Chances are you are already familiar with this Bible passage if you were ever in church as a child. It is a favorite for teaching children that Jesus loves them.

Since I am writing to teens on this blog, you might wonder if it is just as appropriate for them. Let’s read the passage to look for an answer…

13 One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him.

14 When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. He said to them, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children.15 I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”16 Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them.    (Mark 10:13-16 NLT)

First of all, the disciples thought the children were a bother until Jesus corrected them. I don’t believe Jesus considered anyone a bother, except possibly some religious leaders who were doing their best to discredit him at every turn. Jesus valued everyone beginning with the least of them.

But then Jesus continued in a different line of thought. Look again at verses 14 & 15. “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” Jesus tells us that we must be like children before we can enter his Kingdom. A child learns who to trust and who not to trust at an early age, and their trust runs deep. This is what Jesus asks of us – to put our trust, our faith, in him in the same way a child puts his or her trust in a parent or teacher.