Animesh

Not long ago, I saw a children's book called something like "Jesus loves children". It had a picture of the traditional image of Jesus, sitting around a bunch of happy playing children.

I thought back to what I remember of the New Testament: I don't remember Jesus doing much of anything with children, or even talking all that much about them. Can someone point me to somewhere in the Bible that speaks of Jesus loving children?

(BTW, I . . . er . . . have no idea in which forum this question might belong!)

Peter Kirby

The most famous passage is in Mark 10 and parallels.

13 And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.
14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
16 And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.

best,
Peter Kirby

Boro Nut

I think we'll be hearing they have siezed his computer very shortly.

Boro Nut

Gurdur

Seeing the thread title, and the fact that Boro Nut had replied, I just had to look ......

Amergin

"13 And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them:

Suffer the little children to come onto me,

..as a little child , he shall not enter therein.

16 And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them."

Bloody Hell, this explains the Church's problem with paedophilia.

Amergin

beastmaster

Well, in the Apocrypha, Jesus *kills* children. For example, once a child came by and splashed a puddle that Jesus made, and Jesus struck him dead. Someone had the editorial discretion to leave that one out of the Bible though.

Jackalope

I need to find the words for the medieval carol "The Bitter Withy." The story goes:

Child Jesus is out playing. He comes to a group of boys who are the children of rich men. These boys make fun of Jesus. Jesus walks out on the surface of the river and says, "Betcha can't do this!" The boys attempt to walk on water and drown. When Mary hears about what has happened, she whips child Jesus with a withy (willow) wand, which Jesus curses. This is why the willow tree's bark is bitter.

I love to sing this one and "Mary and the Cherry Tree" for christians. They really get upset, especially when they find out how old the songs are.

--Lee

beastmaster

Here it is, Jackalope:

http://www.mudcat.org/kids/@displaysong.cfm?SongID=654

BITTER WITHY

As it fell out on a high holiday
Small rain from the sky did fall
Sweet Jesus asked of his own mother dear
Whether he might play at ball

To play, to play, dear child she did say
It's time that you have been gone
And don't let me hear complaints about you
At night when you do come home

Now our Savior walked down into yonder town
As far as the holy, holy well
And there he met three of the finest children
That ever any tongue could tell

Good morn, good morn, good morn, said they
Good morning, then said he, said he
Now which of you three fine children
Will play at ball with me

Oh we are lords and ladies sons
Born in a bowery hall
And you are but a maiden's child
Born in an oxen stall

Now our savior built a bridge with the beams of the sun
and over the water ran he, ran he
And the three jolly children followed after him
And drowned they were all three

The upward ball and the downward ball
Their mothers they did wail and squall
Saying, Mary mild, fetch home your child
For ours are drownded all

Then Mary mild picked a handful of withies
And laid our dear savior across her knee
And with that handful of withy twigs
She gave him slashes three

Oh cursed be to the bitter withy
That has caused me to smart, to smart
And that shall be the very first tree
That shall perish right at the heart

Jackalope

Someone has bawdlerized this version. It's not politically correct, but the version I've heard from most traditional singers is "And you are but a jew's child, Born in an oxen stall."

There are a couple other mistakes I can see in here that would count as Mondegreens (misheard words, from "and laid him on the green" which became "and Lady Mondegreen.") Digital Tradition has this problem throughout, since people submit the versions they've transcribed. This is why field recordings are a good thing.

But yes, it shows one of the more popular medieval stories, of Jesus misbehaving as a child.

--Lee