Where Is Your Hope?Sample

Toddler Self-Sufficiency

Jesus was still on his way to Jerusalem and had just finished a series of teachings on God’s kingdom and prayer. In Luke 17:21, Jesus proclaims that the kingdom of God was in their midst. But not all will have eyes to see this kingdom. Not all will have faith focused on Jesus, and therefore, not all will enter.

Throughout the New Testament, we see examples of the kind of faith that leads to the kingdom. One of the clearest examples of this faith is found in Luke 18:15-17. Here, needy parents were placing their children on Jesus’ lap so that these little ones might receive His prayers and blessings. The disciples responded like any good Jewish disciples in the first century would: they chastised the crowds and told them to leave their rabbi alone.

In rabbinical circles touching unknown children would have been avoided if possible. Children were messy and could not have been expected to abide by the Jewish rules of cleanliness. If someone touched a child who had just touched something unclean, that uncleanliness would be passed on. Thus, children were a cleanliness liability.

But Jesus did not see it that way.

When He encountered those who were unclean, He didn’t become spiritually dirty. No, quite the opposite, those who encountered Jesus became spiritually clean.

While the disciples rebuked parents for bringing their children to Jesus, Jesus rebuked the disciples for inhibiting them. “The kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these,” Jesus said. “Anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” The word used for these children in verse 15 implies they were likely no older than toddlers and infants.

What does it mean that only those who are like toddlers and infants will receive the kingdom? Infants are innately powerless and vulnerable. They are dependent. They need others to keep them alive. Toddlers are messy and can barely clean themselves. If you want a clean life, don’t have a toddler.

So what is Jesus saying? At our best, we’re still dependent and incapable of cleaning the messiness of our lives. We are vulnerable, inherently in need of someone to care for us. When we realize this, we are one step closer to seeing and receiving all that God has for us through his Son. We are one step closer to the kingdom.