耶穌喜愛小孩
馬可福音十章13至16節
13有人帶著小孩子來見耶穌，要耶穌摸他們，門徒便責備那些人。
14耶穌看見就惱怒，對門徒說：讓小孩子到我這裡來，不要禁止他們；因為在神國的，正是這樣的人。
15我實在告訴你們，凡要承受神國的，若不像小孩子，斷不能進去。
16於是抱著小孩子，給他們按手，為他們祝福。
信息分享
在今天的社會，教導小孩的責任往往落在母親的身上；然而，我們今天選讀的經文卻顯示，把孩子帶到耶穌面前來的人，可能是孩子的父親，因為和合本聖經譯為「有人」（第13節）的那個字詞，其希臘原文其實是「他們」。
這點其實並不出奇，因為在猶太人的家庭中，通常是由父親負責兒女的宗教教育。母親在這方面的角色，當然十分重要；我們在摩西、撒母耳和提摩太的身上，都看到母親對他們靈命帶來深遠的影響。其實，連祖父母也可以對兒孫的生命產生重大的影響。無論如何，家庭是培養兒童靈命的最佳場所；父母在信仰上對兒女的建立和薰陶，必對他們日後的成長產生深遠的影響。
反觀我們的家庭，是怎樣推動宗教教育的呢？教導兒女的責任，是否完全落在母親的身上？做父親的，是否只懂得說：「教養兒女的事，我已經全權交在太太的手上」？然而，聖經卻不是這樣教導我們的啊！
新約非常清楚地指出，作丈夫和父親的，必須在屬靈的事情上作「頭」的角色──即負起帶領的角色。基督亦要求基督徒的家庭常有美好的見證，以致讓人看見基督是他們的一家之主，他們的一家常有一位慈愛的天父看顧。
經文亦告訴我們，基督是何等的喜愛小孩；所以，作父母的，應自小教導兒女認識基督的愛，教導他們凡事向天父祈禱。小孩子那些簡單而純真的禱告，是最令人感動的。基督直言我們成年人最需要學習的，正是小孩子那種單純的信心。全然的信靠和單純的愛，是神所喜悅的。
孩子是神給予我們的寶貴禮物，我們在他們身上學到甚麼是單純的信靠。神喜歡小孩子，所以，我們應自小教導小孩認識神的愛，並引領他們來到祂的面前。
反思：
我的家是否能常常見證神的愛？
JESUS LOVES THE LITTLE CHILDREN
Mark 10:13-16
13 Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them.
14 But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.
15 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”
16 And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.
Message
We often sing, 'when mothers of Salem their children brought to Jesus'. But the words used in our reading today show that it was the fathers who actually brought their little ones to Christ.
In a Jewish family it was always the father who had the responsibility of training the children in spiritual things. Certainly the mothers had a big part to play also, as we see in the lives of Moses, Samuel and Timothy. Even grandparents shared in this. Spiritual training was the very best education a family could give their children.
What about our families today? Is the spiritual training of the children left to the mothers? How often have you heard it said 'Well I leave those things to my wife'? But that is not what the Word of God says.
The New Testament is very clear that the husband and father is the one who should take the lead and be the spiritual head of the house. Christ also wants Christian families to be a witness to the world of how wonderful it is to have a loving heavenly Father who cares for use always.
The reading also tells us how much Christ loves little children. They are never too young to be prayed for. Very early in their lives they should be told about his love. There is nothing more moving than the prayer of a little child simply telling God all about all that has happened to him that day. Christ said that the simple faith of a child is something we all need to practise. God loves to see that kind of trust and love.
Children are God's gift to us. He loves them and he wants us to teach them about his wonderful love for them.
A QUESTION:
How much of the love of God can be seen in your home day by day?