May 2

Mark 10:1-16 (Click to see scripture)

Bible in One Year Passages:

Journal Entry

Scripture

And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them (Mk. 10:16).

Observation

The disciples rebuked the parents for bringing their children to Jesus. The verb tense suggests that the parents’ were persistent in their effort (literally, “kept on bringing”). Perhaps they believed that Jesus was too important to be disturbed and the little children too insignificant. When Jesus saw what his disciples were doing, he became angry. The little children were to be allowed to come to him “for such belongs to the kingdom of God.” In fact, one must receive the king “like a child” in order to enter it.

Instead of dismissing the children, Jesus took them in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them (literally, “eulogized them”). I can imagine Jesus propping up a little one on his lap, grinning cheek to cheek, saying, “You’re so special. You’re beautiful. I love you.” The scene of Jesus eulogizing the little children is a touching one.

Application

Do I bless (eulogize) my children enough? Sometimes I feel like I’m so busy correcting them, rebuking them, or instructing them, that I neglect to praise them. How much more they need to hear how special and beautiful they are than what they need to do better or change about themselves. I can never be too busy or too important that I should ever treat my children as insignificant.

In response to Jesus’ example, I will be more mindful to bless my children with words of praise and adoration.

Prayer

Lord, my children need to hear words of praise from their father. Help me to be sensitive to their need and make the time to take them in my arms, lay my hands on them, and bless them as your Son did to the little children who were near him. You have created my children as precious gifts to my wife and me; help us to express how unconditional loved and accepted they are by us.

--P. Michael Lee