He Took Them in His Arms: Mark 10:13-16

People were bringing children to Jesus for him to touch—infants in arms, toddlers clinging to mothers' robes, older children pushed forward by hopeful parents. They wanted the rabbi's blessing, his hands on their heads, his prayer over their lives.

The disciples rebuked them. They were gatekeepers now, managing access to Jesus, deciding who deserved his time. Important people deserved his attention. Children could wait.

When Jesus saw this, he was indignant.

The word Mark uses is strong—righteous anger, the same word used when Jesus would later drive merchants from the temple. The disciples' dismissal of children ignited something fierce in him.

"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these."

Belongs to such as these. Not "will someday include" but "belongs to"—present tense, already theirs. The kingdom was not for the powerful, the accomplished, the self-sufficient. It was for those who came with nothing to offer but need.

"Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."

Like a little child. Empty hands. Complete dependence. No resume, no achievements, no bargaining chips. Just trust.

Then—and this detail appears only in Mark—"he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them."

Not a quick pat on the head. He gathered them up, held them close, blessed them one by one. The Creator of the universe, the one walking toward a cross, taking time to embrace toddlers while his disciples stood corrected.

The kingdom smelled like children. It sounded like their laughter. It felt like small arms around a neck.