They thought they were doing Jesus a favor. Trying to honor him. And he was indignant. Highly irritated. Filled with righteous anger.
With most important people, what the others around them do is protect them from the undesirables. Homeless person? Get out of the way you filthy mutt. A woman crying out over this and that? Move away you woman. Lesser people? Scram.
That’s what happened here. Little children came to Jesus and the disciples rose up. Jesus was too important for little kids to be crawling all over him with their snotty noses and dirty clothes and annoying behavior. Move on, little kids. Parents, get control of your children.
Jesus. Was. Angry.
“And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.”
The kingdom of heaven belongs to the children. That’s powerful enough. The children are with him.
But Jesus wanted them to know something. Be a leader and an influential person and one that many looked to wasn’t about position, power and prestige. It wasn’t being separate from the people labeled undesirable and only for the “important” people.
Leadership was about serving. Serving the very least and lost. In a few verses from now he is going to repeat this message that leadership is not about position but about serving and getting your hands dirty. Ditch the suit for the dishcloth.
It’s a message we need to hear today. Leadership is not about perks, benefits and good pay but about serving the people. It’s about literally getting your hands dirty. It’s about taking care of those not desired by society.
Jesus was different that way. Many leaders say that. Jesus actually lived it.
So when the children came to him with snotty noses and urine on their britches and unruly behavior, he opened his arms and welcomed them. These were whom he served.
Let’s join him in this.