One of the most significant words in the teaching of Jesus is that in which he gives his command concerning the care of the children. He asked Peter a question, “lovest thou me?” and when he got a satisfactory answer, he said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
He had in mind the figure of a shepherd. David had sung, “The Lord is my shepherd.” Jesus himself had used the figure to describe his own tender watchfulness over his people. They are his sheep. The children are the lambs. The word used here means, “little lambs.” This suggests that the very youngest children are included. They were infants that were once brought to Jesus, whom the disciples would have kept away, but whom he welcomed so warmly, saying “Suffer the little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me.” No mother of an infant child should ever feel that the Son of God is too great to care for her baby, to receive it into his arms and to bless it.
An interesting story is told of Francis Xavier, the great Jesuit missionary. Once when throngs were coming to him and he was almost utterly exhausted, he said to his servant: “I must sleep, or I shall die. No matter who comes, do not wake me.” Then he crept into his tent and his faithful attendant stood guard. Presently the young man saw his master’s pale face at the tent door. Beckoning to him, Xavier said, as if frightened: “I made a mistake! I made a mistake! If a little child comes, waken me.” It is thus with our Master. When a little child needs him he is always ready to answer the call.
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