He Took Them in His Arms
“People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.”
— Mark 10:13-16 (NIV)
People were bringing little children to Jesus so he would lay his hands on them. The disciples scolded them and tried to send them away. The text does not say why. Jesus saw it and was indignant with his own disciples. He told them to let the children come and to stop standing in their way. The kingdom of God, he said, belongs to children like these. Then he did more than anyone had asked. He took the children in his arms, laid his hands on them and blessed them.
A child rarely comes to you at a convenient moment. Maybe they bring you the same drawing for the fifth time while you are answering a work message. You say "not now" without looking up. Most of the time you are just tired. But what the child hears is that they are in the way. The disciples were sending children away from Jesus too, and he was indignant with them.
Don't Send the Child Away
- 1When a child comes to you at an awkward moment today, put down your phone or whatever you are doing and give them two full minutes. If you really cannot stop, look at them and tell them when you will come.
- 2If there is no child around you today and someone else's child is fussing in a store or on the bus, don't give the parent a look. Smile at them instead.
Lord Jesus, you did not send the children away. You took them in your arms and blessed them. I often say "not now" before I even look up. Today, when a child comes to me, help me stop and give them my attention. And when someone else's child is loud near me, help me be kind to the parents. Amen.
When a child comes to me today, I will put down what I am doing.
Who was Jesus angry with here?
His own disciples. They were keeping children away from Him and He calls it hindering.
Why were the disciples sending the children away?
The text does not say. It only says that Jesus was indignant and told them to let the children come.
What does He actually do?
He picks them up, puts His hands on them and blesses them. The scene ends in contact, not in a lesson.