Article Tools
- Text Size
- Add a comment (0)
- Print this article
- Email this article
People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.” (Mark 10:13-15)
Jesus’ words must have startled the disciples: not only were little children to be welcomed into his presence, but they were to enjoy a privileged place in the kingdom of God. In fact, Jesus bluntly warned his followers, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3).
Since Jesus’ words indicate a basic requirement for salvation, it is well worth pondering their meaning. Often we focus on the qualities that we presume characterize children and try to imitate them in our lives. Children are thought to be innocent, without guile, direct in their affections, loving, trusting, spontaneous in their emotions, joyful, and carefree. We in turn try to make these characteristics a part of our lives, usually without complete success.
Parents know that these traits do characterize children. But as any parent knows, there is another side to the story. Children can also be self-centered, inconsiderate, prey to petty jealousies, indiscriminate in their affections, and inconsistent in their behavior. So how could Jesus have made childlike behavior a requirement for entering the kingdom of God?
If we situate these words of Jesus in the context of his other teachings, however, its meaning becomes clearer. The essential characteristic of children that Jesus would have us focus on is their status as sons and daughters. A child is a child of parents. Whatever the character traits of children might be, whatever stage of moral development they might have attained, the life of small children is essentially defined in terms of their relationship with their parents. Nothing can change that basic relationship.
The relationship of parent and child underlies the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32). The prodigal did not act as a good son should have; even after he repented, he thought that the most he could possibly ask of his father was to return to his house as a servant. But the father nevertheless insisted that he was indeed his son and gave him a full welcome home. How the prodigal behaved did not change the basic reality that he was his father’s son, nor did his behavior change his father’s love for him.
Jesus taught us to pray to God as “our Father”; through the Holy Spirit we are adopted children of God. “God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’” (Galatians 4:6).
Fundamental to being a Christian is the relationship that Jesus has established between us and his Father: we are daughters and sons of God. Our first response must be to acknowledge that relationship and enter more fully into it.
Interpreted in this light, Jesus is not urging us to adopt childlike character traits in our life, much less to act childishly. He is urging us to accept the sonship and daughtership his Father is giving us. He is saying most solemnly that unless we enter into our sonship or daughtership, we will not be part of the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is the family of the Father, made up of those who have received adoption through the Spirit of Christ.