GOSPEL MEDITATION # 207
Mark 10:13-16
Let the Children Come to Me
(Read also Matthew 19:13-15 & Luke 18:15-17)
- Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions.
- Be comfortably alert, still and at peace.
- Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer
- Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself.
- Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture.
- Reread it. From memory, determine the central points.
- Parents, and perhaps other relatives, were bring children to Jesus. Luke uses the word “infants” thus small kids and of all ages.
- Was this a usual thing that children are brought to rabbis for a special prayer of blessing like Jacob blessed his sons as in Genesis 48?
- Jesus’ disciples, for reasons that are not explained, attempt to prevent Jesus from being so disturbed.
- Jesus sees it and is indignant, or angry, which is the literal meaning of the Greek word Mark uses. Again we are not told exactly why Jesus was not happy with what the disciples were doing. Notice, right in front of the crowds, Jesus expresses annoyance.
- Jesus insists that the children have a legitimate right to be brought to him. With strong words Jesus said, “Do not hinder them.”
- How it is that “such belong the kingdom of God” is not clarified for us. We can suppose that only those without power, or agenda, or strength, or knowledge, or platform, or righteous deeds – can receive or enter the kingdom.
- We know from numbers of other passages that salvation is based upon grace and nothing to do with anything an individual is or has. Clearly, salvation is based on a gift and not upon works or knowledge.
- Only the child-like enter the kingdom.