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“But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children
come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as
these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a
little child will never enter it.” – Luke 18:16-17
The
sun was bright on their faces as the young girl and her father came over the
hill. In the distance they could see the
walls of the city, and the glorious temple rising above the horizon. Ever since
her mother passed away she was allowed to come to the city with her father and
her aunt. There were so many people this
time though. It’s not like the last time
they went to the market and traded their fish for some leather and
pottery. She held onto her father’s hand
tightly as they merged into the swarm of people. She carried in her other hand two small
flowers that she had picked from a bush near the garden of Gethsemane when they
had walked past earlier that morning. She knew they would make a great present
for her daddy later when they stopped for something to eat.Everywhere she looked people were carrying lambs and doves as they came for the Passover celebration. All her father had this time was a bag over his shoulder, but she wasn’t sure what was inside. She recalled her father’s conversation with her aunt yesterday as they left their home about not having a lamb this year. Her father very seldom lost his temper, but several times during that discussion she recalls hearing him raise his voice. The look on his face for this journey had not changed at all. He was tight lipped, with a furrowed brow the whole way; unlike his normal laughing and playful composure. She knew her father was worried and she hoped the flowers would make him smile.
They entered the city with all of the others, almost involuntarily being pushed through the small gate near the temple. Roman guards were everywhere, perched high on top of the city walls and lined along the streets. Each carried a long sword and a whip for taking care of those that got out of line. She held hard to her father’s hand as they moved through the streets of the city toward the temple steps and courtyard. As her father ascended the steps, she had to remain behind with her aunt. He waited in a line near the traders. She watched as his face showed the signs of disappointment and sorrow as he took the bag from his back. Reaching into the bag he took out his small leather pouch and poured the coins into his hand. She knew they didn’t have much money, and she watched as her father was giving most of it to the man at the table. The man handed her father the end of a rope to which was attached a very unhealthy lamb. He picked up the lamb and carried it over his shoulders back down the steps. When he reached the street level, her aunt laid into him again about being irresponsible and unworthy and incapable of fathering this child. It was obvious on his own face how much those words hurt and oh how he missed his wife. Softly he spoke, “Come, let’s go eat something in the shade by the olive trees.”
Then he grabbed his daughter’s hand and they made their way through the crowded streets with lamb and all. He found a quiet place near a cluster of olive trees by a small pool of water in the Kidron Valley, just outside the wall. They sat and splashed some water on their faces to cool the heat of the day. Kneeling near the pool was a man talking excitedly about something, but it was hard to understand. She watched her father lean in closer to hear what that man was talking about. Something about “. . .blind and now I see.. . “ The man reached down and splashed water on his face, then laughed, and repeated it over and over again. “I can see. . . I can see.”
Her father approached the man, “Sir – how is it that you now see?” The man replied, “Jesus, the Son of God, healed my eyes as I was coming from Jericho.” To which her father stepped back and whispered, “He’s lost his mind, poor man.”
The settled under an olive tree and her father brought out the bread and some grapes to eat for lunch. She noticed that he gave her a large portion, and likewise her aunt, and he took a very small portion for himself. She smiled and looked back at her father and took the two little flowers in her hand. “Daddy, I picked these flowers for you.” He pulled her close and kissed her upon the forehead, overwhelmed by the love of this child. This coupled with the emotions of losing his wife, let loose, and the man sobbed terribly, while holding his little girl. He straightened himself up, and looked around, embarrassed in front of all of these other grown men standing by the pools and trees.
One particular man sitting near the pool, just kept staring at him though. The little girl took her bread and grapes, rising she walked toward the man. She offered him a piece of her bread and grapes, at which point he smiled, and put his arm around her. “Your love is a precious gift dear child, one that only My Father in heaven could provide.” He turned to the father, standing by watching, and said “Come to me with a child-like faith and I will restore your peace and joy.”
The man and His disciples rose and walked up through the valley to the Mount of Olives, as the girl, her father and aunt rose to head back into the city to begin preparations for the Passover celebration.
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