Mark 10:14
Let the Children Come to Me
13 And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. 14But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 15Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” 16And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.
I am a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. At our meetings, we have opening and closing prayers.
The V.F.W. has a home for veterans’ widows and children in Eston Rapids, Michigan which all posts help support. Halfway through our meeting, we also pause to pray for them. A segment of our prayer is, “Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for such is the kingdom of God.” It is beautiful English prose from the King James Version of the Bible in the book of Mark, chapter 10 verse 14. It also appears in Mathew and Luke.
But what does it mean? In the 1950’s to the present time, newer version of the Bible were printed and are easier to understand such as, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” At our last meeting, as our post Chaplain, I had the opportunity to explain it to them that these were Jesus’ words to his disciples and why He said them.
Sometimes, the opportunity to speak about God and also our faith is very fleeting, but I think that it is better to try than to remain silent. We just never know when our lips will be silenced forever.
Robert Fjeldal
