What do you think is most important to Jesus? His disciples were just sure they knew. After all, they had come to the correct conclusion that He was the Messiah Whom God had promised would rule over all Israel. And of course they had seen Him do mighty miracles of healing. So they naturally concluded that Jesus should occupy Himself with the serious business of medicine and politics. The disciples thus couldn’t imagine that Jesus would have time for children, who were considered the weakest, least significant members of society.
But they couldn’t have been more wrong. For in reality, Jesus wasn’t the least bit concerned with who happened to be in power in the Roman province of Judea in the 1st Century A.D. And the sad fact is that every single one of the people to whom Jesus brought physical healing eventually died anyway. No, it turns out that even the most serious medical and political concerns are only temporary. They only matter in this world.
But the good news is that Jesus has different priorities. For it is those who know they are weak, those who are willing to admit their helplessness, those who trust completely in their Father to take care of them – it’s those who are most precious to Jesus. For it is only those who approach Him in such a way, those who come to Him and trust Him the way children love and trust their parents, who will find welcome and blessing, not just in this world, but forever.
Yes, the good news is that, no matter how unimportant or insignificant you may consider yourself to be, Jesus laid down His life for sinners just like you. And He always has time for anyone who will abandon their pride and self-importance, coming to Him in humble faith. So, let us take Him at His word today as we seek His face in prayer and walk with Him in faith, hope, and love.
Mark 10:13-16 (NASB)
13 And they were bringing children to Him so that He might touch them; and the disciples rebuked them.
14 But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, “Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
15 “Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it at all.”
16 And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands upon them.
