Drawn to the Gospel

“What do they know? They’re just kids!”

How often have you heard phrase that bandied about? They do kid things, say kid stuff, and think in kid ways.

That might have been the same thought that went through the disciples’ heads when, well these kids, were trying to get close to their Master, Jesus.

You know the story. It’s the Bible passage we use to promote any event involving children, and I think partly for good reason. I’m taking my cue from Mark 10:13-16.

At this point, Jesus’s popularity was on the rise. Wherever He went, the crowds followed. You’d be forgiven for thinking the disciples were basking in the glow of borrowed glory. “We’ve finally got a winner we can back, guys!“

Then parents, grandparents, uncles, and aunties started bringing the kids under their care to be blessed by Jesus. There must have been something both authoritative and welcoming in Jesus’s demeanour that inspire such a response.

Unfortunately, that perfect blend of truth and grace was not reflected by the disciples.

In fact, they got angry. They scolded them harshly. Probably scolded some of the children too. How’s that for a record that would be read by billions around the world? I imagine one those children growing up to become part of a fledging early church, and maybe, listening to an elderly Nathanael or James gave a sermon, he’d nudge his mate and whisper, ”You see that guy? He once yelled at me and me Mum when she brought us to see Jesus.”

Thankfully, that’s not how it ends. We read that Jesus didn’t brush it off. No, in fact He got angry too. Not at the crowd. Not at the children. But at the disciples. The ESV translates Jesus was “indignant”, which means Jesus was not just mildly bothered. No, He was really displeased, even outraged … at His own team!

“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.”
(Mar 10:14-15)

I hope this helps you hear the original tone of those immortal words, “Let the children come to Me.” We often picture it said with the softest, almost glassy eyed, most tender tone possible—I’m not saying that that’s wrong. I’m just pointing out that in the original scene, this was direct, blunt, no non-sense rebuke aimed at a bunch of grown adults.

This is one of those rare moments when Jesus directed His anger not at the Pharisees or even demons, but at His closest mates, the ones who were supposed to know Him and what He was on about.

Why? Because what’s at stake here was the very nature of the Kingdom of God. The disciples’ offense, while not a serious sin like betrayal or outright disobedience, was that they didn’t understand the upside-down nature of the Kingdom. Just days or weeks before, they had been debating who was the greatest … among themselves! (see Mark 9:33-37) A debate, which ironically, Jesus settled by using a child as an object lesson.

Here, they had missed a pivotal teaching moment. Again.

They were after the big things: Getting rid of the Romans, setting up a political and military power greater than Israel in its golden age. “We’ve got a David 2.0 here, and we all just need to wait for the upgrade!”

They couldn’t have been more misguided. In a matter of weeks, the religious institution they grew up with would sentence their Master to death, the Romans would do things to Him that would defy classification by today’s standards. As for the upgraded Kingdom with all its perks? Forget about it.

But thankfully, Jesus and His Kingdom were the main point of this moment. Not the disciples with their misguided attempt at “protecting” Jesus. Not even the children, who lack any status and importance to merit an audience with Him.

Jesus turned this moment not only to welcome children but also adults (including the disciples!), into a moment of great teaching significance. Jesus wasn’t inspiring them, or today’s church, to start a children’s ministry. His sight was set for something far grander: the Kingdom of God.

The Kingdom of God is not given for those who think much of themselves. No, Jesus is teaching that the Kingdom of God is given to those who realise how little they are, it doesn’t matter whether you’re 8, 48, or 80! In short, the Kingdom of God is given to those who come for the King in humility and trust.

The Kingdom of God is given to those who come for the King in humility and trust.

At our Sunday School today, the children drew a collaborative artwork in response to what they learned about Jesus’s ascension. It was, after all, the Sunday after Ascension Day.

Just kids? What do they know?

They know Jesus. Of course, they can and should know more of Him as they grow. But shouldn’t that be the spirit of all of us? We can never outgrow the need to come and be welcomed by Jesus. In matters of trusting and obeying Him, we can only come as little children.

To Think About:

• Have I allowed pride to keep me from coming to Jesus in humility and trust?
• In what ways have I acted like the disciples, by overlooking those who seem “less important” in the Kingdom of God?
• How might I help others, especially children, see that Jesus welcomes them?