Jesus Welcomes the Little Children
Month 8: The Heart of Jesus · Bible Story
Today's Scripture
Read together: Mark 10:13-16
13 Now people were bringing the little children to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them, and the disciples rebuked those who brought them. 14 But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and told them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And He took the children in His arms, placed His hands on them, and blessed them.
Memory Verse
“But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and told them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”— Mark 10:14 (BSB)memorize this week
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: Isaiah 6-9
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time. (Isaiah sees the LORD high and lifted up, and hundreds of years early he names a coming child: "His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God.")The Heart of It
Picture the scene. Jesus is tired. He is surrounded and pressed by crowds and tough questions. And here come parents pushing through with their little ones, hoping He'll just touch them. The disciples try to wave them off. Important Teacher, big problems, no time for toddlers. But Mark tells us Jesus was "greatly displeased." He was actually upset at His own friends for it. He stopped everything. "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them." Then He did more than touch them. "He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them." This is the heart of Jesus on full display. Nobody is too small, too young, too unimportant, or too in-the-way for Him.
And notice what Jesus says next. He doesn't just put up with children. He holds them up as the example. "Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it." A small child doesn't earn a hug from a loving parent. They just run in and receive it with open arms. That is how the kingdom of God comes to anybody. It does not come by being big enough, or smart enough, or good enough to deserve it. It comes by simply coming to Jesus with empty hands and trusting Him. The same arms that opened for those children are open for your family tonight.
Around the Table
Some grown-ups said, "Don't bother Jesus, you're too little!" But Jesus said, "No! Let them come to Me!" Then He picked the children up and hugged them.
Let's do it: Open your arms wide like Jesus did and say, "Come to Me!" Then give someone in the family a big hug.
The disciples thought the kids were a distraction. But Jesus said children are exactly the kind of people who get into God's kingdom. What do little kids do really well that grown-ups sometimes forget how to do?
Let's talk: What does it mean to come to Jesus like a child, with no showing off, just trust?
Jesus says we must receive the kingdom like a child. We don't achieve it. A child can't earn a parent's love. They just receive it. That is grace.
Let's go deeper: Are you ever tempted to think you have to be "good enough" before God will accept you? How does this verse free you from that?
💬 Conversation Starter
When you were little, who was the grown-up who always made time for you, no matter how busy they were? How did that make you feel?
🛡️ Defending the Faith
Some say Christianity is just for people too weak to handle real life. But when Jesus praises childlike trust, that isn't weakness. It is honesty about reality. None of us made ourselves. None of us saved ourselves. None of us holds our next breath. Coming to God with open hands isn't immature. It is the truest thing a person can do.
For Dad · Go Deeper
Don't rush past how angry Jesus got here. The Greek word Mark chooses is strong. It means indignation. What provoked the Lord's displeasure was His own disciples treating children as an interruption to the "real" ministry. Let that land in your home. The discipleship of your kids is not a break from your mission. It is a frontline of it. Dads can quietly absorb the disciples' instinct, the idea that the important work happens out there, with adults, and the little ones can wait. Jesus reverses it. He stopped the crowd. He gathered the children. He blessed them by name. Tonight, you are not babysitting until the important stuff starts. You are doing the very thing Jesus stopped everything to do.
Draws on: R.C. Sproul, A Walk with God: A Study of the Gospel of Mark (read critically; lean on the text itself for the Arminian welcome — Christ's open arms are for all who come).
Let's Pray Together
"Lord Jesus, thank You that no one is ever too small for You. We come to You just like those children did, with open arms, trusting You. Take us up. Hold us close. And bless our family tonight. In Jesus' name, amen."
I am never too small, too young, or too in-the-way for Jesus. His arms are open to me.