A large crowd had gathered to listen to Jesus, but as evening approached the disciples suggested that Jesus send them away to get something to eat.   Instead, Jesus took five loaves and two fish that the disciples had and multiplied them to feed a crowd of more than five thousand. (Mt. 14:13-21)

This was not the first time that the disciples’ actions had the unintended effect of separating people from Jesus.  On another occasion, the disciples tried to protect Jesus by preventing people from bringing their little children to him, but he said, “Let the children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” (Luke 18:16) In another incident, the disciples rebuked Bartimaeus and told him to be quiet as he shouted out to Jesus to heal his blindness. Jesus ignored their efforts, called Bartimaeus to him, and healed him.  (Mark 10:46-52) And yet again, the disciples told Jairus, who had asked Jesus to come and heal his daughter, not to bother Jesus after word had come that his daughter had died.  But Jesus went on to raise his daughter to life.  (Luke 8:49-50)

How often do we unwittingly seek to separate others or ourselves from Jesus?  The possibilities are numerous — letting our kid’s soccer game or an invitation to play golf on Sunday morning get in the way of attending church; sleeping in and missing a time we had set aside for prayer; being a bad example to our children on an issue of integrity; holding on to anger and refusing to forgive another for some slight or wrong.  Even though we may not realize it, all these examples tend to build separation between God and us or others.  Any kind of sin tends to drive a wedge between us and God. 

Rather, our actions should be like the friends of the paralytic who carried him on a mat and tried to lay him before Jesus so he could heal him.  When they could not break through the crowd to get to Jesus, they carried the paralytic up on the roof, removed the tiles and lowered him down on his mat in front of Jesus.  When Jesus saw their faith and the efforts to which they had gone, he healed the paralytic and forgave him his sins. (Luke 5:17-26)  

One of our prime responsibilities as Christian parents is to introduce our children to Jesus.  We should encourage them by our word and example to grow in their faith so that they will be able to live out that faith in their own lives.

How often do we unwittingly seek to separate others or ourselves from Jesus?