Jesus Blessed the Children
Matthew 19:13-15
Our story comes from a book in the Bible called Matthew.
The Bible tells us that many people came to see Jesus wherever He went. Old people, young people, and even sick people went to see Jesus. Jesus talked to the people and cared for them. Sometimes He made sick people better. Jesus took time to tell them about God’s love.
One day, some mommies and daddies wanted to bring their children to see Jesus. They wanted the children to know Jesus and have Him pray for them.
The daddies, the mommies, and the children went to see Jesus. And they got closer, they could see Jesus.
“Hurry! Hurry! Let’s go see Jesus!” the children shouted. At last the daddies, mommies, and children were near Jesus!
The children began to run up to Jesus. But as they got closer, Jesus’ helpers stopped them. The helpers said to the daddies, mommies, and children, “Go away! Jesus is too busy to see the children today. He doesn’t have time.”
The daddies and mommies felt very sad. The children felt very sad. Slowly they turned around to go home.
Then the daddies, mommies, and children heard Jesus say to His helpers, “Let the little children come to see and be with Me. Do not send them away. Heaven belongs to people like these little children. I always have time for them.”
Right away the children ran back to Jesus. They went to Jesus because He had time for them. They talked together and Jesus told them they were important to Him and that He loved them. He put His hands on their heads. Jesus prayed for each child, asking God to take care of each of the children. The children knew that Jesus loved them and always had time for them.
Jesus always has time for us, too!
Our story comes from a book in the Bible called Matthew.
The Bible tells us that many people came to see Jesus wherever He went. Old people, young people, and even sick people went to see Jesus. Jesus talked to the people and cared for them. Sometimes He made sick people better. Jesus took time to tell them about God’s love.
Suffer the Little Children to Come Unto Me, James Tissot, c. 1886-1896.
One day, some mommies and daddies wanted to bring their children to see Jesus. They wanted the children to know Jesus and have Him pray for them.
Let the Children Come to Me, Anthony Van Dyck, c. 1618-20.
The daddies, the mommies, and the children went to see Jesus. And they got closer, they could see Jesus.
“Hurry! Hurry! Let’s go see Jesus!” the children shouted. At last the daddies, mommies, and children were near Jesus!
The children began to run up to Jesus. But as they got closer, Jesus’ helpers stopped them. The helpers said to the daddies, mommies, and children, “Go away! Jesus is too busy to see the children today. He doesn’t have time.”
Suffer the Children, from the Chapel at Frederiksborg Palace in Copenhagen, Carl Heinrich Bloch, c. 1800s.
The daddies and mommies felt very sad. The children felt very sad. Slowly they turned around to go home.
Then the daddies, mommies, and children heard Jesus say to His helpers, “Let the little children come to see and be with Me. Do not send them away. Heaven belongs to people like these little children. I always have time for them.”
Suffer the Little Children, Vogel von Vogelstein, c. 1800s.
Right away the children ran back to Jesus. They went to Jesus because He had time for them. They talked together and Jesus told them they were important to Him and that He loved them. He put His hands on their heads. Jesus prayed for each child, asking God to take care of each of the children. The children knew that Jesus loved them and always had time for them.
Jesus and the children, stained glass, artist unknown.
Jesus always has time for us, too!
Bible Paraphrase: "I am with you always." (…and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:20 NIV)
Text Truth: Jesus always has time for us.
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” – Mathew 19:14
Read Matthew 19:13-15. The disciples wanted Jesus to ignore the children as unimportant. However, He took time for the children even though He was weary and tired.
Spending time with you is just as important to Jesus as the time He spent with the children. The time you spend in reading God’s Word and in prayer has even more value than accomplishing everything on your list. As you deal with the many demands on your time, choose to spend time with Jesus. Your day will go so much better when you put Him first. Include on your list ways you can keep Jesus on your mind throughout your day.
Sing these words to the tune, “The Farmer in the Dell.”
You’ll Need: craft foam, scissors, single hole punch, washable markers
You’ll Need: flour tortillas, cheese, pretzel sticks
Make edible watches to remember that Jesus always has time for us. Use strips of tortilla for the band and cheese circles for the watch face. Use pretzel sticks for the clock hands.
Gather Bible storybooks. Include pictures of Bible-time and present-day children. When you come to a picture of a Bible-time child, point and say, “See this child? Jesus loved the Bible-time children, and Jesus loves you.” Then let your child find other children that Jesus loves. Place a photo of your child with the pictures so she can say, “Jesus loves me.”
Gather pictures of kids your child knows. Pray for each of them by name. Thank God that He always has time for us.
Text Truth: Jesus always has time for us.
Family Devotional
Read Matthew 19:13-15. The disciples wanted Jesus to ignore the children as unimportant. However, He took time for the children even though He was weary and tired.
Spending time with you is just as important to Jesus as the time He spent with the children. The time you spend in reading God’s Word and in prayer has even more value than accomplishing everything on your list. As you deal with the many demands on your time, choose to spend time with Jesus. Your day will go so much better when you put Him first. Include on your list ways you can keep Jesus on your mind throughout your day.
Activities You Can Do at Home
Jesus Loves Us All
Sing these words to the tune, “The Farmer in the Dell.”
Jesus loves us all.
Jesus loves us all.
Young or old, and short and tall,
Jesus loves us all.
Make a Watch
You’ll Need: craft foam, scissors, single hole punch, washable markers
- Involve your child as much as possible to cut a 2” circle from craft foam.
- Add numbers to make a watch face.
- Cut a 1” x 6” foam strip and center it behind the watch face as a band.
- Punch a hole in the center of the watch and band.
- Punch a hole in the center of the watch and hands.
- Decorate.
- Cut a slit in one end of the band and slip the other end through to secure the watch on your child’s wrist.
- Let your child wear the watch as a reminder that Jesus always has time for us.
Edible Watches
You’ll Need: flour tortillas, cheese, pretzel sticks
Make edible watches to remember that Jesus always has time for us. Use strips of tortilla for the band and cheese circles for the watch face. Use pretzel sticks for the clock hands.
Jesus Loves Children
Gather Bible storybooks. Include pictures of Bible-time and present-day children. When you come to a picture of a Bible-time child, point and say, “See this child? Jesus loved the Bible-time children, and Jesus loves you.” Then let your child find other children that Jesus loves. Place a photo of your child with the pictures so she can say, “Jesus loves me.”
Pray, Thanking God for Children and for Him
Gather pictures of kids your child knows. Pray for each of them by name. Thank God that He always has time for us.
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