Luke 18: 15 – 17 Trust Me

Luke 18: 15 – 17 Trust Me

People were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them, and when the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. Jesus, however, called the children to himself and said, "Let the children come to me and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it."

This passage mentions children, a group not often talked about in scripture. Actually, excuse me, he mentions infants, even rarer. It seems like Jesus’ message (in the minds of many) is targeted to men, even reserved to men. Women and children are an afterthought. Although it does not mention who brings out the children, from the reaction of the disciples who “rebuked them”, I have to believe it was women. Jesus once again goes way beyond conventional wisdom. He not only wants to have the children brought to him, but he holds them up to his listeners as examples who are worthy of him. We are to be as trusting, as accepting as children.

How do we measure the quality of a child’s acceptance? It is innocent, with no calculation of cost. It is wholehearted, holding nothing back. It is straightforward and direct, nor overcomplicated. As Jesus gave his admonition about children he begins with “Amen I say to you”. We could translate that to “Trust Me”. Children are pre-disposed to trust - openhearted and genuine. What a high bar to meet. By the time we are adults we have somehow decided that that sort of trust is foolish and even impossible. Cynicism becomes a barrier to faith, and yet that is what Jesus calls us to put aside. It is not an easy path to follow, but it is his way and the way he holds out to us.