Into the Arms of Jesus: Mark 10:13-16

God wants to be a part of life with us.  On a spiritual level, this statement is a bit absurd.  He created life.  Whether we want Him or not, He is a part of life.  In fact, God sustains life.  Yet, there is more to it than fact.  Even though He is already in life, God desires for us to want Him to be there.

As Jesus is teaching, some people bring their children so Jesus might touch them.  The disciples see this behavior and they rebuke the people.  Before judging disciples harshly, their intentions might have been good or bad.  They might have thought the children weren’t worth Jesus’ time.  They might have been jealous of the time Jesus was spending with the crowd.  They might have been trying to prevent Jesus from becoming a magical talisman in the eyes of the crowd.

This is a problem with faith.  Faith is largely internal and dependent upon our personal relationship with the Father.  While everything He calls us to do is consistent with His character, it can be hard to figure out what is right.  Sometimes compassion is the right response, other times tough love is called for.  Faith isn’t so simple as giving people what they want so they feel loved.

The disciples choose a path of action; this time their choice is poor.  Jesus rebukes them and invites the children to come.  Whether their hearts were in the right or wrong place, their choice was contrary to Jesus’ will.  Jesus takes the children into His arms and blesses them.

What can be learned?  First, there are no small people in the kingdom of God.  God loves everyone regardless of age, status, intelligence, or popularity.  Nobody is too small to receive His blessing.  Even children – who may not realize what they are doing as adults tell them what to do – are viable recipients of God’s blessing.

Second, Jesus does use the word for child, “paidon” (παιδίον), in this passage.  We are talking about young people here.  We are talking about people who are figuring out life and not mature enough to make their own decisions.  We are talking about people who need encouragement to step out in faith.  Jesus cares about the children.

Third, we can extrapolate this spiritually.  People are young in birth age; people are young in spiritual age.  Full grown adults who are new to their faith need as much affirmation and encouragement as children.  All young need to feel welcomed, loved, appreciated, and blessed.

Fourth, people make mistakes.  Jesus’ elite cadre of disciples messed up.  Jesus rebuked them but didn’t cast them out.  He taught a lesson and invited them to continue the relationship.  Mistakes shouldn’t terminate relationship between mentor and mentee.

This is a passage about God’s love.  Children are welcomed and blessed.  Adults make mistakes and are invited to continue relationship.  In God’s love, we see a great truth about Him.  God wants to be a part of life with us.