耶稣喜爱小孩
马可福音十章13至16节
13有人带着小孩子来见耶稣，要耶稣摸他们，门徒便责备那些人。
14耶稣看见就恼怒，对门徒说：让小孩子到我这里来，不要禁止他们；因为在神国的，正是这样的人。
15我实在告诉你们，凡要承受神国的，若不像小孩子，断不能进去。
16于是抱着小孩子，给他们按手，为他们祝福。
信息分享
在今天的社会，教导小孩的责任往往落在母亲的身上；然而，我们今天选读的经文却显示，把孩子带到耶稣面前来的人，可能是孩子的父亲，因为和合本圣经译为「有人」（第13节）的那个字词，其希腊原文其实是「他们」。
这点其实并不出奇，因为在犹太人的家庭中，通常是由父亲负责儿女的宗教教育。母亲在这方面的角色，当然十分重要；我们在摩西、撒母耳和提摩太的身上，都看到母亲对他们灵命带来深远的影响。其实，连祖父母也可以对儿孙的生命产生重大的影响。无论如何，家庭是培养儿童灵命的最佳场所；父母在信仰上对儿女的建立和薰陶，必对他们日后的成长产生深远的影响。
反观我们的家庭，是怎样推动宗教教育的呢？教导儿女的责任，是否完全落在母亲的身上？做父亲的，是否只懂得说：「教养儿女的事，我已经全权交在太太的手上」？然而，圣经却不是这样教导我们的啊！
新约非常清楚地指出，作丈夫和父亲的，必须在属灵的事情上作「头」的角色──即负起带领的角色。基督亦要求基督徒的家庭常有美好的见证，以致让人看见基督是他们的一家之主，他们的一家常有一位慈爱的天父看顾。
经文亦告诉我们，基督是何等的喜爱小孩；所以，作父母的，应自小教导儿女认识基督的爱，教导他们凡事向天父祈祷。小孩子那些简单而纯真的祷告，是最令人感动的。基督直言我们成年人最需要学习的，正是小孩子那种单纯的信心。全然的信靠和单纯的爱，是神所喜悦的。
孩子是神给予我们的宝贵礼物，我们在他们身上学到甚么是单纯的信靠。神喜欢小孩子，所以，我们应自小教导小孩认识神的爱，并引领他们来到祂的面前。
反思：
我的家是否能常常见证神的爱？
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?