Don't Bother Jesus--He's Busy!

It was in a small hamlet of Judea, with its random cluster of humble mud and stone dwellings—a setting unchanged over the centuries. Jesus sat in the shade of an ancient, twisting olive tree in the village square. His disciples were nearby, seated on stones, or squatting on their heels. The afternoon heat shimmered off the stone walls, but a steady breeze kept it bearable. A bougainvillea tumbled over the garden wall nearby, its vivid flowers nodding in the light wind, as if in agreement. There was the gentle fragrance of bread baking on a stone hearth somewhere in the vicinity that blended with the smells of dust, donkeys, sheep and goats. Chickens pecked aimlessly at the hard ground and clucked to their offspring.

Jesus’ voice was strong and commanding, but at the same time, infused with compassion. As he continued His teaching on persevering in prayer, on humility, townspeople began gathering in a loose semi-circle behind the disciples. There was something about His voice….was it authority? He spoke straight into one’s heart—not like the religious leaders they heard on the Sabbath in the synagogues, whose boring homilies seemed to go around in circles.

Speckled sunlight played over Jesus’ head and face, illuminating his tanned, pleasant features; highlighting the unfathomable depths of His eyes. When He looked at a person, one felt His gaze penetrating into one’s very soul, searching every corner. But it was a good feeling—maybe a relief that SOMEONE knows you utterly; that one can’t hide and one doesn’t really want to anymore.

As Jesus was speaking, a little girl, about two or three years old, detached herself from her mother’s side and took a few steps toward Jesus. Her dark eyes were wide and unblinking as she gazed at Him, not comprehending His words, but His face and voice awakened something in her. This child had been born with the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck. In those few seconds of lack of oxygen, certain damage had happened and the toddler was unable to learn basic speech and early skills.

Jesus stopped His teaching, turned His head and looked at the tiny girl. Reaching out his hand toward her, Jesus smiled. The child’s little face began to light up, as if by a growing incandescence within. She laughed out loud as she ran to Him, and buried her face in His chest, as Jesus put His arms around her. Picking her up, Jesus set the small one on His lap. He cradled her flower-like face in His strong, work-calloused hands, and looking into her eyes, He blessed her—with new Life, with Destiny, with Hope for a future.

The little girl’s mother had quickly approached, perhaps thinking the child was bothering Jesus, but when she saw the tender scene of His love—enveloping, covering, healing her baby, she stood back with tears flowing down her cheeks.

Other mothers in the small courtyard began moving toward Jesus with their own babies and small children. He kissed the first little girl on the top of her head and set her down; then began picking up other wee ones, as they were handed to Him. Putting His hands on them, He also blessed each of them, as the parents stood nearby, with hearts warmed and gladdened by His loving touch.

The small children somehow were aware of the specialness of this moment and seemed to bask in the tender glow of Jesus’ care. Their usual wiggles and energy quieted as He touched and hugged them, kissed their round, dimpled cheeks, and imparted His Life to them. One little boy laughed out loud in his joy, as Jesus tickled his tummy. Tiny babies stopped fussing and relaxed in His arms.

The disciples, at first tolerated the interruption, but as they saw more and more people pushing into the courtyard with their children, they felt annoyed. Jesus certainly had more important people and issues to deal with—why was He bothering with these children! Peter and others of the disciples began intercepting the mothers to turn them away. Jesus spoke up with His gentle but firm tone, “Let the little children come to me – and don’t hinder them – these are what God’s Kingdom is made up of.”

The Messiah—as always—finding a teaching moment in everything, looked around at His abashed disciples by turn, “For unless you become as one of these, you cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”

“These children embody the meaning of simplicity, humility and teachableness,” was in essence what Jesus was saying. “Don’t complicate things by trying to analyze my Kingdom and adjust it to your expectations and experience. Come to Me with childlike wonder and acceptance. Don’t strive, strain and struggle. Don’t worry. Just BE! It’s God’s Joyous Kingdom of Children—and you have to become as one of them to enter It!”






Connie Vellekoop—8/22/10