We are living through a cultural moment where we are encouraged to see all of life through the lens of COVID-19. But for the Christian the most powerful and most true lens through which to bring all of life into focus, is the perspective of Christ. At the beginning of this half term, we met as staff and our Chair of Governors, Anthony Buckley, led our reflection together entitled, ‘Seeing children through the eyes of Christ’. I thought it would be helpful to write down my recollection of his session here.
- He was a child, once
Jesus knew what it was to wonder, Jesus knew what it was to need the encouragement of an adult, Jesus knew what it was to be disappointed, Jesus knew what it was to feel helpless. The classic Christmas carol reminds us, ‘He was little, weak and helpless, tears and smiles like us he knew. And he feels for our sadness and he shares in our gladness’. The compassion of Jesus is filled with humility.
2. He would have had stories told to him about the great child heroes of the past
Jesus would have known the story of David – the underestimated younger brother; of Samuel, the longed for son who heard God’s voice; of Gideon, the warrior whose weakness was turned to strength; of Joseph, the brother who learned to forgive. Our children too need to be shaped by these stories that grow their faith in a great God and deepen their courage in living for Him.
3. Jesus treasures the gifts of children
When a young child came forward with five loaves and two fishes to feed a crowd of people, most would have smiled and wondered how Jesus would handle the child’s audacity and naivety. Jesus chose to value the gifts even though they seemed insufficient to the task that faced them. Can we as adults learn something about the transformative power of faith, hope and love, and be reminded to value all that children bring in the light of what it is as well as what it might be.
4. Jesus welcomes children
When people brought children to Jesus, some tried to turn them away. Perhaps they were worried about what the children might say; children do have fewer inhibitions in saying what they mean. Perhaps they were worried that the children might do something that would shock Jesus. But Jesus, secure in the Father’s love, received children without fear or embarrassment of what they might show up in Him, but chose to reach out to them with blessing.
5. Jesus values the childlike
We’re reminded that to inherit the kingdom we must become like a little child. We must become like a child in our capacity to receive love and our willingness to give it. We must become like a child in our wonder at beauty, our sadness at what is not right, and our delight in a relationship of dependence.
6. Jesus is not terribly happy with those who want them to sin
We live in a broken world where we cannot keep children from everything that might harm them. But in our role as adults in their lives we are to seek to do all that protects children from physical, emotional and spiritual harm. Jesus has strong words to say to those who cause little ones to stumble and distort their wonder, invert their sense of what is right and exploit their dependence.
7. Jesus values all people, including children
Valuing children was not a way of escaping from his other responsibilities to society, it was part of a bigger commitment to serving the whole of society. There is a special call to value the most vulnerable in society, but none of us have ever spoken to a mere mortal. There are no ordinary people but all are made in the image of God, unique and special in his eyes. Jesus shows us in his treatment of other how profound this attitude really is.
8. In valuing people, Jesus values the need to look after himself
Jesus knew that his wholeness rested on dependence on His Heavenly Father and his attentiveness to his voice. Our children are served well from a place of us taking on Jesus’ easy yoke and finding rest in Him.
9. Three Phrases
No talk from Anthony would be complete without a quote from Tolkein and this clip from the Lord of the Rings reminds us of three phrases Jesus speaks to every person:
What is your name? Jesus cares deeply about the heart of a child and what is most precious to them
It is a good sword – You have been fitted with exactly the gifts you need and which I want you to have
There is hope – In the hands of Christ, every child has hope.
