Luke 18:15-17
15 People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called the children to him and said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’
In first-century Palestine, children were given little value.
Yet as Jesus calls these small children to come to him, he wants his disciples to learn something: if you want to belong with Jesus, you need to come to him like these children.
1.
What do Jesus’ words and actions suggest about how Jesus wants us to relate to him?
2.
Why do you think Jesus’ acceptance of children challenges the disciples?
3.
Where do Jesus’ words challenge you? In what ways do they sound like good news?
Look again at the artwork.
Does anything different stand out to you?