7. THE CHILDREN’S FRIEND
(Matthew 19:13-15)
One day a great crowd of men gathered about Jesus, the great Teacher. All sorts of men were there—rich men and poor men; soldiers with their swords and spears and sandals; rough fishermen, barefooted, fresh come from their boats and nets; and priests dressed in their long, white robes with colored fringes.
Suddenly, as the great Teacher was speaking, at the farther edge of the crowd a noise was heard. Some women and children were trying to get near to Jesus. These women wore red and blue dresses with handkerchiefs tied over their heads, which showed they were poor women from the little white stone houses. Some were carrying their babies, some were holding their little ones by the hand, and others were followed by large boys and girls clinging to their mothers’ skirts. All were trying to press nearer to Jesus who was talking earnestly to the people. Soon some of the close friends of Jesus noticed these women with their children, and said: “Women, do you not see how busy Jesus is? He has grown-up people to talk to, and has no time for you and your children. Take them away; carry them home where they belong!”
Jesus heard what his friends said, and cried out: “Do not send the children away. Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” There were so many of them—mothers and their children, little babies, small children, young boys, and girls! Jesus received them all. He let them all come near him. He took the babies in his arms. He laid his hands on the heads of the little children. He put his loving arms around the larger boys and girls. And he blessed them all. It may be he told them some beautiful stories, for we may be sure that the boys and girls then loved to hear stories as well as the children do to-day.
So Jesus was the friend of the children! No wonder children like to sing:
I think when I read that sweet story of old
When Jesus was here among men,
How he called little children as lambs to the fold,