The above title takes me back many years ago to my childhood days. That’s when my mom was the children’s chorus leader in our Sunday School opening each Sunday morning at our church.
Her role was to call the children forward from the pews to stand with her before the congregation. Then, we’d all sing a few choruses, some of which included motions, she’d chosen before heading to our classes.
I remember that “Jesus Loves the Little Children” was selected about as often as her most favorite song, “Jesus Loves Me.”
To be honest, I miss those times we’d sing these choruses including, “Jesus Loves the Little Children.” We sang the words as they were written in our songbooks back then—
Jesus loves the little children,
All the children of the world;
Red and yellow, black and white,
All are precious in his sight.
Jesus loves the little children of the world.
Since then, “brown” has been added to the chorus: “Red, brown, yellow, black and white” to make it more ethnically inclusive.
Yes, just like the chorus says, Jesus DOES love all the children of the world. In fact, our Lord demonstrates his love through his own examples and teachings.
I cite accounts from three different sources of the time some children were brought to Jesus for his blessings:
Matthew 19:13-15
13 Then some children were brought to Him so that He would lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But Jesus said, “Leave the children alone, and do not forbid them to come to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” 15 After laying His hands on them, He departed from there. (New American Standard Bible, NASB)
Mark 10:13-16
13 And they were bringing children to Him so that He would touch them; but the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, “Allow the children to come to Me; do not forbid them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.” 16 And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands on them. (NASB)
Luke 18:15-17
15 Now they were bringing even their babies to Him so that He would touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they began rebuking them. 16 But Jesus called for the little ones, saying, “Allow the children to come to Me, and do not forbid them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17 Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.” (NASB)
From these passages, there are five lessons we can learn about Jesus and his love for children.
#1 Jesus’ ministry included children not just adults. Wherever he went, families followed him—dads, moms, and children of all ages. Jesus knew the importance of having a godly home where children were taught moral values and truths that are good for a healthy society. Part of his mission was advocating that children be included for securing the future and passing forward the Good News of his Kingdom.
#2 Jesus reached out with loving arms to the children. You can just see Jesus and the children…He cuddled babies in his arms, bounced young children on his knees, held them on his lap, telling them fascinating stories filled with love, laughter, and sincere compassion for them. They looked up to him because they knew he understood them and stood up for them and their needs. They could see it in his eyes and hear it in his voice as he placed his hands on their heads (a common form of worship) and prayed for God’s blessings upon them. What a beautiful moment it must have been!
#3 Jesus did not forbid the children to come to him. “Come to me” was Jesus’ invitation all throughout his ministry. He came especially for the weak, the sick, the poor—anyone society looked down upon. Children could also be frowned upon by grown-ups who saw them as immature, impolite, inexperienced, and apt to get into trouble.
In all probability, this is what was going through the disciples’ minds when they tried to prevent the children from coming to Jesus. They didn’t want these pesky kids to interrupt the Rabbi from doing his work. What they didn’t understand was that the children ARE his work so he corrected them and set them straight. Jesus welcomed the children to come to him.
#4 Jesus wanted parents to bring their children to him. In the process of rebuking his disciples, imagine him encouraging the parents, “Hey moms and dads. Let your kids come to me, no matter their ages—newborns, babies, young children, teens—bring them all to me. I want to give them my blessings!” You could call it, an act of dedication.
I’ve performed dedication of children by their parents in church services and it’s a most humbling yet joyful, gratifying experience. Parents are reminded in this service to bring up their children in the nature and admonition of the Lord, thus setting the tone of having a Christian home through Christ.
#5 Jesus said adults must be like children for entering God’s Kingdom. This might seem odd to us seeing that children today are often told to grow up and act more like adults. But adults can act as childish as children whenever they get cranky, whine about getting their way, and throw temper tantrums over silly little things that don’t really matter. This is not what Jesus is getting at.
Instead, he was getting his followers to think and behave the way children are in all their innocence. Like children, we must have a humble spirit, loving trust, respect for authority, and an attitude that is quick to forgive if we expect to live in God’s eternal Kingdom.
These lessons about the love Jesus has for all children are significant since there is so much abuse toward them in these difficult times. Children need to be protected from the perversions they’re being exposed to in classrooms and over the media. Sadly, the authorities-that-be treat parents and grandparents as “domestic terrorists” just for speaking out on behalf of the well-being of their children.
O how Jesus must also be saddened—and I don’t doubt angered, too—when children are mistreated and misused as if they were objects for the sheer pleasure and satisfaction of deviants void of any conscience. These are disgraceful persons full of evil intentions.
And they must be held accountable particularly for their indoctrination and exploitation of unsuspecting minors. Rest assured, God’s judgement awaits these people who bring such harm to children (Matthew 18:1-6).
Jesus loves the children and does not want their innocent little minds to be twisted and manipulated to believe false ideology—for example, in regard to their gender identity, what pronouns to use or not use, and the woke propaganda being fed to them.
Jesus loves the children so much that I honestly cannot imagine him being very pleased when “drag queens” are proudly and unashamedly parading in front of little children, leading them in “story time,” polluting their innocence with unadulterated filth disguised as “entertainment.” Surely, Jesus disapproves of this detestable activity.
Jesus loves the children and does not want them to be mentally, emotionally, or physically scarred for life, for example, through so called, “gender reassignment” treatments and procedures. He abhors their being supplied harmful, life-threatening drugs. He doesn’t want them to be mistreated in any way. Regretfully, these kinds of actions are signs that we live in a decadent society that refuses to recognize him as the Lord and Savior to whom everyone must answer.
Jesus loves the children and wants them to be saved. Indeed, children are precious in his sight for this purpose. Thus, he directs that they be raised and reared by godly parents where mothers and fathers teach them the Good News of salvation, to bring them into his wonderful Kingdom. That’s why he insisted, “Permit the children to come to me.”
Reflecting upon the chorus, “Jesus Loves the Little Children,” we are drawn to examine how much Jesus’ love extends to everyone, especially the young. Through him, God has a great plan that includes children for establishing his coming Kingdom. No child should ever be forbidden to have that opportunity.
And speaking of that chorus which I’m sure many of us can likewise remember…
The song, written by Clarence Herbert Woolston (1856–1927) has a most interesting history. For a well-written account of this children’s song, I refer you to an article by C. Michael Hawn titled, “History of Hymns: ‘Jesus Loves the Little Children.’”
Good News to YOU!
Pastor Michael
P.S. Now, here’s the song presented by the Cedarmont Kids, https://youtu.be/p5LCvWddQHw