在耶稣教导的那个时代，小孩子是没有什么地位的。他们经常像二等公民一样被推到一边。所以，当耶稣邀请小孩子过来时，祂的话引起了听众的注意。这并不是祂的门徒第一次听到耶稣教导这一点--也不是他们最后一次阻止小孩子见耶稣。但耶稣却没有这样做。祂反而靠近那些不被社会关注的人。
有些基督徒会排斥穷人或与他们不同的人。有很多原因使我们容易抱团，排斥那些不符合我们标准的人。然而，我们在耶稣所作的任何事中都看不到这种态度。事实上，耶稣一次又一次地去关怀处在边缘的人。
耶稣说，要进入神的国，我们就必须像小孩子一样完全依赖和信靠地接受它。小孩子是完全依赖其照顾者的。他们不能保护自己，不能为自己辩护，也不能养活自己。他们不得不依赖和信靠照料者为他们提供所需的一切。
神想要我们明白，我们需要同样地依赖祂赐给我们生命和救恩。信靠祂，依赖祂的能力和怜悯、恩典，我们就可以接受这些美好的礼物，永远享受丰盛的生命。
主耶稣，我们为救恩的礼物而欢欣。求使我们慷慨地与他人分享祢爱的礼物，邀请他人也来相信和倚靠祢。阿们。
马可福音 10:13-16
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。
“Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” — Mark 10:15
At the time of Jesus’ teaching ministry, children had little status. They were often pushed aside as second-class citizens. So Jesus’ words got the attention of his listeners when he invited children to come near. This wasn’t the first time his disciples had heard Jesus’ teaching on this—and it wasn’t the last time they tried to prevent access to Jesus. But Jesus would have none of that. He drew close to people whom society tended to cast aside.
Some Christians have an attitude of pushing away people who are poor or who are different from them. There are many ways that we can tend to huddle close, excluding people who don’t fit our standards. Yet we don’t see that attitude in anything Jesus did. In fact, again and again Jesus reached out to the marginalized.
To enter into the kingdom of heaven, Jesus says, we must receive it with complete dependence and trust—like a child. Children are at the mercy of their caregivers. They cannot protect themselves, defend themselves, or provide for themselves. They have to rely on and trust their caregivers for everything they need.
God wants us to see that we have the same kind of dependence on him for life and salvation. Trusting in him, relying on his power and mercy and grace, we can receive these wonderful gifts and enjoy full life forever.
Lord Jesus, we are glad for the gift of salvation. Make us generous in sharing the gift of your love with others, inviting them to believe and trust in you too. Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
