Children: Gift and Model

April 19, 2026 Background Scripture: Matthew 18:1 - 6; Mark 9:36 - 37, 42; 10:13 - 16; Luke 2:1 -20 Lesson Passage: Mark 9:36 - 37, 42; 10:13 - 16 Today's lesson is a reminder that leaders considered Jesus to be a very controversial person during the three years of His ministry in this world. His behavior went against what many considered the social norms at that time. One such behavior was how He related to children in public settings. He used little children as object lessons to teach His disciples about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, Jesus used a child as an example of what it means to be great in the kingdom of God. After His disciples argued about which of them would be the greatest in the kingdom of God, Jesus used a little child to explain how far they were from being great. That little child was the model of what greatness in the kingdom of God looks like. Jesus told them that receiving a little child in His name is equivalent to receiving Him and the Father who sent Him. The bible doesn't disclose what His disciples considered as greatness. Perhaps they were arguing about their masculinity, or machismo, as evidence of their greatness; because Jesus used the humility and submission of a little child as evidence of greatness in the kingdom of God. A little child who was expected to be kept out of an adult conversation was brought into the conversation as a role model for the adults. Jesus also warned them that causing a little child who believed in Him to go astray would lead to grave consequences for the person who does it. At times, it seems that Jesus identified with little children more than He identified with the adults around Him. It should not be surprising that Jesus expressed a special affinity for little children. Jesus understood what it was like to be a little child. Jesus did not descend from heaven as an adult. Jesus was born into this world as a baby. Jesus was born into this world as a gift to mankind from God. He matured in this world into adulthood. His life embodied the perfect image and likeness of God. Jesus' life was a model of what God expects of mankind. Jesus' teaching reflected the perfect will of God rather than reinforce the acceptable social norms of the day. The contrast between Jesus' teaching and social norms was clearly seen in terms of how Jesus related to little children. Again, the social norm was for children to be kept away from adults who were conversing among themselves. Therefore, when people attempted to bring little children to Jesus for Him to lay His hand on them and impart a blessing to them, Jesus' disciples rebuked the adults for bringing children to Jesus. Apparently, the disciples did not learn what Jesus taught them previously about receiving little children. Jesus expressed His displeasure with His disciples and rebuked them. They had forgotten the lesson about little children being their role models of greatness in the kingdom of God. On this occasion, Jesus talked about little children being the embodiment of citizens of the kingdom of God. Hence, the little children should be brought to Jesus that He may bless them. Furthermore, Jesus emphasized that His disciples, and others, needed to know that adults who desire to enter the kingdom of God must first become as little children. This was a second lesson Jesus taught His disciples about the importance of little children. Solomon wrote, "Children are a heritage from the Lord. The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them." Children are both gifts and role models. Robert C. Hudson April 8, 2026