Read John 13:31-33.

To His Little Children, He Said . . .

Judas has just gone out from the others to do what he would do. As soon as he’s gone Jesus says to the eleven:

“Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.'”

John 13:31-33

Jesus Came Down

Thirty-three years before Jesus said those words to his disciples, the Christmas story happened:

And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. (Luke 2:6-7)

Thirty-three years before Jesus called his disciples “little children,” Jesus showed up — to planet earth. Jesus, the Christ, blessed us with His presence. Jesus, the One who was the Word, and was God, the One who was with God in the beginning,  the One through whom all things were made, he became the Light of all mankind. In fact, no one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God. (John 1:1-5, 18)

He became flesh and made his dwelling among us. (John 1:14)

Jesus, who was God, the Creator of all things, the One who lived with the Father, Jesus, The Christ,

He became one of us.

The Type Of People He Came Looking For

In our passage, Jesus calls his disciples “little children.” That’s who he chose when he chose his disciples, he chose little children. And that’s how it is for you and for me. We’re on the level of little children compared to the Son of God. When he came to us little children here on earth, he lowered Himself. Even though we’re but dust and ashes, Jesus came to us. He humbled himself, and he blessed us, by initiating a relationship with you, with me, and with all of humankind.

And you, you have the opportunity to do the same. The only problem is, it might be contrary to your nature. Many of us have a desire to bless the big man on campus with our presence. Or we might have a desire to bless the most popular people at work with our friendship. We might want to get to know the powerful, or the rich, or the famous.

But you, where you really have power to make an impact, is with those people who would be thrilled to see you coming. You know who they are. They’re the ones the other kids at school ignore. They’re the ones who are too shy to engage others. He’s the one who struggles with depression. She’s the one who keeps to herself. He’s the kid who dresses funny. I’m talking about the person on the low end of the popularity spectrum.

I’m talking about that person who you know will light up when you approach them.

One of the ways you can be more effective helping people to follow Jesus is to go to those with whom you have influence.

Jesus, the Son of God Himself, came to the blind, the lame, the lepers, the deaf, and the poor. Jesus came to the least of humanity. Jesus went to the woman at the well and she was blown away. “How is it that a guy like you is talking to a woman like me?” she asked him. (Luke 7:22, John 4:9)

That’s how Jesus loved people.

That’s how you can love like Jesus.

Do you want to love people by helping them to become followers of Jesus?

Go where you have influence.

Notes:

Image of children via Google Images — labeled for reuse