The Savior and the Innocent: A Scriptural Reflection on Jesus and Children

By Brett Fletcher - Founder of Trinity Mount Ministries 

​In a world that often overlooked the most vulnerable, Jesus Christ placed children at the very center of His ministry. The scriptures reveal a profound relationship between the Savior and the young, demonstrating that children are not merely an afterthought in the Kingdom of God; they are its very model.

​When we examine the Gospels, we see a radical departure from the cultural norms of the first century. During that time, children possessed very little social standing. Yet, Jesus intentionally elevated them, demanding that His followers protect, cherish, and learn from them.

​A Posture of Welcoming

Perhaps the most iconic representation of this relationship is found in the Gospel of Mark. When parents brought their children to Jesus so He might bless them, the disciples rebuked the parents. The disciples believed the Master was too important to be bothered. However, Jesus was indignant. He instructed them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." He did not brush them aside; He took them in His arms, placed His hands on them, and blessed them.

​The Ultimate Model of Faith

Jesus did not just tolerate children; He pointed to them as the ultimate example of genuine faith. In the Gospel of Matthew, when the disciples debated who was the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, Jesus called a little child to stand among them. He declared that unless adults change and become like little children, they will never enter the kingdom of heaven. The humility, profound trust, and openness of a child are exactly what God desires from all of us.

​A Fierce Protector of the Innocent

The love Jesus holds for children also manifests as a fierce protective nature. He issued one of His most severe warnings to those who would harm or exploit the innocent. He stated that if anyone causes a little one who believes in Him to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. This powerful mandate reminds us that safeguarding children is not merely a social obligation; it is a strict divine command.

​As we reflect on these scriptures, the message is remarkably clear. We are called to view children through the eyes of Christ: to welcome them, to protect them fiercely from the shadows of this world, and to emulate their pure, trusting hearts.

​Scriptural References:

• ​Matthew 18:2-6: Jesus calls a child to the center of the group, establishing children as the model for entering the kingdom of heaven and issuing a severe warning against harming them.
• ​Matthew 19:13-15: Jesus lays His hands on the children and prays for them, instructing the disciples not to hinder their approach.
• ​Mark 9:36-37: Jesus embraces a child, teaching that whoever welcomes a child in His name welcomes Him.
• ​Mark 10:13-16: Jesus becomes indignant with the disciples for turning children away, declaring that the kingdom of God belongs to them, and blesses them.
• ​Luke 18:15-17: Jesus affirms that anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.

Building Bridges: The Unshakable Foundation of Christian Unity

 

Brett Fletcher - Founder of Trinity Mount Ministries

​As believers, it is incredibly easy to get caught up in the theological weeds. We often find ourselves debating secondary issues—our theological "pet peeves"—while the world watches a fragmented Church. But I have always been a bridge builder. I believe with all my heart that there is a profound, unshakable foundation of sound doctrine that unites us.

​Whether you are Baptist, Pentecostal, part of the Reformed tradition, or any other mainstream Christian denomination, there are core truths that cut straight through our differences. These are the doctrines no professing Christian can deny. When we strip away the controversy, the disputing, and the arguing, we are left with the glorious, unified truth of the Gospel.

​Here are the essential, unifying pillars of our faith where we can—and must—stand firmly together.

​1. The Triune Godhead

​Before time began, God existed in perfect unity. As orthodox Christians, we unequivocally believe in the Trinity: One God, eternally existent in three distinct persons—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. This isn't just an abstract theological concept; it is the very nature of the God we worship. They share the same essence, the same power, and the same divine majesty. We are baptized into this singular, holy name, recognizing that the entirety of the Godhead is at work in our creation, our daily lives, and our salvation.

​2. The Redeeming Blood of Jesus Christ

​There is no Christianity without the cross. We are universally united by our desperate need for a Savior, and the shared joy that we have found Him in Jesus. We agree that humanity is fallen and that no amount of good works, moral living, or religious striving can bridge the gap between us and a holy God. It is only by the redeeming, atoning blood of Jesus Christ, shed on the cross at Calvary, that our sins are washed away. His sacrifice is the central heartbeat of the Church.

​3. The Exclusive Path: Christ the Only Way

​In a world that constantly preaches that there are many paths to heaven, the unified Church stands boldly on the words of Christ Himself. We firmly declare that nobody goes to the Father but by the Son. Jesus is not merely a good teacher, a prophet, or one of many options; He is the sole mediator between God and man. True Christian fellowship is built on the shared confession that salvation is found in no one else.

​4. The Return of Christ to Establish His Kingdom

​We are a people of hope. While we may disagree on the precise timelines or the specific interpretations of biblical prophecy, every mainstream Christian denomination holds to one triumphant truth: Jesus Christ is coming back. He did not leave us to figure things out on our own permanently. He will return physically and gloriously to conquer evil, wipe away every tear, and establish His Holy Kingdom on earth.

​A Call to Stand Together

​When we focus on these foundational truths—the Trinity, the blood of Christ, His exclusive salvation, and His triumphant return—the walls of division begin to crumble. Let us commit to being bridge builders. Let us stop arguing over the minors and start rejoicing in the majors. We are one body, bought by one blood, serving one Triune God, and waiting for the return of one King. Let us stand united.

​Scripture References (NKJV)

• ​Matthew 28:19 – "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," (Reference for The Triune Godhead)
• ​2 Corinthians 13:14 – "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen." (Reference for The Triune Godhead)
• ​Ephesians 1:7 – "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace" (Reference for The Redeeming Blood)
• ​1 Peter 1:18-19 – "knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." (Reference for The Redeeming Blood)
• ​John 14:6 – "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'" (Reference for The Exclusive Path)
• ​Acts 4:12 – "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (Reference for The Exclusive Path)
• ​Titus 2:13 – "looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ," (Reference for The Return of Christ)
• ​Revelation 11:15 – "Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, 'The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!'" (Reference for The Return of Christ)

"Psalm 42" - Shift Worship Movie Short:

Sometimes praising God is a willful declaration in the midst of despair. Built on the framework of Psalm 42, this worship video echoes the writer's thirst for God in this wilderness as well as his refusal to wait for relief to worship his Savior.

Psalm 42

 ¹As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
 ²My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
 ³My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?
 ⁴When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.
 ⁵Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.
 ⁶O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.
 ⁷Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.
 ⁸Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the day time, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.
 ⁹I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
 ¹⁰As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?
 ¹¹Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.


Courtesy of http://ShiftWorship.Com
 YouTube Video

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