Read Mark 10:13–16. What did Jesus do for those who brought children to Him?

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While children were greatly desired in the ancient world (particularly

boys in the male-dominant culture), birth and childhood were not easy.

Without modern medical care, the risks to mothers in giving birth and

to newborns, infants, and children were elevated. Many cultures had

traditional medicines and amulets used to protect these vulnerable

individuals against malevolent forces.

While children were desired, they were of low social status, along the

lines of slaves, actually (Gal. 4:1, 2). In the Greco-Roman world, those

who were deformed or undesirable would be exposed, or even tossed

in a river. Boys were valued over girls; sometimes girl babies were left

to die among the elements. At times these abandoned babies were “rescued,” only to be raised and sold as slaves.

The disciples appear not to have understood Jesus’ teaching in Mark

9 about receiving the kingdom of God like a child (Mark 9:33–37).

Now they rebuke those who brought children to Jesus for blessing,

perhaps thinking that He would not have time for such a simple task.

They were wrong. Jesus is indignant. Throughout Mark, Jesus has

some striking reactions to people, and it is instructive that one of His

strong reactions was toward people who were keeping children away

from Him.

He strongly insists that the disciples must not stand in the way of the

children. Why? Because the kingdom of God belongs to them, and one

must receive it in the attitude and outlook of a child—probably a reference to simple, implicit trust in God.

“Let not your un-Christlike character misrepresent Jesus. Do not

keep the little ones away from Him by your coldness and harshness.

Never give them cause to feel that heaven would not be a pleasant place

to them if you were there. Do not speak of religion as something that

children cannot understand, or act as if they were not expected to accept

Christ in their childhood. Do not give them the false impression that

the religion of Christ is a religion of gloom, and that in coming to the

Saviour they must give up all that makes life joyful.”—Ellen G. White,

The Ministry of Healing, pp. 43, 44.

How can you better reveal Jesus to whatever children are around

you?