Jesus Played - Day 16

The disciples were a serious bunch. They were worried about how they could help Jesus. They were concerned about who got access to Jesus and who didn’t. The religious authorities that were following Jesus were also very serious. They were anxious about what Jesus was going to say next and do next. They were concerned about what trouble he was going to cause or what rule he was going to break.
One day some children (and children were, unlike today, not held in high esteem) get through all the serious folks and end up in Jesus’ lap. The disciples try to scold the unruly children and their irresponsible parents, but Jesus will have none of it. Instead, he says, “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.” (Mk. 10: 13f)
What would it mean for you to become child-like (not childish) and get into Jesus’ lap? Do you feel self-conscious? Inhibited? Like you don’t belong? Can you become that child or are you more inclined to act like the bossy and clueless disciples, or like the judgmental and tense Pharisees—all those overly serious folks?
I think that one quality that Jesus wants us to emulate from children is their trust. Maybe another quality is their ability to play. I know that many adults lose both qualities—the quality of trust, the quality of play.
It is obvious that Jesus loved children—they gravitated to him. He loved them all—red and yellow, black and white, they were all precious in his sight.
If Jesus played with children, maybe he is calling you to be a bit more playful in your life. If so, what would that look like? When was the last time you really laughed? Really had fun? Really cut-up? Do you even give yourself permission to enjoy your life?
There was in the midst of very serious things going on around Jesus all the time, this playful aspect to him. As his disciples, what might this look like for us? He was clear: We must become like children ourselves to receive the Kingdom.