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.”
- Mark 10:14–15 (NIV11)
What was it about these children that led Jesus to proclaim that "the kingdom of God belongs to such as these"? Was it their innocence, their purity, their simplicity of faith? Let me suggest that it was none of the above. Anyone who has ever spent a day with a toddler will attest to the fact that they are neither innocent nor pure. They are able to disobey, lie, deceive, bully others, steal cookies and toys, and throw temper tantrums. As the psalmist reminds us, "Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me" (Psalm 51:1). And as for simplicity of faith, surely Jesus is not telling us that ignorance and blind compliance in matters of faith is a virtue.
So what made these kids so special? The answer is revealed to us in an earlier passage from Mark 9:35-37, where Jesus picks up a child and tells his disciples: “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all. ... Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.” The parallel account in Luke reads, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.” (Luke 9:48)
You see, these children were lifted up as an example for us, not because they or purer, more innocent, or more genuine in their faith, but rather because they were the least among them; they were "the very last". In Jesus' day, children had no status until they became old enough to be useful. They were worthless in the eyes of society without rights or entitlements; they could be bought, sold, enslaved or married off by parents to honour debts owed and financial arrangements made.
What Jesus is saying is not, that we must come to God in innocence and simplicity of faith but rather as worthless children who have nothing to offer. Unless we set aside everything, including our perceived worth in the eyes of the world, and are willing to be "servants of all," we will not enter the kingdom of God.
Prayer:
Loving God, we confess that we all too often forget the extent to which we were broken and lost before you claimed us as your own. We confess that we deceive ourselves into believing that we are good and worthy people acceptable to you because of what we have done for you. Forgive us our arrogance. Humble us anew that we might enter into your presence as little children, once worthless yet now precious in your sight through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Thank you, Michel. Most pertinent
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