Jesus and the Child in the Midst

Mark 9:33 - 37
Jesus and his disciples came to a house in Capernaum.  There he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the road?  But they kept quiet.  On the way, they had argued about who was the most important person.  
Jesus sat down and called for the Twelve to come to him.  Then he said, "If you want to be first, you must be the very last.  You must be the servant of everyone."  
Jesus took a little child and had the child stand among them.  Then he took the child in his arms.  He said to them, "Anyone who welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me.  And anyone who welcomes me doesn't welcome only me but also the One who sent me.  

(Kid's Devotional Bible;  New International Reader's Version)

This verse is foundational to the child theology movement which invites us to view Jesus' words through the lens of a child in the midst.  Here Jesus draws a child into the conversation to emphasize the   goal of Jesus' followers is to serve, not to compete for the leadership role.  But what does this passage say to a child?

John Ortberg, now pastor at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, spoke to the children's ministry teachers and pastors at Willow Creek Community Church Promiseland Conference several years ago when he was still on staff there.  He invited us to imagine Jesus, a man who conveyed such a persona of trust and love that children who didn't even know him felt comfortable sitting on his lap!

Children in Kid's Word brainstormed who Jesus is to them earlier today.  They raised some critical messages:  He's someone you don't need to see to believe in;  He loves me and everybody.  They named Jesus as protector, comforter, lover of their soul, hope for the future, sweet, soothing voice.  A child once told me she would be able to recognize Jesus because she could tell from the love in his eyes.

This next weekend as we look at this verse, we are invited to come to know better Jesus' love for us.  Here are some questions we'll explore.

Questions to Ponder with Children
*  If Jesus were to walk into this room, how would you know it was Him?  What characteristics of Jesus would help you know it was him?  If you were to meet Jesus walking down the street or in your school, how would you know it was Him?  What do adults do that make you feel comfortable, make you feel safe with them, make you trust them?
*  When you were a little child, with what kinds of people were you comfortable sitting in their lap?
*  What do you know about Jesus' love for you?  What would you like to learn?  

Questions to Ponder as Adults
*  What are some memories of adults who made you feel safe?  How did they act?  In whose lap were you comfortable sitting?
*  In what ways do we look at children as "less than" adults?
*  How does Jesus see children?  Does he view them as less than adults?  If not, why not?
*  How can we see children through Jesus' eyes?  What would have to change about how we view children?

Activities We'll Do Next Sunday
*  Use art materials to represent Jesus' love for us
*  Use puppets and blocks to play out the scene from this Bible story
*  Use dress-ups to play out the scene from this Bible story
*  Write about Jesus' love for us in our Kids' Word Journals

Who Is Jesus? 

Mark 8:27-38

Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" And they answered him, "John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets." He asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered him, "You are the Messiah."

This pericope goes on for what is much deeper contemplation among adults:    Jesus tells his disciples he will be crucified and they cannot believe it.  The lectionary verse ends with Jesus inviting the disciples that if they wish to follow him, they, too, must take up their cross and suffer.  But for children, I think the compelling question here invites us all, “Who is Jesus?” 

There are two ways I want to approach this with children and for we adults who reflect on this segment of the lectionary:

1. Who Do You Say I Am? 

Who is Jesus in your life?  How have children experienced Jesus in their life?  A natural segue here is to introduce children to the concept of Jesus, the Good Shepherd.  I anticipate many of their comments will revolve around Jesus as the one who protects, cares, comforts and loves them, the one who listens to their prayers. 

The second question is more challenging for older elementary school children. 

2.  Who do you say I am when you are with others? 

Do children sense Jesus visible within themselves when they are with others at school, at play, in their community?  What would your friends say Jesus is to you?  How do you show others who Jesus is to you? 

I invite children to talk about

*   What do you know about who Jesus is?

*   What do you want to learn about Jesus? 

*    How will you represent (show) what they learn?

 

We will make images, using an array of art materials, both new and recycled, to represent who Jesus is to us. 

Here are some questions for reflection around the dinner table at home: 

Reflections with Children:

If Jesus sat down at our table with us today and asked us, “Who am I in your life?” how would you reply?  Have you ever sensed his presence in your life?  Does he hear your prayers?  Has he comforted you when you were alone or hurt or frightened?  Who does the Bible tell you he is?  Who have you learned he is from other adults at church or home? 

Have you sensed Jesus with you at school?  Have you sensed Jesus with you when you are playing with friends?  Who is Jesus in the life of your friends?  (What is really important is that none of us judge children’s answers--- we remain open and listening actively to what they have experienced.  If we’re disappointed with their answers, that is for us to reflect upon when we are alone and rethink how we might be presenting Jesus to them.) 

Who do we say Jesus is to others, to our friends, our enemies, people we know and people we don’t know?  How could people tell Jesus is what we say he is by our lives?  Can they see who he is by the way we act, what we say, what we do?  How might we invite Jesus to influence our choices, how might we make Jesus more visible in our lives to others? 

Reflections among Adults

These questions are so important to discuss with children and yet I know, from experience, that I must reflect on my own response BEFORE I converse with children. 

Who is Jesus to me?  In what ways do others see Jesus influence my choices?  In what ways do friends and people with whom I have challenges see Jesus in my life?  Are there ways my life is a testimony to Jesus’ love, comfort, care, shepherding?  Are there ways it can be more so?