People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. (Mark 10:13)
People were bringing little children to Jesus. Expecting to have them touched by Jesus would mean to have them blessed by laying Jesus’ hands on the children. That was a natural thing for Jesus who was regarded as a Rabbi in those days.
However, the disciples acted in a little strange manner. They rebuked them. The text does not mention whom they rebuked. They might not rebuke the children. Probably they rebuked their fathers who brought them to Jesus. The disciples might have thought that the children and their father were disturbing Jesus. Children in those days were somewhat neglected and disregarded as minors.
The author of Mark has already talked about children in 9:36, 37. It says, “He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, ‘Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me." Despite the vivid statement made by Jesus regarding the right attitude of welcoming children, it is strange that the disciples had made a mistake again. Is this because of unskillful writing of the author of Mark? Or was it an intention to emphasize the disciples’ lack of understanding?
It is not easy for us to judge. The important point here is that the disciples do not understand Jesus at all. This problem is pointed by the author of Mark throughout the entire of Mark’s gospel. The disciples neither understand Jesus’ cross nor his resurrection.
It can be hard to say that the disciples were so dull to understand and the people were without faith. Understanding Jesus is an attribute of revelation. It means we do not know the meaning of revelation at that very moment but understands later when Jesus reveals. It is just like the true nature of Jesus was later made understood to his disciples after the manifestation of his resurrection.
People were bringing little children to Jesus. Expecting to have them touched by Jesus would mean to have them blessed by laying Jesus’ hands on the children. That was a natural thing for Jesus who was regarded as a Rabbi in those days.
However, the disciples acted in a little strange manner. They rebuked them. The text does not mention whom they rebuked. They might not rebuke the children. Probably they rebuked their fathers who brought them to Jesus. The disciples might have thought that the children and their father were disturbing Jesus. Children in those days were somewhat neglected and disregarded as minors.
The author of Mark has already talked about children in 9:36, 37. It says, “He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, ‘Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me." Despite the vivid statement made by Jesus regarding the right attitude of welcoming children, it is strange that the disciples had made a mistake again. Is this because of unskillful writing of the author of Mark? Or was it an intention to emphasize the disciples’ lack of understanding?
It is not easy for us to judge. The important point here is that the disciples do not understand Jesus at all. This problem is pointed by the author of Mark throughout the entire of Mark’s gospel. The disciples neither understand Jesus’ cross nor his resurrection.
It can be hard to say that the disciples were so dull to understand and the people were without faith. Understanding Jesus is an attribute of revelation. It means we do not know the meaning of revelation at that very moment but understands later when Jesus reveals. It is just like the true nature of Jesus was later made understood to his disciples after the manifestation of his resurrection.
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