Children with Jesus

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Jesus was very upset with the way his disciples treated some children, once!

Very concerned about the "welfare" of the Master, his apprentices rebuked the parents who brought their children to be blessed by the Lord. "Let me go to the little ones, do not stop them, because of such is the kingdom of God" (Mk 10,14), was the reproach of Jesus!

We have some things to observe and learn from the times Jesus was with the children. Let's see Mark 10,13-16:

"Then they brought the little children, who should be touched, but the disciples rebuked them" (v.13).

Statistics have shown that the average age at which most people convert ranges from the following: from 5 to 15 years - 85%, from 15 to 30 - 10%, after 30 - 4%, before 5 - one% . The vast majority of conversions occur in childhood and adolescence!

The little ones are more sensitive to the love of God; children are more humble and break more easily; children are more curious and open to news the devil knowing that has used the whole system of the current world to attract them to himself, in order to take them to hell early !.

God is no respecter of persons, nor does he respect the ages! From the womb he cares for us (Ps 139.13-16a, Jr 1.4-8), and until our old age he will still import with us and take care of us (Is 46.3-4).

It is very likely that those children who were being taken to Jesus, in fact, are taking their parents to the Master. They did not know if they were touched by Him or not, but certainly, they were eager to touch Him.

However, they would have problems ahead: among them were the disciples. Ah! People who so many times hinder what helps, more spread than it gathers! May God have mercy on the disciples of his son! Woe to us, when in some way - consciously or unconsciously - we impede, we hinder, we serve as an obstacle, we obstruct, we disturb the approach, the relationship, the communion of the little ones with Jesus. He wants to take them in his arms, wants to touch them, impose their hands and bless them (Mk 10.16).

"But Jesus saw this, and was angry, and said to them: Let the little ones come to me, do not forbid them, for such is the kingdom of God" (v.14).

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Jesus, the one who knew no sin, the one who gave himself for love, the one who washed the disciples' feet, the one who is holy, holy, holy, was outraged. Have you seen Jesus outraged? It is better to take the whips up close! See what he says of those who stumble a child: "Any person, however, who causes one of these little ones to believe in me, better for him than to put a large millstone around his neck, and to sink him in deep in the sea "(Mt 18,6). Contrary to what many adults think, children believe, yes, in Jesus.

Contrary to what many adults think, especially moms and dads, children do not come to meetings just to eat cookies, drink water, go to the bathroom, run around the room, etc ... No! They can also and must run into the arms of Jesus, touch Him, be touched and blessed by Him.

"Do not stop it!" Said Jesus. In no way should we act like the disciples who tried to prevent children from approaching the Lord because of their spontaneity, their natural restlessness, their childhood ... After all, they are children. But when in our encounters with Jesus (wherever he may be), as parents and as a church, we leave our children loose, self-absorbed, distracted in games, distracting other children whose parents strive to take shelter at the feet of the Master, there, even without a bad intention, we are also tripping the little ones.

The Word says: "Everything has its time, and a time for everything under heaven" (Ecclesiastes 3: 1). And also, in verse 7 we read: "There is a time of silence and time of conversation"; and Solomon was writing specifically for the children, but he had also written: "There is no time to play and the time to stop playing". And this corresponds to us, mainly parents, to teach and guide our children.

We know, and children better know that they can sit still, sit, concentrate for a certain period of time: televisions and video games that say it! It is logical that we have to have a good sense and not wait for small children to be interested in preaching or teaching that they are not understanding. But they must, be taught early, that when one person is speaking, the others must remain silent and attention, because this is polite.

It is probable that children do not learn anything with the word "ministering, but they will certainly learn with the discipline of having to calm down for a certain time!" When we are gathered in the name of Jesus, He is present, therefore, if we do not leave to the children to go to Him, instead of that, leaving us complacent, playing, running, distracting, we can lead him to get indignant with us.

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If the kingdom of God belongs to someone beyond Him, he belongs to the little ones, to the children. In addition, once he called a child, Jesus told his disciples: "Truly, I say to you, do not turn back, and do not act as children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven" (Mt 18,3). Very interesting, we, who must teach children the way they should walk (Pv 22.6), we must learn from them how to enter the kingdom of heaven.

The disciples of Jesus, in those days like today, are very concerned about the question of who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven (and in men too!). "[...] that humble himself as this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven" (Mt 18,4), is still the response of Jesus.

Children are not very concerned about the labels, positions and titles, they want to play, they want to live! Children are always willing to serve, they like to be useful. Children, even when reprimanded, remain willing to learn, to help ... Children break and forgive more easily, and do not hold a grudge or remain "stuck" for a long time!

Jesus said more: "[...] that I receive a child like this in my name, he receives me" (Mt 18,5). How have we seen the children? Does it occur to us that when a child approaches us, Jesus is approaching together? Are we willing to receive from God through the children? When we are somewhere and a couple or an adult with one or more children arrives, we hug the adults, we kiss the adults ... And the children? Are they awaiting fulfillment or do they pass through us already accustomed to neglect and even contempt on our part?

"So he took them in his arms and putting his hands on them, he blessed them" (v.16).
This is still the desire of Jesus in the modern, technological and modern world of today. Have we taken time to take our children in our arms, pray with them and bless them? Or we are busy more in the corridor of our cities, involved in the "work", of "closed eyes" in the cults and home meetings; so busy that we can not offer our arms and hands to the Lord so that He can, through us, bless our children, their little ones?

When Peter was asked if he loved him, Jesus told him three times that he was shepherding his sheep (Jn 21.15-17). But keep in mind that the first time Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." He could also be referring to his little disciples, to the children, because in the end, the lambs are puppies of the sheep. This same order is for each one of us. When we think about making disciples, does it happen to us that we can also make them among the little ones?

Shortly before returning to heaven, Jesus did not forget to entrust his disciples to take care of the children, because as we well know, He loves and cares for all of us, each one of us. He also warns us: "Let the little ones come to me, do not stop them, because of such is the kingdom of God!" (Mk 10,14).