Ep. 80: Little Children

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MATTHEW 19:13-15, MARK 10:13-16, LUKE 18:15-17

The next incident came straight afterwards. The account of his blessing of ‘infants’ and ‘little children’ is a scene of unspeakable sweetness and tenderness, where all is in character, even the conduct of the disciples as we remember their recent inability to fully grasp the teachings of the Master. We can understand how, when one such as Jesus rested in the house, Jewish mothers should have brought their ‘little children’ and some their ‘infants’ to him, that he might put his hands on them and pray. What power and holiness must these mothers have believed to be in his touch and prayer; what life to be in and to come from him; and what gentleness and tenderness must his have been when they dared so to bring these little ones!

This seemed to be incompatible with the supposed dignity of a Rabbi, judging by the rebuke of the disciples. Jesus ‘was much displeased’, the only time this strong word is used of him and he said to them, ‘Suffer the little children to come to me, hinder them not, for of such is the Kingdom of God.’ Then he gently reminded his own disciples of their grave error, by repeating what they had apparently forgotten, that, in order to enter the Kingdom of God, it must be received as by a little child. That here there could be no question of intellectual qualification, nor of distinction due to a great Rabbi, but only of humility, receptiveness, meekness and simple trust in him.

This is an extract from the book, Jesus : Life and Times, available for £10 here (Finalist for Academic Book of the year at 2023 CRT awards)