advent day six

Some people bought their children to Jesus, so that he could place his hands on them and pray for them. His disciples told the people to stop bothering him. But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and don’t try to stop them! People who are like these children belong to God’s kingdom.” After Jesus placed his hands on the children, he left.

Matthew 19 :13– 15

Little children

Christmas is really for the children– there is something very cute about pre– schoolers with tea towels or tinsel on their heads. As children get older, they participate less often in nativity plays. Well meaning attempts are made to make the story more appealing– adding jazz music or writing the words in the style of a rap. Story books add their own twist by introducing a fourth king who got lost, or telling the story through the eyes of the donkey.

Is there something so naïve, so unbelievable about the events of the first Christmas that we think they are only suitable for the under 5’s? Do we ‘grow out’ of the truths of Christmas, as we grow out of Santa and the Tooth Fairy?

Jesus seems to have had no problem with the simplicity of children. Not only did he love them, pray for them and bless them, he rebuked the rest of us for overlooking them. Have we the humility to let the children’s nativity play teach us something this year?

God was wise and decided not to let the people of this world use their wisdom to learn about him. Instead, God chose to save only those who believe the foolish message we preach.

1 Corinthians 1: 21

like little children ...