13 And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. 14a But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, "Let the children come to me; do not hinder them..."
The Story
In this brief story, we encounter four main characters.
First, there are those who brought the children to Jesus. They were likely parents and older siblings, people who loved each child. They wanted this famous rabbi to bless the children, so they brought them to Jesus for a rabbinical touch of his hands.
Second, there are the disciples of Jesus. They had a lesson to learn in this interaction. They thought they knew all about the kingdom of God—who was in, who was out, and who Jesus should most certainly not be bothered by. And though they didn't understand Christ's coming cross, they could tell something was weighing on Jesus' mind, so they wanted him to have his space. They needed to relearn the kingdom and hear Jesus' words.
Third, there are the children. They were innocent bystanders, but Jesus took them in his arms and blessed them. Some were likely babies, while others could have been as old as pre-teens. We don't know what happened to their lives, but we can assume, with Christ’s blessing, they were set on a different course.
Fourth, and finally, there is Jesus. He had already told his disciples to receive people like children in his name (9:37). He warned them millstones awaited those who cause little children to stumble (9:42). He loved children. What you get mad about says a lot about you. Jesus was indignant when his disciples kept him from the children. And, in this passage, there is one attribute of children Jesus thought exemplary.
The whole episode is moving. In it, we see what we instinctively know of Jesus, that he is gentle, loving, and accepts people with open arms.
But how should this story impact us today? What attitudes could shift? How should we think of our youngest generations? What kind of people enjoy God's kingdom? And how can we receive this kingdom today?
13 And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. 14a But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, "Let the children come to me; do not hinder them..."
Let The Children Come To Me
Jesus quickly rebuked the disciples' rebuke. They had stood outside the house, policing who went in to see Jesus. They knew Jesus was the King of a kingdom, but they still needed to understand the nature of that kingdom. So they kept this important man protected from little people of no consequence.
There are two parts to Jesus' rebuke. Each shows us we should help the next generation get to Christ. First, he says they must "let the children come" to him (14). Second, they must "not hinder them" (14). Let's consider both.
Don't Hinder Them
Their Society
Their society was not in love with children. Kids were not worshiped, nor were they appropriately respected. Instead, they were overlooked until adulthood. Their value was tied to what they produced and their father's identity. So the disciples did what was necessary to keep the children from Jesus. To them, these kids weren't significant or valuable enough to visit Christ. But Jesus viewed them as precious, and the disciples should not have hindered them.
Our Society
We might think our society has gotten it right when it comes to children, but it still harms kids in its own way. Our society is utterly confused about how to handle children. It is full of paradoxes.
On the one hand, we applaud raids on human trafficking and the rescue of children enslaved by these programs. On the other hand, entire industries aim at clothing, fashioning, and shaping youth into sensual and provocative people.
On the one hand, we create marvelous opportunities for disadvantaged or disabled children. On the other hand, millions of pre-born babies are killed while still in the womb because they aren't desired.
On the one hand, we protect children who are being abused, believing they aren't old enough to give their consent. On the other hand, our society believes our littlest children are old enough to decide their gender and receive hormone therapy.
On the one hand, we were outraged at Harvey Weinstein's exploitation of young women. On the other hand, two weeks before his arrest, our society celebrated the life of Hugh Hefner, a man who spent his life exploiting young women.
We are a nation of contradictions when it comes to our children. And all of these harmful practices are demonically designed to keep children from Jesus.
Our Christianity
But we should not only consider our society a hindrance to the young. Jesus' disciples were the ones in the way in our story, and modern disciples must be careful to avoid putting roadblocks in the way of the next generation.
Children are most benefited when the church models genuine Christianity. When we are spiritually alive, when our homes are saturated with the gospel, God’s word, prayer, and grace, our children are evangelized, discipled, strengthened, and empowered. But legalism combats evangelism, hypocrisy dilutes the word, and shallow instruction makes them vulnerable.
Let Us All Be Parents
In a sense, every mature Christian can see themselves in a parental way. You might be married or unmarried, with children or without children—but every mature believer can be a parent. Every consecrated Christian is an example for others to follow.
In recent years, after being away from the gathering due to Covid, many Christians rejoiced at the joy of gathering again. When one friend of mine returned, she told me it was wonderful to be at church in person because of all the people she got to see. She and her husband are godly people and have modeled their Christianity very well through their family and work in our community for many years.
So I told her the gathering was also a chance for her and her husband to be seen. People younger than them need models of solid, biblical, loving believers. We are building our vision of "the good life," and corporate worship is one way we build that vision. We look around and see what Christianity looks like. To see this godly couple standing, holding hands high, loving Jesus together is an inspiration.
Perhaps you sense a desire to impact the next generation for Christ. Maybe it's your own son or daughter. Or perhaps it's teenagers, college students, or younger adults. Know this: they are full of questions, and you must give thoughtful, nuanced answers. This is sometimes hard to do, considering the upside-down morality their world promotes to them. If you want to reach them, one thing you must do is learn.
Before we wrap up, I should mention the timing of this whole event in Jesus' life. He was on his way to die on the cross. The disciples were all around him, but he was the loneliest man in the world. The mood was somber.
And these children were likely a blessing to him. They gave him hope and energy. They were why he was going to the cross. The way of these kiddos probably gave him a reprieve on his journey to Mount Calvary.