Does the Bible talk about the way Jesus interacted with children?

In the Gospels we see a glimpse of how Jesus related to children. Mark 10:13–16 records, "And they were bringing children to [Jesus] that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, 'Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.' And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them" (See also Matthew 19:13–15 and Luke 18:15–17). Jesus invited interaction with children. He was not too important or busy to be bothered by them, but allowed them to come to Him. He even used them as an example, for what we have termed "childlike faith."

Many of Jesus' miracles involved children. In the feeding of the 4,000 and the feeding of the 5,000, children were present (Matthew 14:13–21; 15:32–38). Jesus healed the son of an official in Capernaum (John 4:46–54). He removed an unclean spirit from the "little daughter" of a Syrophoenician woman (Mark 7:24–30) and cast a demon out of a boy who had been afflicted since childhood (Mark 9:14–29). He raised Jairus' twelve-year-old daughter from the dead (Luke 8:40–56). Children were also present and praising Jesus at the triumphal entry (Matthew 21:1–17). Clearly Jesus cared for children.

Jesus also often used children in His illustrations. When His disciples were arguing about who was the greatest among them, Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3–4). Jesus also used the way earthly parents care for their children as a way to demonstrate the depth of God the Father's love of us (Luke 11:11–13). John 1:12–13 says, "But to all who did receive [Jesus], who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God." The New Testament continues this theme of being children of God and able to know God as our Father.

Though detailed descriptions of Jesus' interaction with children are sparse, it is evident that He affirms the worth of children. He interacted with them during His earthly ministry, used some of their qualities as examples, and talked about His followers as children of God.

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