09182021 – Mark 9. 30-37
Children had “no social status” within a village community.
When asked to name a story about “a child in the Hebrew Bible,” many people might think of David and Goliath.
The “young David,” unable to hold a sword or carry the weight of military armor, faces-off…with “the giant Philistine” — armed only with a simple slingshot and handful of smooth stones.
Others might recall the tale of a teenage Joseph and his “coat of many colors.”
Hated by his older (sibling) brothers for his dreams of grandeur, he was eventually sold into slavery.
Those familiar with “the prophets” – could point to the story of Eli, who was dedicated to the service of the Lord at an incredibly early age.
Each of these stories attests to the fact that children “were an important part” of the ancient Israelite social structure.
Children were important because in Genesis humankind was told to be fruitful and multiply.
All early child development was seen as the women’s responsibility.
Boys normally stayed with the village women until they were 12 or 12 ½…and then they would part ways.
Men had no part in their upbringing, until such time as a young man might begin to learn “a trade from his father.”
What little “very basic education” was available in a village community – was for males only…
Young Jewish boys started formal education at the age of around five, learning to read and write.
At age 10, boys would start to learn the Jewish law.
Formal education was complete by age 18.
Young girls would learn at home from their mothers and from other women.
Young men were educated by a Rabbi (or a teacher) from the local synagogue.
Consider too, Moses’ birth narrative.
The story of a baby “rescued” from the Nile by “the enemy’s own daughter” is often subsumed into the larger, overarching narrative, presenting Moses as a figure coming from “humble origins.”
Yet, the narrative in Exodus 2 really is about “an infant” …a small helpless baby…that has to be “pulled out” or “drawn out” or “led out” of the waters of the Nile River.
Changing the focus from an “adult-centered one” to a “child-centered one” reveals the presence of “many more children” in the biblical texts.
The “Israelite family” was completely focused on “the extended family,” meaning “the house of the father.”
Ninety percent of Israelites lived in agricultural settlements and the HOUSE OF THE FATHER remained “the core social structure” …it was all about those crazy paternal relatives. You know, like Uncle Henry?
Most birth narratives are recorded in short order: she conceived, she bore a son, and named him. End of story.
By putting a child in the midst of his disciples and “embracing the child,” Jesus was “reversing the normal social customs.”
Jesus’ gesture must be disturbing to the disciples because, in that time and place, children have no status—ranking somewhere between women and slaves.
For a rabbi to take a child in his arms in the presence of his disciples is a remarkable gesture…with far reaching implications…
“Whoever receives one such little child IN MY NAME, receives me, and whoever receives me, doesn’t receive me, but HIM WHO SENT ME.”
In the Markan account before us, Jesus calls the disciples to RECEIVE the child.
This Greek word means “to welcome a person to one’s circle.”
To receive a child would involve “affection” as well as “practical caring,” including “feeding, protecting, and housing.”
Receiving a child in Jesus’ name means—acting on his behalf—acting as “HIS AGENT” to do what he wants done.
In a single simple gesture, Jesus summarizes the beauty and the mystery of his message and his ministry: even those whom the world sees as INSIGNIFICANT are important in God’s eyes.
To be Jesus’ follower means that we have to be WILLING to embrace those DISMISSED by the world.
SOMEONE has to have CARE and CONCERN for the VULNERABLE, the HELPLESS, those in NEED, those without STATUS, HONOR, or POWER.
In a simple gesture, Jesus is shaming the disciples who argued about which of THEM was greater. Which of THEM was better? Which of THEM was more important?
I am not sure HOW MANY TIMES it needs to be said, but “true greatness” comes from SERVING OTHERS.
Amen.