Learning from Children

Then he put a little child among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, “Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not only me but also my Father who sent me.” Mark 9:36-37

Jesus is a teacher. He is probably the greatest teacher who ever existed. We read in these two verses a simple but powerful lesson that he teaches his disciples.

In the previous verses, the disciples are arguing about who will be the greatest. You might  expect that Jesus would quell their argument but proclaiming his deity as the Son of God. You  could anticipate Jesus summoning an army of angels to prove the point that he is the greatest. But he didn’t. Instead, he brings a little child into the conversation. 

He takes the child in his arms. It makes me wonder. What was it like to be in Jesus’ arms? What did He smell like? What did his skin feel like? How did his heartbeat sound? Remember, Jesus was fully God, and also fully man.

By bringing a child into the conversation with these Jewish men, Jesus places value on his young life. You see, children weren’t welcomed into circles where adults were. They were shooed away. In fact, they weren’t even regarded as family, but more like property. Instead of following these typical customs, Jesus does the opposite. As Jesus does. 

Jesus welcomes this child. And in doing so, He sets the standard for how others should show hospitality. 

I love that Jesus here intentionally displays how he values every human life. We’ve seen him care for the ones who have been sick, the women who were considered less than, the outcasts who lived along the edges of society, and the ones that are young. 

In Matthew’s gospel, he writes, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ (Matthew 25:40) This reminds us that Jesus values the ones that society and culture deem worthless, and we should too. Remember too, that Jesus came not to sphere served, but to be the servant of all. He made himself low. He took on flesh, to bear our sin and shame, and make a way for us to be reunited with the Father. Everyone deserves that free gift of salvation! 

Whoever welcomes the servant welcomes Jesus, and even more powerfully, welcomes the Father. This is what God is like. He is a father who cares for children, for the outcasts, for the sick, the widows, the orphans, and the lonely. As a child of God, I want to be just like my Father!

PAUSE: What is your reaction to welcoming someone who typically doesn’t fit into your circle of friends? Do you welcome them like you would Jesus?

PRACTICE: Show hospitality to someone that you normally would not to today! Reach out to a neighbor. Send a text to an estranged friend. Make eye contact and smile at the cashier.

PRAY: Heavenly Father, I thank you for the free gift of salvation. Thank you for showing us what you are like through your word. You care for every human being. Help me to extend the same gift of hospitality and humility to those around me, just like you did, Jesus. Amen