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Chapter 56—Jesus’ Love for Children
This chapter is based on
Matthew 19:13-15
;
Mark 10:13-16
;
Luke
18:15-17
.
Jesus was a lover of children. He accepted their childish sym-
pathy and open, unaffected love. The grateful praise from their
lips refreshed His spirit when oppressed by contact with crafty and
hypocritical men. Wherever He went, His gentle, kindly manner
won their confidence.
It was customary for children to be brought to some rabbi, that
he might lay his hands on them in blessing. But when the mothers
came to Him with their little ones, the disciples looked on them with
disfavor. They thought these children too young to be benefited by a
visit to Jesus, and concluded that He would be displeased. But it was
the disciples with whom He was displeased. The Saviour understood
the burden of the mothers who were seeking to train their children.
He Himself had drawn them into His presence.
Several mothers came together, with their little ones, to have
Jesus bless their children. Jesus heard with sympathy their timid,
tearful request. But He waited to see how the disciples would treat
them. When He saw them send the mothers away, He showed them
their error, saying, “Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and
forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” He took
the children in His arms and gave them the blessing for which they
came.
The mothers were strengthened by the words of Christ, and were
encouraged to take up their burden with new cheerfulness. The
mothers of today are to receive His words with the same faith. Christ
is a personal Saviour, and is as verily the helper of mothers today as
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when He gathered the little ones in His arms in Judea.
Jesus knows the burden of every mother’s heart. He made a long
journey to relieve the anxious heart of a Canaanite woman. He gave
back to the widow of Nain her only son, and in His agony on the
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