A story about Jesus and children
(From the Gospel of Mark, chapter 10, verses 13-16)
And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.
"Mommy, why are there so many people?" Aaron asked. He was 5 years old.
His mother Rebecca held his hand tightly. "Don't let go of my hand, Aaron. I don't want to lose you in this crowd."
"But, Mommy," Aaron asked again, "why are there so many people?"
"It's the carpenter from Nazareth, Aaron," she told him. "Jesus. You've heard me talk about him." She was holding Aaron's baby sister Rachel on her hip. "Jesus has come here to teach us about God, and I want to hear what he has to say."
So do a lot of other people, Aaron thought to himself. He couldn't see anything except a bunch of grownups' legs and feet. He grabbed onto his mother's hand more tightly. She was right: if they got separated, he would get lost real easily.
Rebecca pushed her way through the crowd, pulling Aaron with her. "Excuse me, excuse me," she kept saying, "I need to get up to the front so my children can see the rabbi." Her progress was slow. People didn't want to move aside for a woman and two small children. Rebecca was so frustrated! She could hear Jesus talking, but she just couldn't get to him! If she could just get a little closer ...
"Lady, what do you think you're doing?" a man said in a booming voice. The crowd got really quiet. Rebecca noticed that even Jesus stopped talking. "Don't you know that this is not a place for children? Go home!" the man told her. "And take your kids with you."
Rebecca was angry. She yelled back, "Why can't I bring my children to see Jesus? That's a silly rule, if you ask me, sir."
"She's right, James. It is a silly rule."
Rebecca couldn't believe her ears. Jesus was speaking to this man about her and her children! He spoke again, "Let the little children come to me. Do not stop them. God's Kingdom belongs as much to them as it does to you, my friend." He added, "Maybe even more so."
The crowd began to make way for Rebecca and Aaron and Rachel. Twenty steps – Aaron counted each one of them – was all it took to get right up close to Jesus. Jesus took Rachel from her mother. Holding her with one arm, he reached out his hand to Aaron. "Come," Jesus told him. "Sit down beside me. Tell me all about yourself, and tell me about your sister, too. I'm so glad you're here."
Questions to think and pray about:
I wonder what Jesus looks like.
I wonder what Aaron told Jesus.
I wonder what you tell Jesus.