Of Such Is the Kingdom

Afterlives, Chapter 2

For Michelle

I was blessed with two sons. Though they’re adults now with families of their own, I still remember many times their childlike behavior was endearing. As little boys, they each had their heroes. Mickey Mouse, MacGyver, Teenager Mutant Ninja Turtles, Luke Skywalker, and other unreal figures. Once when we went to Disney World, they “met” the mouse and the turtles. They were so excited to see their heroes, even though there was no sighting of MacGyver or Luke.  

As they got older and met real people (musical artists and other influencers) the impact on my sons at seeing these heroes left lasting impressions. Mark 9:36-37 records a beautiful story of Jesus with a child whom He used as an object lesson.

“And He took a child and placed him among them, and taking him in His arms, He said to them, ‘Whoever receives one child like this in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent Me.’”

Though the writer uses the masculine pronoun, we don’t know if this was a boy or a girl. Doesn’t matter.  Just imagine the impact this simple encounter had on this child. The Man he or she had heard about was now holding him in His arms. Though we don’t know this child’s afterstory, we can only suppose this event was life-changing. No one took pictures, of course, but the mental image almost certainly shaped this child for life. He held me in His arms.

Another child, identified as a boy, perhaps spent the rest of his life telling this next story.

News had traveled fast. Jesus had become famous in Galilee and was drawing crowds. John, no doubt, was there with the other disciples. Apparently, the crowd had gathered out in the countryside, a long distance from any marketplace, making it was too far to go and buy food for these people. They were hungry but many of them had not prepared by packing a lunch. Well, except for one…

“’There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what are these for so many people?’ Jesus said, ‘Have the people recline to eat.’ Now there was plenty of grass in the place. So the men reclined, about five thousand in number. Jesus then took the loaves, and after giving thanks He distributed them to those who were reclining; likewise also of the fish, as much as they wanted.” John 6:9-11 

He fed a huge crowd with my lunch!

Both of these stories involve children, and we know that Jesus’ presence impacted them for life. Both were object lessons of sorts, and we imagine both children were changed forever. In the school yard, the playground, at family gatherings, I can almost see these children telling their stories. Imagine their wide eyes and their breathless accounts. Probably some believed them, and others chalked it up to a childish tall tale. But these kids had experienced Him, and nothing could diminish their exuberance. Oh, that we would be as enthusiastic!