Jesus Protects the Little Children from the Disciples
Dare I take another look at Mark 10:13-16? (The full text is below) This passage about Jesus with the children has multiple character elements of Jesus. Read the text and see how many character elements of Jesus you can find. Really, give it a try. Write them down.
When I read Jesus’ encounter with the children, I immediately see Jesus’ clean anger with His disciples as He has to correct Peter, James, John and the others for trying to block the children and the parents with babies from coming to Him. He is “indignant” and it is probably pretty intense! Then, I also see the compassion of Jesus as He takes the children in His arms and really holds them. He doesn’t just pat them on the head but He holds them. Earlier in Mark 9:36 He is settling an argument among the disciple regarding which of them is the greatest. Again He takes a child “in His arms.” It probably happened on many occasions as Jesus connected with families and kids. You and get a sense for Jesus’ approachability. The kids actually come to Him. I can NOT see them coming to the Pharisees! Jesus is very approachable! And the fourth character element I see is Jesus’ protection.
The funny thing is that Jesus’ intense correction for His followers (without rejection) is actually protection for the little children, the parents with babies and other people who “want to be near Jesus.”
Strange I never saw that in Jesus. I only got offended by His indignation towards the disciples. But His intensity protects access to Him for the weak and the vulnerable from domineering followers! Raw protection!
Take Away:
God Is Just Like Jesus:
Jesus clean anger, compassion and approachability reveal the Father’s healthy anger, clean compassion and approachability. Jesus’ protection of weak and vulnerable people reveals God’s protection of the weak and vulnerable. The Father is exactly like the Son! And the Holy Spirit is exactly like the Son!
1st Commandment Prayer:
Jesus you have an amazing range of emotions and character aspects! (Although I suppose you should since you are the God-man!) The more I discover the full range of who you are, the more amazed I become. You are the only truly “healthy” person that has ever lived! Not only are you without sin, but you are the fullness of healthy and goodness! I love your protection for the last and the least and those who don’t have a loud voice! Help me see your protection in my own life history so that I might enjoy you more!
This week’s Text: Mark 10:13-16
People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 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. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.
Jesus Protects the Little Children from the Disciples