Children and family

The short answer

When adults tried to keep children away from Jesus, he was angry, and he took the children in his arms.

The Gospels also show parents who worried, searched and waited, and a father who ran to meet his son before the apology was finished.

In the Gospels

1. Mark 10:13–16

   Let the children come

   The disciples turn families away. Jesus stops them, says the kingdom belongs to children, and blesses them.

   Read Mark 10:13–16

   ¹³ They were bringing to him little children, that he should touch them, but the disciples rebuked those who were bringing them. ¹⁴ But when Jesus saw it, he was moved with indignation, and said to them, “Allow the little children to come to me! Don’t forbid them, for God’s Kingdom belongs to such as these. ¹⁵ Most certainly I tell you, whoever will not receive God’s Kingdom like a little child, he will in no way enter into it.” ¹⁶ He took them in his arms, and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

   World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →

   Jesus Blesses the Children, scene by scene on Free Scripture→

2. Luke 2:41–52

   A lost boy in Jerusalem

   Mary and Joseph search three days for twelve-year-old Jesus and find him in the temple. Even this family knew anxious parenting.

   Read Luke 2:41–52

   ⁴¹ His parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover. ⁴² When he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast, ⁴³ and when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. Joseph and his mother didn’t know it, ⁴⁴ but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day’s journey, and they looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances. ⁴⁵ When they didn’t find him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking for him. ⁴⁶ After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the middle of the teachers, both listening to them, and asking them questions. ⁴⁷ All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. ⁴⁸ When they saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us this way? Behold, your father and I were anxiously looking for you.” ⁴⁹ He said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” ⁵⁰ They didn’t understand the saying which he spoke to them. ⁵¹ And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth. He was subject to them, and his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. ⁵² And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

   World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →

   The Boy Jesus at the Temple, scene by scene on Free Scripture→

3. Luke 15:11–24

   The father who ran

   A son wastes everything and comes home rehearsing an apology. His father sees him far off and runs to him.

   Read Luke 15:11–24

   ¹¹ He said, “A certain man had two sons. ¹² The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of your property.’ He divided his livelihood between them. ¹³ Not many days after, the younger son gathered all of this together and traveled into a far country. There he wasted his property with riotous living. ¹⁴ When he had spent all of it, there arose a severe famine in that country, and he began to be in need. ¹⁵ He went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs. ¹⁶ He wanted to fill his belly with the husks that the pigs ate, but no one gave him any. ¹⁷ But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough to spare, and I’m dying with hunger! ¹⁸ I will get up and go to my father, and will tell him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight. ¹⁹ I am no more worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired servants.” ’ ²⁰ “He arose, and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. ²¹ The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ ²² “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe, and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand, and sandals on his feet. ²³ Bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let’s eat, and celebrate; ²⁴ for this, my son, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.’ Then they began to celebrate.

   World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →

   The parable of the Prodigal Son, explained on Free Scripture→