Jesus Takes Up a Child - Luke 9:47

Luke the beloved physician wrote how people who saw Jesus rebuke the unclean spirit within a man's son, “were all amazed at the mighty power of God. But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples, Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men. But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying, then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest”, and in chapter nine and verse forty-seven of his book Luke shared how, “Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him” where we read:

And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him,

The verse reads, “And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, ...” Luke began with the words, “and Jesus” or “and Jesus whose name means Jehovah is Salvation and is the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate”, “perceiving the thought of their heart” which means “knowing, understanding and taking heed to the thinking, purpose, design, deliberating, arguing and questioning in His disciples' souls or minds which are the fountains and seats of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes and endeavors”. Luke shared how Jesus knew what His disciples were “arguing over” within their souls.

The verse goes on to say, “... took a child, and set him by him,” Luke continued with the words, “took a child” which means “lay hold of a young little boy with His hands”, “and set him by him” or “and caused the little boy to stand beside Him”. Luke shared how Jesus “lay” His hands upon a “little boy” and had him stand beside Him.

When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we will learn how Jesus uses this “child” as an example and illustration for His disciples to show how people are to “receive” Him as their personal “Savior and Lord”. Though His disciples wondered who would be the “greatest” among them, Jesus was minded to teach them the principles of the Kingdom of God. God desires a relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, and those who are wise will carefully examine His use of this “child” to learn how to come to Him.

Next time Luke shares how Jesus says, “whosoever shall receive this child in my name receives me” Jesus' disciples, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".