Jesus makes mothers' day

He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. Isaiah 40.11 (NIV)

The prophet Isaiah had good news to announce to God’s people. God himself would come and be their shepherd. He would demonstrate his power and authority, but he would also have a special concern for those who were so often left behind by the rest of the flock. The young and their mothers would be close to his heart.

Jesus came, but not even his disciples recognised him as the Good Shepherd. When parents brought their young children to Jesus for him to bless, the disciples shooed them away. Couldn't these people see that Jesus had much more important things to do than to fuss over their children? He was a prophet, not a grandmother (see Luke 18:15-17).

We’re not told specifically that it was mothers who brought their children to Jesus, but it’s likely that it was they who carried the youngest infants to him. And Jesus welcomed them. He knew how difficult it was for mothers to keep up with the more ‘holy’ people around them when their infants needed feeding and their toddlers squirmed and wriggled in their arms and lack of sleep sometimes made them too tired even to pray. 

He saw that they came with faith in him, not in their own holiness. They knew that neither they nor their children had done anything that deserved his blessing, but they came anyway. Jesus rewarded their faith by blessing their children. 

Then he honoured them by telling the shocked disciples that they needed to become like these little children. The kingdom of God was open to those who had the same unquestioning trust in God’s love and care that these infants had in their mothers.