Christ Blessing the Children

“Christ Blessing the Children” hangs on my office wall. The painting depicts the scene found in Mark 10:13-16, which concludes, “Then Jesus took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them.”

It reminds me that a multitude of people answered Jesus’ call to rest in Him. Jesus desires to hold all people in His heart. Looking at each individual as uniquely created for fellowship with his or her Creator for all eternity, He is not willing to lose one.

Jesus looked past the color of people’s skin and the number of their years. He took no notice of the wealth or poverty expressed in their clothing. Instead, He gazed lovingly into the very soul of each person that came to Him. His presence seemed to reach past the crowd and draw the skeptics who curiously watched at the sea wall. His intense love for them penetrated their souls.

The painting shows Peter and John exhausted from having tended the needs of the masses for weeks. They assumed Jesus too would be weary, and commanded the children to leave Him alone. They had more important matters to attend than to deal with children. But Jesus said, “Let the children come to Me.”

The people of Capernaum, for the most part, welcomed Christ and parents brought their children to Him to be blessed.  As these parents brought their children to Jesus, we are to bring our children, our friends, and our neighbors to Christ to be blessed with a touch of God’s love and with the gift of eternal salvation.

As we celebrate Easter, allow yourself, your children and grandchildren to be drawn closer to our Lord’s heart and rest. Happy Easter, little ones.