THE SURPRISING LESSON

I am going to see Jesus and ask Him for a blessing!" Little One announced her news to her mother as a matter-of-fact . . . exactly as if she had said, "I am going to run over and have a visit with Grandma and ask her for a cookie."

The five-year-old's mother was sitting on her front door steps picking over some lentils which she was planning to put in a stew for supper. At her small daughter's astounding comment, she stood up, completely forgetting her apron full of lentils, and away they scattered all over the ground and doorstep.

"Now look what you have made me do! Whatever are you saying, child? Going to see Jesus! What a preposterous idea! Now get down and help me pick up these lentils and never, never let me hear you say such an absurd thing again."

Obediently Little One immediately stooped over and retrieved the lentils. "I did not mean to be disrespectful, Mother," she said, "but I heard in the village that Jesus has left Capernaum and that He is headed southward. It is true, you know. He is coming here, east of the Jordan River. He is already on His way. It might even be that He is here already . . . at least He will be here tomorrow."

"But Child, Child . . . what has that to do with you?"

"Have you not heard, Mother, how He blesses people? He teaches and He preaches and He heals and He loves and He cares about everything and everybody. I have an earache. He would care about that. I know He would. He cares about everybody and their needs."

"Me, too! Me, too! Me, too! Me, too! . . . to Little One's mother's surprise four cousins, other children of her family, came singing and scampering around the cottage. Taking hold of Little One's hands, they formed a circle and began dancing and singing:

"Jesus blesses others,

He'll bless us, too.

We love Him just as much

As older people do."

Do you HEAR what they are saying? What do you make of it? Now the small yard seemed to be full of people and children as all were talking at once. Hardly able to believe their ears, the mothers stood staring at the scene of five joyous children singing and actually believing that Jesus would stoop to care about them, and even bless them.

"I'm simply aghast," said Little One's mother. We all know the amazing miracles this Man of God has performed, but they have mostly been for older people, all that I have happened to hear about anyway. I would think it would be very brazen for children to take up His time."

"But He will see us. He will." Little One shook her head emphatically. "He would care about my hurt ears. I know He would."

"And He would care that I have bad dreams and wake up afraid at night," spoke up another.

"And I want to see Him to thank Him because He healed my uncle of leprosy," said the little boy cousin softly.

"And we just want to be blessed so we can live in a way that is pleasing to God," beamed the other two.

"How much children take in and seem to understand." All five of the mothers shook their heads in amazement.

Then Little One's mother said a surprising thing. Later she admitted that she did not even know how she had the courage to say it. "I say . . . let us take our children to Jesus."

Even without a second's hesitation, the other four women nodded their heads.

So it was agreed that they would all start very early the next morning . . . and probably never has there been a happier more joyous group of people than those five mothers and five children as they started down the dusty road east of the Jordan River.

"Where do you think you are going?" In their haste and eagerness the children had unmeaningly bumped into a rough looking man. "You had better watch your manners," he growled through his long white beard.

"Oh please excuse us," said Little One apologetically. "You see, we are on our way to see Jesus. He is going to heal my ears."

"And He is going to touch me and I shall never have bad dreams again."

"And I am going to thank Him for healing my uncle who was a leper."

"And we are going to be blessed," sang out the other two children joyously.

The old man stood staring after them unbelievably. "Of all the nerve," he grumbled . . . "And what a waste of shoe leather, for I could tell them now . . . they will never in a thousand years get near Jesus . . . why would so important a man ever stoop to pay attention to foolish little urchins?"

The happy little children did not hear him, however, for suddenly ahead there was a crowd gathering.

"It's Jesus! It's Jesus!" All five children shouted at once . . . each jumping up and down in his excitement.

"Quiet, you scamps," hissed an older woman standing nearby. "What if Jesus should ever hear your piping voices? I am ashamed to even think He would know of such an insult."

"You really must be quiet, children." This voice was much kinder . . . but in a tone of firmness. It was one of the disciples who stepped forward.

"Oh, but we have come to see Jesus," said Little One beckoning for the disciple to lean down so that she might whisper in his ear. "You see, we, my four cousins and I, have ALL come to see Him. He is going to heal my earache. He will touch my cousin so she will never again be afraid of the dark. Another of my cousins wants to thank Him because He healed his uncle who was a leper, and my other two cousins just want Him to bless them. Please, sir, let us through and then we will leave quickly and quietly."

But to the children's dismay the disciple shook his head. "No, my child. I am sorry, but Jesus is much, much too busy a man to see little children."

By now the children's mothers sensed what was happening and began tugging at their children to try and draw them away. "Come, Little One," whispered her mother. "I am sorry, but we must leave."

"Oh, no," said Little One . . . now speaking really quite loudly. "Oh, no, we have come a long way. Jesus loves us. He will see us."

"Sh! Sh! Quiet! Take them away." Now there were protests all through the crowd.

"Really you must leave." The disciple was gently but firmly trying to push the children back.

But then a strange thing happened. It was Jesus speaking. "Do I hear children?" He called.

"Oh, yes, yes, Master," the disciple's voice was very, very apologetic . . . "but do not be concerned, I am sending them away at once."

"BUT I DO NOT WANT THEM TO LEAVE. BRING THEM TO ME AT ONCE THAT I MAY BLESS THEM!"

Mouths dropped! Eyes glared! Unbelieving expressions were on every face as Jesus, with the sweetest smile one could ever imagine, beckoned to the children to climb up on His lap.

Then gently Jesus placed His hand softly and lovingly on Little One's ear. Then with tender eyes gazing into her little cousin's face, He said, "Never again will bad dreams trouble your rest . . . and thank you child for telling Me how grateful you are that your uncle was healed of leprosy. And you, all of you dear children, bless you every one!"

After each child had been blessed, Jesus looked over the heads of the children nestled in His arms and said:

"I have something to say to you adults. These little children have come to Me with faith and trust. Let this be a lesson that you will never forget. Unless you do likewise, coming to Me with hearts just as trusting, you will never, never enter the Kingdom's gates."

What a lesson was learned that day . . . and it has been a lesson that millions upon millions have learned down through the ages.

Faith in Jesus! Faith in knowing that without a shadow of a doubt He cares for EACH one of us! That is probably one of the most important, if not THE most important lesson in the whole entire Bible.

Jesus loves each of us . . . each individual. He wants us. He wants our trust. He wants our faith. He wants our love.

WILL YOU GIVE HIM THAT FAITH HE WANTS?

WILL YOU?