Lent: A Journey to Hope in Uncertain TimesSample

The response to children runs the gambit. In some places, childhood is protected and celebrated. In other spaces, children are the most likely to be abused and neglected. In Jesus’ time, children were often seen as a liability and were certainly not worth emulating. There are multiple accounts of Jesus interacting with children in His biographies. Previously we looked at Matthew’s account of the same or similar incident. In Mark’s version, parents and caregivers bring little children to Jesus to be blessed. The disciples tried to shoo them away because they believed their rabbi had far more important things to do. Jesus stops them in this. We are told He is “indignant.” Is it possible Jesus rolled His eyes, privately musing, “Don’t you get it? My kingdom is not based on the power structures of the world. It’s not a kingdom of wealth or prestige. The hope of My kingdom belongs to hearts such as these children.”

Jesus’ words and actions in this passage can both encourage and challenge us as we seek to represent the hope of His kingdom to this world and consider (maybe reconsider!) who we model our faith and hope after. After all, who better to learn about “faith like a child” than from the children in our lives?

REFLECT

• What does Jesus’ response to the disciples say about who He is and His kingdom?

RESPOND

• How can you adopt the posture of a student to a child in your sphere today?
• What are two ways to encourage your childlike, wondrous hope?