Children should NOT be seen or heard

Scripture:
Mark 10:13 – And they were bringing children to Him so that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked them.
 
Observation:
In this incident many people are bringing their children to Jesus so that he may touch them.  It is safe to assume that some of the children would have been sick or lame and that their parents, having heard that Jesus was a healer, was hoping that the touch of Jesus was going to provide healing. And it is also safe to assume that some of the children were being brought to Jesus with the hope that he would touch them and bless them. Whatever the motivational factor this verse makes it clear that the disciples were going to have no part of it. After all, these men knew that their leader, Jesus, was a very important man and they were getting used to large crowds pressing in on Jesus to receive from Him. They perceived part of their purpose to be to provide security for Jesus – sort of like Jewish bouncers. It is clear from Jesus’ response to them that they felt that a bunch of little kids were too insignificant to deserve a one-on-one with Jesus. Yet Jesus goes so far as to say that, “…whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all” (verse 15).
 
Application:
When I read this Scripture and attempt to find a way to apply it to my life, two things emerge. The first is what I perceive to be the most obvious and clear application. If I desire to understand and take part in the kingdom of God then I must be humble and trusting, much like a child. To come to God any other way is impossible. The second thing that I pick up when reading this scripture is that if I am not careful then I may, like the disciples, end up keeping those that Christ desires to come to Him from actually doing so. Many Christians have been guilty of either pressuring people to clean up their lives so that they could then come to Christ or by making the process of coming to Christ way too difficult and cumbersome. How many people have walked away from faith in Christ because well intentioned Christians have turned them away and kept them from coming to Christ? May I always remember that we are all to come to Jesus as one of these little ones.
 
Prayer:
Holy and loving God please help me to understand what child-like faith is all about. I desire to have that type of faith and trust in you. Forgive me for not approaching you like that all the time. I also pray that you will help me to learn the lesson of this incident with the disciples. May I never be guilty of keeping anyone from coming to you. Amen.
 
— Darren Miley, student pastor