And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, The family separation crisis, a deep wound on our nation, and one that will bring upon the nation the judgments of God, is far from over. The administration and the goons who enforce its ungodly policy continue to separate families. And they kick and scream about the injustice of it all as they belatedly and half-heartedly bring mothers, fathers, and children together again. I have friends and family, “Christians” all, who cold-heartedly proclaim that it is the victim’s fault. “They just shouldn’t have come here illegally.” “But,” I complain, “you would do the very same thing they’re doing; you would do anything to save your children from the violence from which they are fleeing.” “Let them do it legally,” they rejoin. “And I suppose you would? Do it legally? “Of course.” “Yeah? Well, then you don’t love your children as much as you claim, because by the time you got in legally your child would be dead and cold in the ground from starvation, or murder, or something much worse. This, because the government you have put in place can’t even find the moral wherewith all to do the right thing and allow even asylum seekers in.” Perhaps there is still time to soften such hard hearts. Perhaps a reminder of what a desperate parent’s love looks like, and how God responds to such desperation can bring a change of heart. “And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but he could not be hid. For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet: The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter. But Jesus said unto her, ‘Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it unto the dogs.’ And she answered and said unto him, ‘Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children’s crumbs.’ And he said unto her, ‘For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter.’ And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed” (Mark 7.24-30). See what courage and recklessness a parent’s love of a child wrought! A woman stepped into a man’s world to present and argue for the life and health of her beloved child! A foreign woman, deemed unclean, dared challenge the Savior of mankind! “And she found the devil gone out!” Impressed by a parents love? How about this one? “And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto him: and he was nigh unto the sea. And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet, and besought him greatly, saying, ‘My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live’…. While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house certain which said, ‘Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?’ As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, ‘Be not afraid, only believe.’ And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James. And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly. And when he was come in, he saith unto them, ‘Why make ye this ado, and weep? The damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.’ And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying. And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, ‘Talitha cumi;’ which is, being interpreted, ‘Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.’ And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment” (Mark 5.21-23 & 35-43). “He fell at his feet,” this ruler accustomed to honor and prestige. See the risk, the humiliation a parent will accept for the well-being and happiness of their child? Oh, how I hope and pray that Jesus is out there in the deserts of northern Mexico, just south of that American iron curtain, speaking comfortingly to desperate and frightened mothers and fathers? “Be not afraid, only believe. I will bring your children safely back to you. For I, at least, know what it means to be kind, for I am meek and lowly in heart… just like you.” And again, “And one of the multitude answered and said, ‘Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; and wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.’ He answereth him, and saith, ‘O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I suffer you? Bring him unto me.’ And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming. And he asked his father, ‘How long is it ago since this came unto him?’ And he said, ‘Of a child. And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.’ Jesus said unto him, ‘If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.’ And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, ‘Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.’ When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, ‘Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.’ And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, ‘He is dead.’ But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose” (Mark 9.17-27). Can we all pray together? Can we pray that those parents, so unsure about the future, and those children, torn from their parents’ arms by a nation that “foameth” and “gnasheth” against the vulnerable and oppressed foreign refugee, will see “the foul spirit” rebuked, and they made sure and united again in the arms of their loved ones? Who can forget the mother from Nain? “And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, ‘Weep not.’ And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, ‘Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.’ And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, ‘That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.’ And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judæa, and throughout all the region round about” (Luke 7.11-17). There is “a great prophet” among us—Indeed one who is more than prophet. He has compassion on those poor, frightened parents. Can we all pray together? Can we pray that he has compassion on those children whom our government has abused and molested and terrorized? Can we pray that their elastic minds, brain paths likely warped and twisted by a warped and twisted abuser, may be made straight, made well, made secure, made happy, made whole? Again, I ask, how far would you go, what would you not do, for love of your children? Though I “got in trouble” the last time I quoted Jesus’ saying—some ridiculous fantasy that I might turn “violent,” as though I do not trust God to recompense Caligula as only He has the right to do—I’ll quote him again. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea” (Matthew 18.5-6).
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