Light in the WaitingJesus Welcomes the Children
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Have you ever been told you were too little for something?
The illustrated story
Listen to the story
Read aloud with a generated voice, so little ones can follow along.
Read the story
Everywhere Jesus went, people came to see Him. One day, some mothers and fathers had an idea. “Let’s take our children to Jesus,” they said, “so that He can touch them and bless them.”
So they came, carrying babies in their arms and holding little hands. Some children ran ahead, some hid shyly behind their parents, and all of them wanted to see Jesus.
But the disciples stopped them. “Not now,” they said. “Jesus is busy. He has important things to do. Take the children away.”
Jesus saw what was happening, and He was not pleased at all. He called out to His disciples:
“Allow the little children to come to me! Don’t forbid them, for God’s Kingdom belongs to such as these.”
Mark 10:14
The children did not wait to be asked twice. They came running to Jesus. He opened His arms wide and welcomed every one of them, the big ones and the small ones, the loud ones and the quiet ones.
Then Jesus told the grown-ups something surprising. “Anyone who wants to come into God’s Kingdom must come like a little child.” Children trust. Children come just as they are. That is how God wants all of us to come to Him.
Jesus took the children in His arms. He put His hands on their heads and blessed them, one by one, with love and gentleness. Nobody was too small for Jesus. Nobody was in His way.
The disciples learned something that day. To Jesus, children are not a bother. They are a treasure.
And that is still true today. Every child can come to Jesus, at any time, in any place, just as they are. He is never too busy for you.
What we learn
Every child matters to Jesus, and every child can come close to Him at any time.
Family prayer
Dear Jesus, thank You for loving children and welcoming families. Help us to come close to You and to remember that we matter to You. Amen.
A verse to remember
Allow the little children to come to me! Don't forbid them.
Mark 10:14
Say it together a few times, then see who can say it alone.
Talk about it together
- Why did the parents bring their children to Jesus?
- What did Jesus say to the disciples?
- What does this story teach us about how Jesus feels about children?
Read it in the Bible: Mark 10:13–16.
Questions or a message for us?
If you have a question about this story, or you would like to share how your family used it, write to [email protected]. We love hearing from readers.
