We are told about an incident that happened one day when Jesus was in the coasts of Judea beyond Jordan. A great crowd of people were following him and Jesus healed some and taught some things that some of the people were concerned about. People who need healing are people who are also concerned about doing the right things in life, they do follow Jesus.

On this day however, some brought their little children to him to bless them by putting his hands on him and for him to pray for them. The Bible says, and the disciples rebuked those that who were bringing the little children to him. Now that is one of the biggest problems that we have in our society today. When children are not brought to Jesus for blessings and prayer, they are left in the embraces of Satan’s evil devices and for potential destruction.

It is not known whose children they were, whether their parents were believers or unbelievers, nor by whom they were brought: but the end for which they were brought is expressed, that he should put his hands on them, and pray.  And from the mention of other ends for which they were brought, as that Christ should “touch” them, which we read in Mark 10:13 and in Luke 18:15 as he sometimes used to do persons, when he healed them of diseases; and probably some of those infants, if not all of them probably were sick and diseased, and they brought them to be cured. It is not easy to conceive what they should be touched by him for or that he might put his hands on them, and pray over them, and bless them, as was usual with the Jews to do. If you read Genesis 48:14-16, we see that it was common with the Jews to bring their children to venerable persons, men of note for religion and piety, to have their blessing and prayers bestowed upon them.

We don’t need to keep children from Jesus, we need to bring them to Jesus and keep them out of the devil’s reach. These moms and dads brought them to Jesus so he could lay hands on them and pray     

There is indeed a radiance emanating powerfully from smiling faces of little girls and boys. Smiles very intense and sometimes so conspicuous. When Jesus looked upon the little ones that were near to him and no doubt wanted to just be touched by him, some of the disciples wanted them to stay back and they tried to to keep them from Jesus. Hear him as he said,”Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” I have no doubt that he saw the radiance in those young faces and that must have lit up the faces of all the invisible angels and heaven with him. Happy are all the little ones of Jesus.