Childlike Faith

Jesus' disciples tried to talk him out of going to Jerusalem to be crucified, he used despised Samaritans and tax collectors as examples of how we are to live, the Prodigal Son's father welcomed the wayward son back, washed his disciples' feet, teaches that there is more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than 99 people who do not need repentance, and in this passage he prioritizes children above the adults.

Do any of those things make sense according to the world's values? To yours?

Truthfully, I probably would have been right alongside Jesus' disciples shooing the children away from Jesus. Jesus would have been surrounded by people who needed what only he could do, as well as those who came to hear him teach. The children would only get in the way, I would think.

Instead, shocking human values and ideas, Jesus calls for the children and tells his disciples to let them come. In fact, he tells them, that it is for people like these children that the kingdom of God belongs.

But, what should shock us to our core, if we truly consider what it means, Jesus says, "Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.”