Reflecting on Mark 10:13-16
"Jesus took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them." (Mark 10:16)If there is a picture in my mind of Jesus, it is this one.
Jesus is not bothered by the children.
Jesus is bothered by those who hinder or harm the children.
Consider who these children are, because Jesus wants us to be like them.
These children were weak, dependent, under the authority of others.
They did not understand everything, and probably misunderstood most things.
Likely some of them were hesitant, even afraid, to be touched by this stranger.
None of them had repented, confessed their sins, or declared their faith.
All of them, like sheep, were dependent on their shepherds.
And their shepherds (parents) were bringing them to Jesus.
Had they just brought them to the disciples, they would have been driven away.
I used to see the people of this world as lost sinners under God’s wrath.
Now I see them as lost children under God’s love.
I used to look down on such sinners, now I see them with Jesus’s compassion.
They are sheep, in need of shepherds to bring them to Jesus.
They do not need disciples of Jesus to rebuke and hinder them.
The crowds of people around us need Jesus, and He is bringing the kingdom for them.
“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.'” (Matthew 9:35-38)
Jesus has compassion on the people of our world.
He sees them as sheep, harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
These sheep do have shepherds – parents, teachers, religious leaders, rulers.
But those shepherds are NOT bringing them to Jesus.
They are rebuking them, hindering them, looking down on them.
Jesus urges His disciples to pray for – and be – compassionate workers.
Here the disciples are not being compassionate, they are being cruel.
Jesus wants to lay His hands of blessing on all who come to Him.
Jesus wants to bless all child-like people (which we all really are).
As I said above, Jesus welcomes us as we are:
Weak, dependent, under the authority of others.
Not understanding everything, probably misunderstanding most things.
Hesitant, even afraid, to be touched by this stranger.
Even if we haven’t repented, confessed our sins, or declared our faith.
Jesus wants to welcome all, to lay His hands on all, and to bless all.
Our job is to be compassionate shepherds, bringing people to Jesus.
I should be able to pray a Jesus-blessing over any and every person.
I should be able to welcome and stand with any and every person.
I should not rebuke them first, or hinder them from coming to Jesus.
Instead I should go with them, and come to Jesus like them, needing His blessing.
Jesus welcomes and blesses all who come to Him.
His indignation and rebuke is reserved for those who hinder others.
“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” (Mark 10:14)
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, forgive me, and Your church, for rebuking and hindering those who are seeking Jesus, that we do not think are good enough.
Use my hands and words to bless, and not hinder the crowds. They are God's children, those that You loved and died and rose for, and my brothers and sisters, children like me, in need of Your blessing.