A number of years ago, I was reading in Luke and I saw something I hadn’t seen before. In Luke 18 Jesus is telling the story about the Pharisee and the tax collector, who came into the Temple to pray.
The Pharisee looked for a place of prominence, threw his hands in the air and began praying loudly. It’s indicated that folks stopped to listen and commented on his piety.
The tax collector on the other hand quietly went to the corner, bowed his head and prayed humbly. No one really noticed that he was there. Except the Lord.
So this is the conclusion Jesus draws from his story.
” I tell you, when this man finished his prayer and went home, he was right with God. But the Pharisee, who felt that he was better than others, was not right with God. People who make themselves important will be made humble. But those who make themselves humble will be made important.” Luke 18:14 ERV
Jesus wanted his disciples to learn the importance of humility. Jesus said of himself that he came to serve others, not to be served or waited on.
Now what happened next is the new part that I saw.
“Some people brought their small children to Jesus so that he could lay his hands on them to bless them. But when the followers saw this, they told the people not to do this. 16 But Jesus called the little children to him and said to his followers, “Let the little children come to me. Don’t stop them, because God’s kingdom belongs to people who are like these little children. 17 The truth is, you must accept God’s kingdom like a little child accepts things, or you will never enter it.” Luke 18:15-17 ERV
Jesus had just spoken about humility and his disciples didn’t get it.
Parents brought their children to Jesus and the disciples were turning them away. Jesus was too important – he needed to be talking to the adults – He had thousands of followers; He didn’t have time to be bothered by these kids!
WOW! Stop the action.
Jesus interrupted the event and had the kids brought front and center. Bring the little kids here – let them come to me. It’s their faith that’s pure and their innocence is to be admired. They are examples to the rest of us!
Jesus was humble, he wasn’t too busy or too important that He couldn’t take time for the “little people”. We need to be like him today.
Who are the “little people” or the “sinners” in your life? The Father needs you to touch them with your love today!