Article November 7, 1925 Issue

The Little Child

SUSAN F. CAMPBELL

They were so willing to leave their fishing boats, their various trades, their homes and loved ones; they were so eager to climb the mount and to listen to the wondrous words of the blessed Master; and with what awe they must have seen the blind joyously receive sight, the lame and halt leap up and go forth free, all manner of sickness vanish before their eyes, and even those upon whom the shadow of death had fallen awake to a renewed sense of activity! Those faithful disciples—that little band of Jesus' own choice, which had followed him into the desert—had been witness to all these mighty works, had seen the scant supply of loaves and fishes become more than an abundance to feed the tired, hungry multitudes; and yet, we read, after all these experiences, as they traveled along the well-known road to Capernaum they fell to arguing among themselves!

We can easily picture the Master leading the way and the little group of disciples lagging behind, that they might discuss, and even strive among themselves, as to who should be greatest. Finally, the house reached and the discussion having abated for the moment, their loving Teacher drew the twelve around him and questioned the reason for their dispute. A silence fell; for well they must have known how far removed their aims and ambitions for personal distinction were from their Master's teachings. In what gentle words he rebuked pride and material sense: "If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, servant of all"! Then he took a child—maybe the little one had felt his great love and been drawn to him to hear his precious words—he took the little child in his arms, and brought home the great lesson of childlikeness. He taught that it is innocence and purity, humility and teachableness, lack of all thought of place and power, which inherit the kingdom of heaven—find themselves in harmony; that as one takes these qualities of thought into his consciousness and lets them reign there, the kingdom of heaven is come. We may imagine the quiet and calm which followed our Master's tender words.

The desire for personal greatness ever received a rebuke from the beloved teacher and friend of mankind. He well knew the futile efforts of humanity to obtain happiness through a false sense of greatness. At one time, when he was in Jerusalem teaching the great truths of being and refuting the densely materialistic arguments of his self-constituted opponents, he vehemently declared, "I receive not honour from men;" and then questioned, "How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?" And yet it was after this that the disciples strove by the wayside as to which of them should be greatest!

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