QUESTION DID JESUS LOVE "FOREIGN"* CHILDREN?
* not natural born Israelites
There is no specific scripture in the gospels where Jesus is reported to have said he loved children. Further since he stated his commission was only to his fellow Israelites, he had little contact with foreigners including foreign children. At the time social roles were were clearly defined and a single man would have had few occassions to interact with someone elses children. That said the Jesus of the bible showed his affection for all kinds of people young and old, often breaking with convention to do so. Jesus' ministry was marked by his demonstrating how he wished his disciples to behave over merely issuing commands or making statements and at a time when it was considered inappropriate for a respected teacher to interact with children, women and especially foreigners, Jesus did all three.
CHILDREN Most famous was the occasion when Jesus blessed the children and babies their mothers brought to him. We note that, true to convention, his disciples sought to stop the children gaining an audience to Jesus , the bible account says Jesus was "
indignant" at that initiative, saying
MARK 10: 14-16
“Let the young children come to me; do not try to stop them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such ones. .. And he took the children into his arms and began blessing them, laying his hands on them."
Jesus evidently did not believe children were unworthy of his time and attention, indeed by using children so often in his illustrations Jesus gave evidence he not only keenly observed them, but appreciated their positive qualities. Jesus was known for his kind patience and loving regard, especially to the humble and disadvantaged, there is absolutely no reason to believe that that regard did not extend to children and enough in scripture to conclude it did. One of the three resurrections Jesus performed was of a 12 year old girl.
FOREIGNERS
As has been mentioned Jesus stated his mission was uniquely for his fellow Israelites, but this did not mean he was insensitive to the needs of non-Israelites. On one occassion a phenoesian woman pleaded with him to cure her child. He explained the limits of his commission*, but finally changed his mind faced with her extraordinary faith and persistence. So on the one concession we see Jesus have indirect dealings with a foreign child, he saw fit to perform a miracle. Clearly his affection for mankind extended to non-israelite children.
*Jesus kindly referred to her child as a "puppy" (a loved pet) softening a derogatory saying common to the Jews who spoke of foreigners as "dogs".
CONCLUSION Jesus' words and actions indicate he did indeed love children. The binle presents Jesus as being on a mission that would eventually benefit al mankind, including children of all nationalities, skin colours and language groups. He explained that the ultimate expression of love is to be willing to die for them and that he (Jesus) was to give his life I exchange for many including the world's children.
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