Dear Faith Family,
On Sunday, Rebekah shared how analogous her children’s desire to always be around her was to our mantra of following Jesus. No matter where she found herself, her little ones are close by, whether simply enjoying her presence or imitating what she is doing or inviting her to join what they are doing. Wherever she goes, they go!
It is no wonder that Jesus never turned away a child. In fact, he was quick to get on to his disciples for trying to keep the little ones at bay rather than following their lead (see Mark 10:13-16). The same unhindered attention and affirming emulation cannot be observed in Jesus' interaction with crowds.
Oh sure, he loved people and gave much of his time and attention to sharing the good news that God was here and on their side, to healing them and feeding them. But he was just as prone to try and get away from them. To sneak off to a quiet place. To jump in a boat and try and escape their pressure.
Both the children and the crowds were clamoring to be with Jesus. One was admitted without restraint; the other, though loved, was just as often avoided, dismissed, or escaped. Both come to Jesus for some blessing. To one "belongs the kingdom of God," to the other a mixed bag of met needs and dissatisfaction. So what's the difference?
Here is what I think. A child comes to her mother with inarticulable needs--presence, purpose/participation, play--and finds that her mother satisfies them with simple attention. The crowd, however, comes with very specific needs--illness, clarity, provision, etc.--and sometimes get what they are after, for Jesus cares for them. Sometimes though, they also get confused or angry or even left!
Alan Fadling describes the crowds' issue this way, "They came for what they wanted from [Jesus]," as any of us do, but "They didn't come interested in what [Jesus] wanted for them..."
Often, we know what we want from Jesus, but do we trust what he wants for us? Are we interested in finding out?
The crowds, for the most part, were not that interested in finding out. And so, while sometimes they received what they were after because Jesus cared, for the most part, their following him found no lasting satisfaction.
On the other hand, a child cannot articulate an interest in what her mother wants for her, but innately she trusts her mother's love. Because of that love, she also knows that in her mother's attention, she'll have all she needs. I suspect that's what Jesus wants for us, why he won't let a child be hindered from being with him, and why he says we'll have to "become like children" if we are really going to get the most out of this life following him (Matthew 18:1-4).
Love you faith family. God bless.