Mark 10:13-16
The Little Children and Jesus
13 People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 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. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.
Jesus welcomes those in need and those who are overlooked in society, even though they are a part of the society unit...This includes young growing children who are sometimes not considered important in society and the wonderful, mysterious role they play in societies and communities...Jesus emphasizes their value and their place in God's Kingdom...
Jesus teaches us the importance of humility and trust...Children are naive and possess the natural qualities of openness, trust, and dependence...Children are naturally inquisitive and approach the world with a fresh perspective, always asking questions and finding joy in what they discover...They see the world as a mysterious environment to explore, looking for these new discoveries...Children are full of wonder and always wanting and wishing to learn...A playing child is a sight to behold, a truly wondrous site watching their trust, learning, exploring and expressing themselves...One might say there is a Spiritual Nature around a child and children playing...Children experience emotions vividly and live in the moment, embracing simple pleasures and finding joy in their everyday experiences...They have many emotions of joy and enthusiasm seeing things for the first time...Children have this pureness and innocence about them...
The Disciples did not react with these above characteristics of children...As people were bringing little children to Jesus for Him to place His Hands on them, the disciples rebuked the people...They may have thought the children were interrupting Jesus' ministry work...The Disciples were excluding the people and children with this rebuking...Jesus ministry and teachings are all inclusive...
These verses about children emphasizes the importance of welcoming the vulnerable, embracing childlike qualities, and recognizing the value of innocence, wonder, mystery, and dependence on God...It serves as a reminder to approach faith with humility, openness, and trust...Jesus suggests and says that these qualities of children are necessary for entering the Kingdom of God, urging adults to approach faith with a similar childlike attitude...Jesus teaches us that anyone who will not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it...