How did Jesus interact with children?

It was indeed a happy glorious moment in the lives of these dear little ones. To be in His arms, to have His hands fondly placed upon their heads, to hear His gentle voice blessing them, and to be able to look right up into His loving face, oh! how happy these little ones must have been! These infants saw Jesus, and He blessed them.

What is the Lord Jesus doing in His wonderful grace? Will He ever reject someone who comes to Him? Never! He receives those who come to Him — be they adults or children. It is touching to see how He does much more than those who brought the children desired. They wanted Him to touch them. But what did He do? He took them in His arms, laid His hands on them and blessed them. This is what the Lord Jesus is still doing when children are brought to Him. He does ‘far exceedingly above all which we ask or think’ (Eph. 3:20).

The little children brought that He should put His hands on them and pray: recorded in Matt. 19, Mark 10 and Luke 18. This case also is of peculiar interest. The children in question were very young. "Little children," "young children," "infants" are the descriptions given. We are not told with any exactness who brought them. In each Gospel the matter is left impersonal. Presumable the parents brought them; if brought by others, it only makes the Lord's reception of them the more remarkable The disciples, moreover, were actively hostile to the request, yet "He took them up in His arms, put His hands upon them and blessed them."

The next incident is equally full of moral loveliness and Divine grace — full of instruction too, as here we have, not Pharisees, but disciples in painful collision with the mind of the Master. "And they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them. But the disciples rebuked those that brought [them]. But when Jesus saw [it], he was indignant, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto Me; forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive105 the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall in no wise enter therein. And He took them up in His arms, put His hands upon them, and blessed them." Our Evangelist specially marks the deep displeasure of the Lord. And no wonder! Indeed, it was part of His perfectness. For it was not only that they betrayed their own Rabbi-like self-importance, which makes much of ceremony, much also of knowledge, and overlooks the power of grace and the manifestation of Divine affections; but, besides, they took His place, falsified Him and the God of all grace that sent Him, and the essential character of that kingdom which He was about to establish. Suffer not little children, babes, to come to Him! Hinder them! Why, not only of such is the kingdom of God, but whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a babe shall not enter therein. Such is the Lord's solemn sentence. To be nothing for Jesus to receive is just the condition of entrance. May we too have faith to put our babes with ourselves before Him, and count on His sure blessing!

And now children are brought unto Him — little ones, apt to be despised. What in this world so helpless and dependent as a babe? "Then were brought unto Him little children, that He should put His hands on them, and pray" (ver. 13). The disciples thought it an annoyance or a liberty, and "rebuked them. But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto Me; for of such is the kingdom of heaven. And He laid His hands on them, and departed thence" (vers. 13-15). So completely were all the demands of love met even where the desire seemed ever so unseasonable. For why should the Lord of heaven and earth occupy Himself with putting His hands upon little ones? But love is not restrained by human reason, and the unworthy thoughts of the disciples were set aside, who thought babes unworthy of His notice. Ah! how little they knew Him, long as they had been with Him. Was it not worthy of Him so to bless the very least in man's eyes? How important a lesson for our souls is this? It need not be one connected with ourselves; it might be another's child. Do we claim the Lord for it? What is His feeling? He is great, He is mighty; but He despiseth not any.

Following this, the Lord gave to children their true place. The disciples manifested the spirit of the world when they treated them as of no importance, so much so that the bringing of them was an intrusion. Thus they showed that they had not as yet learned the lesson that He taught in the verses that open Matt. 18. The Lord on the contrary laid His hands on them in blessing and uttered the memorable words, "Forbid them not, to come to Me; for of such is the kingdom of heaven."

It was when the disciples were rebuking those who brought the children to Him, that He took them up in His arms. He would fain give the place of nearest and fondest affection to those whom ignorance of Him, and the mistakes of the poor, foolish heart of man, would have kept at a distance.

But when the disciples were disputing among themselves who should be the greatest, He takes a little child, and either sets it in their midst, or at His own side; for, whether conspicuously in the centre of the group, or distinguishingly at His own right hand, He was giving the little child the place of honour, rebuking the pride of life or love of distinction which was then working among them.

I cannot pass by the mothers who brought their "little children" to our Lord, that He might put his hands on them and pray. We find the story told three times: Matthew 19:13-15; Mark 10:13-16; Luke 18:15-17. Luke, the doctor, tells us that they were "new-born babes" (Brephos). Mark, who so often records minute details of our Lord's look, or tone, or act, tells us that "He took them up in His arms, put His hands upon them, and blessed them." Here the Spirit of God uses a very strong word for bless, reserved for these little children alone, and used in no other place in the New Testament. It might be translated, He "fervently blessed them." And when the disciples rebuked these mothers, Mark tells us also, that the Lord was "much displeased." Again the Spirit uses a very strong word, that has the meaning of being "grieved, indignant, and angry." You remember how He said: "Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and hinder them not." (New Translation). We read in the New Testament six times of others being much displeased, or grieved, or indignant, or angry: the disciples themselves on more than one occasion, the Pharisees, the ruler of the synagogue. But only once do we ever find this word used of our Lord, and that was towards His own disciples, when they tried to hinder the mothers bringing their little ones to Him. There is a very grave lesson for us in this word; for, sad to say, there are many today, good men too, who walk in the disciples footsteps, and seek to hinder Christian parents bringing their little children to the Lord. These persons think they are doing God service, but I sadly fear their Lord is grieved, indignant, angry. "Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good."

Next we read of children brought to the Lord, that He might touch them. The disciples rebuked those that brought them, resenting, apparently, such an intrusion on their Master's time and attention. The Lord "was moved with indignation," Mark tells us. His feelings were deeply stirred at their unauthorized conduct.

The Lord seized the opportunity to instruct all as to the character which becomes those who shall enter the kingdom: "Suffer the little children to come to Me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say to you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein" (14-15). The disciples looked on them just as babes (Luke 18:15). The Lord saw in them a character which should be true of the children of God — that child-like simplicity and confidence so pleasing to God. With all the little ones about Him, He graciously responded to the desires of those who had brought them, and "took them up in His arms, put His hands upon them, and blessed them." Many a parent undoubtedly has rejoiced in heart over this account. Their young ones, so dear to them, are not beneath the notice of the Lord; and Mark tells us how the Lord took them up in His arms and blessed them (16). What interest did He show in them individually! What a sight to have witnessed, babe after babe taken up into His arms by the Saviour! What parents are there who care for their offspring, but will be thankful for the touches in this picture? What disciple is there who may not find this history speaks also to his heart? The parent can know that the Lord will receive a little child. The disciple may be reminded of that which becomes him as a child of the Father who is in heaven.

The disciples had disputed among themselves who should be the greatest. And in order to teach them humility, the Lord was pleased to call this “little child unto him.” Now we are not told whether the little boy was at play, or what he was doing at the time when Jesus called him; but this we do know, that when Jesus called him, he came to Him. Oh! that every boy and girl would come at once to Jesus. Then Jesus set this little boy in the midst of His disciples, and there the little fellow stayed, while Jesus taught them humility. If the child did not understand all that He said to them, it was very nice to be so near Jesus. And Jesus took the little boy up in His arms, and said to them, “Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receives me; and whosoever shall receive me, receives not me, but him that sent me” (Mark 9:37).