One day when Jesus was ministering to the multitudes and conflicting with his critics, devoted parents, wanting their children to get close to Jesus hoping that he might touch them and pray for them, began to make their way through the crowds to the front row. The disciples, before they really understood the heart of Christ, began to discourage them, as though “the master” had more important things to do with the grown-ups. Witnessing the disconnect, Jesus averts the dysfunctional ideas of his followers by inviting the children to come close to Him. And then Jesus teaches everyone not to stand in the way of the heart of a child that wants to be with Him — for this is such that the kingdom of Heaven is made up of. The children are touched, the families are blessed, and the believers celebrate when God’s mind is revealed on Earth, as it is in Heaven.
Jesus had been expounding upon “the Kingdom of Heaven” principles throughout his teaching ministry. But the idea that those whom they thought should “run off and play somewhere” were actually central to the whole thing must have thrown them for a loop. We usually position ourselves at the center of our universe as though it is all about us. This can be recognized during prayer when most of the requests are about one’s own needs or desires. It can be seen more clearly in conversation when everything is evaluated and judged according to one’s personal understanding and opinion. The psychoanalysts often label it an overinflated ego. The Bible teaches of our sinful and selfish nature. But somehow, we posture ourselves, and the way we relate to God, as though the pinnacle of priority. In this case, they presumed that informed and thoughtful discourse trumps the simple loving interaction and acceptance of closeness, prayer, giving and receiving of blessings.
Jesus had recently taught about the need for the simple faith of a child. Now He was insisting that his followers did not hold back others who came to Him on that basis. To be sure, as we mature, there is something from our childhood that we should never outgrow. As though forgotten treasure, Jesus calls his people back to a source of deep and replenishing joy. But his focus on this day was on the ones who would become the roadblock to another, convincing themselves they have done something good. Do you stand in the way of others approaching Jesus with their childlike faith? Do you load them up with your own hang-ups, consternations, frustrations, theologies, and philosophies so that the straight way to Jesus becomes murky? What a tragedy! If you ignore the admonition of Christ on this, and another soul in negatively impacted, He may want to address this face to face someday.
Some dads refuse to bring their children to church when they want to come. Certain moms insist on replicating their crises of faith in their offspring. The Bible is off limits in many homes, and prayer is left for only the most desperate of moments. Some grandparents discourage rather than encourage their lineage from following Jesus. And even among those who profess to believe, selfish endeavors often drown any authentic consistency and it fogs up what used to be clear.
I’ve discovered that Jesus is attractive to children and the child-like. He seems to have exactly what is needed! One doesn’t need to convince a child to come to Jesus. Children are often good judges of character and they discern the difference between those that want them around and those that don’t. When Jesus is presented accurately, without the masks of religiosity and the guise of human overtones, children want to climb up into his lap, hold onto his face, and gaze into his adoring eyes, and feel the deep, penetrating, transformative power that can only come from being completely loved by the almighty God.
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