Day 12

Unfortunately, humans seem to always try to define our place in the “pecking order” of life. Jesus reminds his disciples that they have to throw away the everyday rules of the pecking order if they are to be part of his JesuShaped Kingdom. He was angry with them because they denied toddlers access to him, apparently because his disciples didn’t deem the little ones worthy of their Master’s time, energy, and attention. Jesus, as he so often did, turned their common worldly values upside down and reminded them they needed to pay more attention to the character of toddlers than their sense of self-importance. They would never understand God’s Kingdom and live like their Lord if they didn’t. “People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” Mark 10:13-14.