‘Once in Royal David’s City’
Scripture Reading — Mark 10:13-16
“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”
“Once in Royal David’s City” tells the story of Jesus’ birth and childhood in a kid-friendly way. The first three stanzas touch on the early years of Jesus in a way that few other songs do.
“Jesus is our childhood’s pattern, day by day like us he grew;/ he was little, weak, and helpless, tears and smiles like us he knew. . . .” In other words, Jesus developed as we do. Like us, he was helpless as a baby and had to grow as all children grow. We can connect with Jesus and know that he experienced life as we do.
The book of Mark tells us a story about Jesus and some little children. His disciples were rebuking people who were bringing their children to Jesus to be blessed by him. But Jesus didn’t like that. He said, “Let the little children come to me. . . .”
He even used them as an example that everyone can follow. “Truly I tell you,” he said, “anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
Often, as adults, we have questions and doubts. Sometimes we need to be reminded that we need to have faith like a child—to hear the good news and accept it, trusting God to be true to his promises. As God’s children, we respond to his call to come to him and to follow him wherever he will lead.
Lord Jesus, thank you for coming and experiencing life as we do. May we hear your invitation to come to you and follow you. And may we trust in you to lead us. Amen.
About the author — Brian Kuyper
Brian Kuyper is the lead pastor at a church in Taber, Alberta. He has served in two congregations in southern Alberta over the past 12 years. He is married to Brenda, and they have three school-age children.
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