What makes Jesus angry
Some people began bringing little children to Jesus so that he would touch them. But the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said, “Let the little children come to me! Do not hinder them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Amen I tell you: Whoever will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the little children in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them. (Mark 10:13-16)
What makes Jesus angry? We have an example in the words from Mark chapter 10. “He (Jesus) was indignant.” He was very upset, angry at what his disciples were doing.
Do you think you have ever made Jesus upset at something you were thinking or doing? You might say, “Oh, Jesus has never gotten angry with me.” Yes, he has if you ever did something like what the disciples did.
His disciples tried to stop people from bringing children to Jesus so that he could bless them. They thought they were doing him a favor.
Jesus makes it clear that children and babies can believe. We do well to have childlike faith. Jesus loves all people. Jesus wants all people in heaven, including children and babies.
Jesus tells us, “Amen I tell you: Whoever will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” When he begins with the words “Amen I tell you,” he wants us to listen because this is very important.
The kingdom of heaven is entered into through faith in Jesus as our Savior. Children are conceived and born in sin, and they need God’s forgiveness. Jesus has paid for all of our sins on the cross. His resurrection proves that. He has given us the sacrament of Baptism, in which we receive his forgiveness, which he earned for us. Baptism is for babies, too. Faith is created in babies when they are baptized. Faith needs to be nurtured and strengthened as children grow.
That is why we want to bring our children to Jesus.
That is why we as adults want to come to Jesus, too.
We all need Jesus’s blessing. We all need to sit on Jesus’s lap and listen to his word. We all need to believe in Jesus like a little child. No matter how old we are, we are always “Jesus’s Little Lambs.”
Prayer: I am Jesus’s little lamb; ever glad at heart I am, for my shepherd gently guides me, knows my needs and well provides me, loves me ev’ry day the same, even calls me by my name. Who so happy as I am, even now the shepherd’s lamb? And when my short life is ended, by his angel hosts attended, He shall fold me to his breast, there within his arms to rest. Amen.