8.2 Jesus and Children
Jesus’ Love and Appreciation for Children

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

In Mark 10:13–16, Jesus demonstrates profound affection and appreciation for children, who were often overlooked and undervalued in that society. While children were desired in the ancient world, they had a low social status and were frequently treated as property. However, Jesus interacts with them with a love and care that highlights their special place in the Kingdom of God.

When the disciples tried to keep the children away from Jesus, He reacted decisively. He was indignant about their attitude and corrected them by placing the children at the center of his attention. Jesus emphasizes that the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these children and that anyone who wants to receive it must do so with the same attitude and trust as a child.

This event teaches us that we should not be guided by our human prejudices or societal norms but should rather preserve the value and innocence of a child in order to truly understand and receive God’s Kingdom. Jesus’ treatment of the children reminds us of the importance of approaching every person, regardless of their social status or age, with love and respect. He challenges us to set an example that encourages children to come to Him and experience His love, rather than deterring them with our own harshness or indifference.

How can you better show Jesus to the children you interact with?

To better show Jesus to children, we can implement several key approaches in our daily lives:

1. Live Love and Patience:

   • Show unconditional love and patience to children. Be a role model that reflects Jesus’ love by interacting with them with respect, understanding, and compassion.

2. Be a Role Model in Faith:

   • Live your faith authentically before children. Demonstrate through your behavior what a life of following Jesus looks like. This means being honest, forgiving, and helpful.

3. Explain Faith in Child-Friendly Ways:

   • Talk to children about Jesus in ways they can understand. Use stories, simple words, and illustrative examples to make Jesus’ message accessible to them.

4. Incorporate Prayer and Bible Stories:

   • Invite children to pray together and tell them Bible stories. This can help strengthen their faith and build a relationship with Jesus.

5. Invest Time:

   • Make a conscious effort to spend time with children. Listen to them, play with them, and answer their questions about God and faith. Your attention shows them how valuable they are—to you and to Jesus.

6. Encouragement and Appreciation:

   • Encourage children in their talents and strengths. Show them that God has made them unique and that they are loved and valued just as they are.

7. Serve Together:

   • Involve children in simple service or helping projects. Show them how to help and serve others in Jesus’ name. This teaches them to live out love for others actively.

By following these steps, we can help children get to know Jesus better and develop a relationship with Him that will accompany them throughout their lives.

The connection between the lesson about “Jesus and the Children” and our daily lives and faith is profound and practical:

1. Childlike Innocence and Trust in Our Faith Life:

   • Jesus shows that we should receive the Kingdom of God like children—with simple, unconditional trust and an innocence unmarred by cynicism or doubt. In daily life, this means living our faith with an open heart and relying on God’s guidance, just as a child trusts their parents.

2. Appreciation and Respect for All People:

   • Jesus’ acceptance and blessing of children remind us that every person—regardless of age or social status—is valuable. In our daily interactions, this means treating others with respect, listening to them, and taking their needs seriously, rather than overlooking or dismissing them.

3. Affection and Love in Dealing with Children:

   • Jesus’ interaction with children teaches us to be loving, patient, and caring in our relationships with children—whether in the family, church, or society. This is reflected in actively spending time with children, listening to them, and supporting their development.

4. Being a Role Model:

   • Jesus calls us to lead lives that encourage children to come to Him. This means that our behavior and attitudes should reflect Jesus’ love and grace. Children learn a lot through imitation, so our lives should be a positive example for them.

5. Making Faith Visible in Daily Life:

   • By helping children get to know Jesus, we make our faith visible in everyday life. This means not only living out our faith privately but actively sharing it with others, especially the youngest among us who are still growing in their faith.

6. Promoting Community and Service:

   • Involving children in communal activities and service projects teaches them from a young age about the importance of love for others and Christian community. In daily life, we can create opportunities for children to learn the value of helping others and working together for good.

This lesson calls us to live our faith consciously by taking children and their development seriously and conveying to them the love and acceptance that Jesus extended. Through our example and care, we can help children develop a vibrant relationship with Jesus that shapes their entire lives.

Trust like a child, love like Jesus—let your heart be open and ready to live the simple, unconditional love of God in your daily life.

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