Jesus and the Children
Background for workshop leaders and Shepherds
Scripture Reference:
Luke 18:15-17
Life Guiding Verse:
1 John 3:1 (New Century Version) “The Father has loved us so much that we are called children of God”
Setting the Stage: In Jewish culture and in Roman society, an important teacher would be expected to devote his time to speaking with the well educated men of high standing in each place he traveled. Jesus was completely different. Jesus seemed to prefer the outcasts and misfits, those with little or no social or legal recognition, like women, lepers, and tax collectors. This was unsettling to the religious leaders. As Jesus taught about the Kingdom of Heaven, addressing folks who appeared not to have God’s favor at all, the leaders wanted to know just who Jesus thought would be able to enter the kingdom of heaven. While Jesus was trying to explain who would be invited and how they would come into God’s kingdom, parents intruding with their children provided Jesus with an ideal illustration.
In a Nutshell: A blessing was thought to carry the power of God’s favor, particularly if it came from a respected man of God, so it is not hard to understand why parents brought their children to be blessed by Jesus. However, children fell into the category of “unimportant people with no social standing.” The disciples seemed to find their presence an annoying distraction from Jesus’ conversations with the “important” men. As the disciples were trying to turn away the parents with their children, Jesus intervened. He said, “Let the children come to me! Don’t try to stop them. People who are like these children belong to God’s Kingdom.” This was the answer to the religious leaders’ question. How does one gain entry to the Kingdom of Heaven? Jesus told them, “You will never get into God’s kingdom unless you enter it like a child.” In other words, one must enter as someone who has no legal claim, who knows their dependence on God, and who trusts in God with the innocence of a child.
Using the Story With Children: (written in retrospect—my original comments that I handed out to volunteers were inadequate) In using this story with our children recently, children were able to grasp the concept of blessing--”a prayer for the good of a person.” They also seemed to really latch on to the idea that Jesus wasn't your ordinary VIP. THEY know that important people don't have to trouble themselves with children, but Jesus didn't just put up with children—he WANTED them there. They were able to understand the difference between self-reliance and God-reliance – we made the comparison by asking them if they were ready to take care of themselves; without exception they recognized their need for the adults in their lives. We were able to use that to point out that grown-ups sometimes think they can take care of themselves, and often forget that they need God. Even the younger kids made comments that adults needed to remember that God gave them their bread-winning skills. The older kids really got on a roll talking about what gets in the way of coming to Jesus (we put it in terms of being full participants in the family of God)—they came up with all the things I anticipated (video games, tv, sports, busy-ness) AND they also volunteered “laziness” and “unbelief.”
A lesson set from First Presbyterian Church
Nevada, MO
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