This is just another example among many … where the disciples have no clue whatsoever what Jesus is either saying or what he has said. They continue to be clueless…
They have not listened or understood and they are not listening and understanding now…to his words…
In a single teaching – Jesus upended centuries of tradition.
Jesus strongly defends women and even ascribes rights to women and then he does the same for children.
His words are amazing.
The gospel writer Mark tends to use the “strongest language possible.”
So for example, in seeing the disciples turning away the little children from him – Jesus is “indignant.” Which in the Greek is to suggest that he is totally “displeased” and “angry” with the disciples…they not only “annoy” him but act like “a continually strong irritant”…he is almost “fed up” with them…
So therefore, he “rebukes” them…another extremely “strong word” to use…because in Mark’s gospel – Jesus only “rebukes” the “unclean spirits” and Peter. In a sense he is “exorcising them.”
Jesus single-handedly attempts to raise the status of women and children, and seemingly does so without blinking an eye. …like it is no big thing…in a patriarchal society…to do so.
Jesus knew all too well about the precocious nature of children and their vulnerability…some of which we have already talked about before…
Something like 2/3’s of all children died before their 16th birthday. They were completely vulnerable and had no status of their own…the only status they had -would come from their father.
No one was considered to be more powerless than a child. We have already discussed how children were “the property” of their father…and only remained in the family, by the whim of the father. They could be bought and sold like cattle.
Children were never allowed to express any kind of “anger”….and were completely dependent on the goodwill of the father.
Children, especially male-children came to identify almost completely with their father.
Unfortunately, one of the lessons that they learned was that it was alright – to oppress those who are smaller and weaker…and more vulnerable than you – this would be a view that would be carried over into adulthood.
By announcing that children are to be “received” – Jesus is saying that they are to be “accepted!” Children are not to be “hindered” in any way shape or form… They are definitely not to be “turned away” because they are small and powerless. Quite the contrary…
Quite the opposite…turn a child away – turn those away who are weak…and you (yourself) are out of the kingdom…
This lectionary ends with Jesus taking small little children up in his arms and “blessing them…”
Again, one more time, the Greek word that is used by Mark is “extremely strong.”
Mark says that Jesus takes little children into his arms and he blesses them. The word to “bless them” is used “only here” in all four of the gospels.
Jesus is actually laying his hands on them in some kind of religious action.
He is physically touching them…almost as in “a healing.” In the Hebrew…the meaning behind the word “blessing” – is to give life…
This shows the importance of children – at least for Jesus. They are worthy of receiving God’s blessings…in abundance.
This whole gospel is just filled with meaning…as it also (at the same time) speaks to the early church…
The church is never to turn someone away because they are poor, weak, or vulnerable. Every single person has something to contribute. Every single person makes a difference. Every single person counts as being a “child of God.”
The church is actually made up of the “whole people of God.”
There is to be no discrimination. There is no room for prejudice. The church is to be open…to the stranger and to all others…who come in the name of the Lord…
If they do not, their very place in the kingdom becomes at risk…
To be the church is to be open and welcoming…this would be “our job!”