Kids can be annoying. I speak from the varied experiences of being a kid, raising kids, and sitting next to kids on airplanes. But Jesus never found kids annoying or distracting. Rather, they brightened his day.

A group of parents brought their children to Jesus for a blessing, but the disciples shooed them away. More important ministry took precedence in their minds. Jesus noticed and spoke up: Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.

What does Jesus mean when he says like these children? I can be petulant and juvenile, but I’m confident that was not intended.

Kids trust those they know and tend to be shy around strangers. Yet children ran up to Jesus, no doubts about a man they’d never met. Ready to eat when hungry, nodding off when tired, kids live in the moment. Small and overlooked, children need help and aren’t afraid to ask (over and over again).

Perhaps some of these attributes yield clues. Don’t stay away—come closer to Jesus. Share your needs. Take what Jesus gives and say thank you in return. The modesty of a child’s situation, not yet a player, speaks to our need for humility.

Jesus loves the little children, is more than just a cute Sunday School song. It’s a statement of profound theological significance. Jesus indeeds loves all the children of the world, including those of us who should get over ourselves and approach him with an attitude long outgrown.

Matthew 19 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Ban Yido