Christ Blessing Little Children.
By Cunningham Geikie
It is significant that, in the South, as in Galilee, the mothers of households, though not expressly named, turned with peculiar tenderness and reverence to the new Prophet and Rabbi. They were doubtless encouraged to do so by the sight of the women who now, as always, accompanied him on his journeys; but the goodness that beamed in his looks, and breathed in his every word, drew them still more. Indifferent to the hard and often worthless disputes and questions which engaged the other sex, they sought only a blessing on the loved ones of their hearts and homes, contented if Jesus would lay his hands on their infants, and utter over them a word of blessing. A beautiful custom led parents to bring their children at an early age to the synagogue, that they might have the prayers and blessings of the elders. "After the father of the child," says the Talmud, "had laid his hands on his child's head, he led him to the elders, one by one, and they also blessed him, and prayed that he might grow up famous in the law, faithful in marriage, and abundant in good works." Children were thus brought, also, to any rabbi of special holiness, and hence they had been presented already more than once before Jesus. Now, on this, his last journey, little children were again brought to him that he might put his hands on them, and pray for a blessing on their future life. To the disciples, however, it seemed only troubling their Master, and they chid the parents for bringing them. But the feeling of Christ to children was very different from theirs. To look into their innocent, artless eyes must have been a relief after enduring those of spies and malignant enemies. He himself had the ideal childlike spirit, and he delighted to see in little ones his own image. Purity, truthfulness, simplicity, sincerity, docility, and loving dependence, shone out on him from them, and made them at all times his favorite types for his followers. The apostles needed the lessons their characteristics impressed, and though he had enforced them before, he gladly took every opportunity of repeating them. "Let the little children come to me," said Jesus, "and do not forbid them, for the kingdom of Heaven is given only to such as have a child-like spirit, and nature like theirs." Instead of being too young for the bestowal of his blessing, he saw in their simplicity and innocence the fond earnest of the character he sought to reproduce in mankind. The citizens of his kingdom must become like them by change of heart and a lowly spiritual life. Stooping down, therefore, he took them up in his arms, put his hands on them, and blessed them. Even the least incidents were thus ever turned to the highest uses.—Geikie.