Jesus Loves Kids
Suffer the little children to come unto me is a story told in all three gospels. Jesus spent so much time blessing children, healing children, and telling stories to children. Lets look at some examples. We could start with the story of his disciples wanting to send the kids away. Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.
But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 19:13,14
I like Mark’s perspective “he was much displeased” But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Mark 10:14
Luke the doctor calls them infants, so mostly mothers were probably bringing their babies to be blessed. I love that thought.
And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Luke 18:15,16
Then we have all the wonderful stories of Jesus both healing and raising from the dead specific children.
For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet: The woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter. But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it unto the dogs. And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children’s crumbs. And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter. And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed. Mark 7:25-30
Jesus cast out devils in adults as well, I am always so happy for the mother and daughter in this story. She was a really persistent woman, to go to Jew for help and have enough faith to persist despite the lack of an immediate answer.
Let’s take a look at another story of a little girl that was the daughter of Jairus. This story is found in two of he gospels lets start with Matthews version which tucks a great story into the middle.
And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet, And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live. And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him. And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague. While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further? As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe. And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James. And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly. And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying. And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment. And he charged them straightly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat. Mark 5:35-43
Luke tells the story in Luke 8:40-56. It is told with the story of the woman who suffered and was healed by touching his garment again in the middle of it. Two very wonderful stories.
Jesus told John’s disciples to go back to him as he had doubts in prison and tell John what they witnessed. Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. Luke 7:22
We are promised that we also are God’s children through faith in Jesus.
For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:26
The answer to how is found in Ephesians Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, Ephesians 1:5
When Jesus was preaching to the poor he was also preaching to children both adopted into God’s family by faith and youngsters. In first John we have the promise that Jesus will intercede for us in heaven “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:” 1 John 2:1
My prayer is that each of you will find peace and comfort in God’s loving adoption.
Links to great Bible studies and resources for kids
The Bible in Living Sound
Your Story Hour
Adventurers Bible Award
Adventurer Bible Award
Pathfinder Honors
Created by Judy Woodworth All Rights Reserved 2018