Gospel in Art: Anyone who welcomes one of these little children, welcomes me

Let the Little Children Come unto Jesus, by Carl Bloch,1870 © The Museum of National History, Frederiksborg, Denmark / Alamy

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 22 September 2024
Mark 9:30-37

Jesus and his disciples made their way through Galilee; and he did not want anyone to know, because he was instructing his disciples; he was telling them, 'The Son of Man will be delivered into the hands of men; they will put him to death; and three days after he has been put to death he will rise again.' But they did not understand what he said and were afraid to ask him.

They came to Capernaum, and when he was in the house he asked them, 'What were you arguing about on the road?' They said nothing because they had been arguing which of them was the greatest. So he sat down, called the Twelve to him and said, 'If anyone wants to be first, he must make himself last of all and servant of all.' He then took a little child, set him in front of them, put his arms round him, and said to them, 'Anyone who welcomes one of these little children in my name, welcomes me; and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.'

Reflection on the painting

In the Gospels, Jesus frequently identifies with those who held little or no social status at the time. In today's Gospel, He aligns himself with a child. In the culture of that era, children had no social standing, power, or influence. They were valued not for who they were, but for who they might become. Yet, Jesus says to His disciples, "Whoever welcomes one of these children in my name, welcomes me." This statement follows a dispute among the disciples about which of them was the greatest, based on worldly measures of importance. By identifying with a child, Jesus was making it clear that social status and rank were not significant in his eyes, nor were they values of the kingdom of God, which he came to proclaim.

In the kingdom of God, what matters is becoming the servant of all, even of those whom society considers to be of no status or importance, like children. Like the disciples, we can easily become influenced by values that do not reflect the kingdom of God. It is only by keeping our focus on Jesus and being attentive to his teachings that we can allow his values to shape the way we think, speak, and act.

Our painting, by the Danish artist Carl Bloch, depicts Christ holding two children-one by the hand and the other cradled in his right arm. In this moment, he is teaching one of his disciples the profound importance of being like a child. Christ gazes directly at his disciple, emphasising his message. However, the disciple, gesturing for Jesus to move on, seems to suggest that engaging with the children is a waste of time. Carl Bloch's skill in capturing human emotion is evident in this painting, as he portrays not only the innocence of the children but also the compassion of Christ. The scene contrasts the open joy and trust of the children with the more hesitant or misunderstanding adults around them.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/mark-9-30-37-2024-2/