"Fairer than all the earth-born race,
Perfect in comeliness Thou art;
Replenish'd are Thy lips with grace,
And full of love Thy tender heart.
God ever blest! we bow the knee,
And own all fullness dwells in Thee."
OF all the good men who ever walked this earth, Jesus is the “chiefest among ten thousand," and the "altogether lovely." Many during their lifetime did "virtuously, but the Lord Jesus, during His sojourn on earth, excelled them all. And as in all other things, so also as the lover of little children, He has the pre-eminence. And even before He was born into this world, the Lord loved and cared for children. The infant Solomon had also another name given to him, “because of the Lord." He was called Jedidiah, which word means, beloved of the Lord—for “the Lord loved him” (2 Sam. 12:24, 2524And David comforted Bath-sheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the Lord loved him. 25And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name Jedidiah, because of the Lord. (2 Samuel 12:24‑25)). And when the prophet Jonah was very angry because God had spared Nineveh, then the Lord told the angry prophet of the more than six score thousand infants, that were at that very time living in that great city (Jonah 4:10-1110Then said the Lord, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not labored, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night: 11And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle? (Jonah 4:10‑11)). If Jonah had not thought of them, the lives of all these little ones were precious in the sight of the Lord.
Yet it was when He was on earth, that the Lord Jesus displayed before all men, how great was His love for children. He never was too busy, or too tired, to “gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom." And in order to show you His matchless love for “the lambs," I will tell you a little about the children who saw Jesus on earth.
In three of the gospels, we read of a little boy who not only saw Jesus, but, as Mark tells us, the Lord Jesus actually took the little fellow up in His arms (Mark 9:36-3736And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them, 37Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me. (Mark 9:36‑37)).
The disciples had disputed among themselves who should be the greatest. And in order to teach them humility, the Lord was pleased to call this “little child unto him." Now we are not told whether the little boy was at play, or what he was doing at the time when Jesus called him; but this we do know, that when Jesus called him, he came to Him. Oh! that every boy and girl would come at once to Jesus. Then Jesus set this little boy in the midst of His disciples, and there the little fellow stayed, while Jesus taught them humility. If the child did not understand all that He said to them, it was very nice to be so near Jesus. And Jesus took the little boy up in His arms, and said to them, " Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me; and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me" (Mark 9:3737Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me. (Mark 9:37)).
These words show what a tender regard the Lord has for His “lambs." To do them a kindness is to do that which pleases Jesus. I poor little cripple child that believes in Him, has perhaps to lie still indoors, while other boys and girls can run about and play. Any little act of kindness, done to such an one for Jesus' sake, it may be only to carry the poor cripple child a bunch of flowers, yet it pleases the Lord just as much as if it was done to Himself. But on the other hand, if any one is unkind to a little boy or girl that believes in Jesus, the Lord will remember that unkind action, just as much as if it had been done to Himself (see Mark 9:4242And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea. (Mark 9:42)).
It appears from Mark 9:4242And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea. (Mark 9:42), that this little boy already believed in Jesus. The Lord is as pleased to own the faith of a little child, as He is to own the faith of a grown up person The “little ones " that believe in Jesus on earth, shall for ever praise Him in heaven.
And there was a little girl who saw Jesus when she was about twelve years old. Just before this, she had been taken very, very ill, so ill that she was dying. What was her father to do? Who could save his little daughter from death? Jesus only. So he went to Jesus, and entreated Him to come and heal his dying child. “And Jesus went with him; " but before they reached the house, the child died. And it may be before she died, she had asked for her father, and had been told that he was gone to ask Jesus to come. How her fond mother must have longed to see Jesus coming. And how she must have wept to see her daughter die.
And there came in minstrels, who wept and screamed aloud, but the child heard them not—for she was dead. There was a loud tramping of many feet in the street, and a noise of the mingling of many voices, for a great multitude came with Jesus; but the little girl heard nothing of all this—for she was dead. “And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden." And having put the minstrels out, He " took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise."
She had not heard the minstrels, she had not heard the multitude, but she heard the voice of Jesus; and at the sound of His loving voice, "her spirit came again;" and she arose, and walked, for He had made her strong and well. But how her heart must have beat with joy, when she opened her eyes and saw Jesus, there, in the very room. She had died before Jesus came, and it was a time of sorrow; but she awoke when Jesus called, and it was a time of great joy and gladness.
So is the resurrection of the just. Little boys and girls have wept much, when one they loved fell asleep in Jesus; and when they saw the body laid in the silent grave. This is to all of us a time of sorrow. But when Jesus comes again from heaven, He will speak, and
The dead in Christ will hear
Their Saviour's loving voice;
Will rise to meet Him in the air,
And will each one rejoice.
But there were many children who saw Jesus during the days of His ministry.
There were thousands of men, women, and children assembled at one time, to listen to Jesus as He fed the souls of all who had "ears to hear," with the Word of life. For Jesus often spake so simply, that even children were able to understand all that He said. And having fed the hungry souls (see Matt. 5:66Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. (Matthew 5:6)), He thought with compassion of the hungry bodies.
He that has blessed us will surely bless our dear little ones—so they appear to have thought who "brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them and pray." Why it was we do not know, but we are told that “the disciples rebuked those that brought them." And the fond parents might have turned back, sadly disappointed, but " Jesus saw it, " and " he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms put his hands on them, and blessed them." (Mark 10:13-1613And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. 14But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. 15Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. 16And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them. (Mark 10:13‑16)).
Little boys and girls often sing—
“I wish that His hands had been placed on my head,
That His arms had been thrown around me,
And that I might have seen His kind look when He said,
Let little ones come unto me.'"
It was indeed a happy glorious moment in the lives of these dear little ones. To be in His arms, to have His hands fondly placed upon their heads, to hear His gentle voice blessing them, and to be able to look right up into His loving face, oh! how happy these little ones must have been! These infants saw Jesus, and He blessed them.
But was there anything that little children could do to please Him who loved them so much? Yes, there was one thing, that the children of those days could do—and little children in these days may do the very same—they could praise Him.
Great was the joy of the multitudes, on the day when Jesus rode, as a king, into Jerusalem. Then " many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strewed them in the way. And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. “So Jesus entered Jerusalem, and “all the city was moved “at His coming, saying, “Who is this?” Alas, in Jerusalem there were many that did not love the Lord, and these were displeased to hear the shouting, so that the voices of men after a while, appear to have ceased to sing His praise. Then it was, in the very temple itself, that the children took up the strain, and cried aloud, “Hosanna."
At this the chief priests and scribes “were sore displeased, and said unto him, hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise? "
It had pleased Him to feed His lambs, He was pleased to bless dear children, and now it pleased Him to listen to the voices of those little ones who sang His praise. These children saw Jesus, and they praised Him.
Was there one childish voice unheard, or unnoticed by Him? Not one. And when boys and girls in these days, blend their voices to sing His praise, does He listen? Oh yes! He is as pleased to listen now, as ever He was while He lived on earth.
But the Lord has spoken of two classes of children (see Luke 20:34, 3634And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: (Luke 20:34)
36Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection. (Luke 20:36)). “The children of this world "—these are called in another place “children of wrath,” because they are unsaved. Is the reader one of these? Then believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved. The other class are called “the children of God"—these, being born again, have already passed from death unto life—they have eternal life through Jesus. To the children of God I am pleased to say—you that love Him on earth, shall for ever praise Trim in heaven. May the Lord bless every one of my little readers for His name's sake.