As Jesus followers, we know we serve a God whose heart is for children. In fact, throughout His time on earth, Jesus spoke extensively about protecting and loving children and welcoming them into His kingdom. Jesus has a tender, protective and relentless love toward children.
The Bible is riddled with examples of Jesus calling children to come closer to Him, even when His closest friends insisted that He had better things to do (Mark 10:13-16).
“Jesus is not an accessory to the work we do. He is the guidepost.”
Jesus’ response to His friends’ rebuke is so telling. In verse 14, we are told that Jesus was indignant about the disciples’ harsh response. The Greek translation for the word “indignant” is a combination of two words: “much” and “to grieve.” Jesus was much grieved!
He grieves when children are neglected.
He grieves when children are turned away or denied their rights.
He grieves when children are not known, loved and protected.
This is why Compassion works for the rights of children in Jesus’ name. Jesus is not an accessory to the work we do. He is the guidepost. Let’s take a look at the different times Jesus advocated for and showed the importance of valuing children in the Bible!
“Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them. Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.'”
-Matthew 19:13-14
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“‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven… If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.'”
-Matthew 18:2-6
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“He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, ‘Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.'”
-Mark 9:36-37
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“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.”
–Matthew 18:10
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“In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.”
-Matthew 18:14
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“And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.”
-Mark 10:16
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“But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David,’ they were indignant. ‘Do you hear what these children are saying?’ they asked him. ‘Yes,’ replied Jesus, ‘have you never read, ”From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’’?”
-Matthew 21:15-16
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*Scripture taken from NIV version