person, young or old, needs a Savior: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). The kingdom belongs to such as these because they come with nothing to offer, as the next verse explains. Children who believe. Jesus never treated a child's faith as practice for later. A child can truly trust Him and belong to Him now. For you. Your faith is not too small or too young to count. And Jesus' anger here is a warning: never treat anyone, younger children included, as too unimportant for Him.

Jesus saw His followers sending the children away. He was not pleased with them at all. They were keeping the children away from Him. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me. Don’t stop them.” Jesus wanted the children close to Him. Kids are not too little for Jesus. They do not have to wait until they grow up. Jesus said God's kingdom belongs to people like these children. God's kingdom is where God rules as King. You can come to Jesus right now. He is glad when you talk to Him. Never treat another kid as too little for Jesus.

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me.” Jesus wants children close to Him. He wants you to come too!

Assuredly. Jesus began, “Assuredly, I say to you” (10:15). Assuredly means truly, for sure. Jesus said it when He wanted people to listen closely to something very important. Receive. “Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it” (10:15). To receive means to take something that is given to you. How a child receives. A little child cannot earn a gift or pay for it. When someone holds out a present, a child reaches out with empty hands and takes it. The child trusts that the gift is really for them. Not by being good. Does this mean children never do wrong? No. Everyone sins, children and grown-ups too (Romans 3:23). Jesus means we must come to God the way a child takes a gift: not by earning it, but by trusting the One who gives it. The only way in. Jesus said that anyone who will not receive the kingdom this way “will by no means enter it.” There is no other way in, not even for the smartest, richest or most religious grown-up. What we learn. “For by grace you have been saved through faith… it is the gift of God, not of works” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Come to Jesus with empty hands, and receive Him.

Assuredly (10:15). “Assuredly, I say to you” is how Jesus marks a truth that must not be missed. What follows is one of the plainest statements of the gospel in His own words. Dechomai. “Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” To receive is dechomai (say: DEKH-oh-my), to take or welcome what someone offers you. The kingdom is not reached, climbed or earned. It is received. As a little child. What is it about a little child? Not innocence, since children sin too (Romans 3:23). It is that a little child has nothing to bring. He cannot earn his place or pay his way. He depends on others, trusts them and takes what is given. By no means. Jesus' words are as strong as He could make them. A person who insists on earning the kingdom will not enter it at all, however good or religious he is. Grace. Paul later wrote, “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us” (Titus 3:5). Grace is God's kindness given to people who do not deserve it. Mark 10:15 is grace in Jesus' own words. Whoever. Jesus said “whoever,” and He was speaking to grown-ups. Every adult who comes to God must come the same way a child does: with empty hands. For you. As you grow older, you may be tempted to think God accepts people who try hard enough. Jesus says the opposite. Keep coming to Him every day as someone who needs Him, and keep receiving His grace.

Then Jesus said, “I tell you the truth.” He wanted everyone to listen carefully. We must accept God's kingdom like a little child. How does a little child take a gift? The child holds out empty hands. The child does not try to pay for it. The child just says thank you and takes it. That is how we come to God. We cannot earn God's love by being good. We cannot buy it with money either. We trust Jesus and take His gift. This is the only way into God's kingdom. Grown-ups have to come this way too.

A little child takes a gift with open hands. We cannot pay for God's gift. We take it by trusting Jesus.

In His arms. “And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them” (10:16). Jesus did not just pat the children on the head. He picked them up and held them close. His hands. Jesus laid His hands on them. These were the same hands that healed sick people. Later those hands were nailed to the cross for our sins. He blessed them. To bless someone is to ask God to do good to them. Jesus is the Son of God, so His blessing was God's own blessing. More than they asked. The families asked only for a touch (10:13). Jesus gave hugs, His hands and His blessing. Jesus often gives far more than we ask. The Shepherd's arm. Long before, God promised, “He will gather the lambs with His arm, And carry them in His bosom” (Isaiah 40:11). A bosom is the chest, where a shepherd holds a little lamb close. Many Christians see this promise come alive in Mark 10:16, when Jesus held the children close. Safe and kind. Jesus' love is always safe and kind. If anyone ever makes you feel unsafe, tell a parent or a trusted adult. What we learn. Jesus loves you. You are never a bother to Him. You can talk to Him any time, and He hears you.

Taken up in His arms (10:16). “And He took them up in His arms.” Jesus did more than allow the children near. He gathered them up and held them close. Eulogeo. “Laid His hands on them, and blessed them.” The word is eulogeo (say: yoo-loh-GEH-oh), to speak good over someone, to bless. The form used here means He kept on blessing them, most likely one child after another. More than they asked. The families asked for a touch (10:13). Jesus gave an embrace, His hands and His blessing. Jesus often gives far more than His people think to ask. The Shepherd's arm. Isaiah had promised, “He will gather the lambs with His arm, And carry them in His bosom” (Isaiah 40:11). Many Christians see this promise come alive in Mark 10:16, when Jesus held the children close. Hands headed for the cross. A few verses later Jesus told the twelve, “the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes” (10:33). The hands that blessed these children would soon be pierced for their sins and ours. Safe love. Jesus' love is always pure, safe and kind. If anyone ever treats you in a way that feels wrong or unsafe, tell a parent or a trusted adult. For you. The Lord who made the universe has time for children. You can come to Him in prayer at any moment and know that He welcomes you.

Jesus took the children up in His arms. He put His hands on them and blessed them. To bless means to ask God to do good to someone. The families had only asked Jesus to touch them. Jesus gave them much more than that! Jesus is kind and gentle with children. He was never too busy to hold them. Jesus loves you just as much today. He always hears you when you pray. Jesus' love is always safe and good. If anyone makes you feel unsafe, tell a trusted grown-up.

Jesus took the children in His arms. He blessed every one of them. Jesus loves you so much!

Jesus and the Children

🎉 All Matched!