*Sacred Scripture* Jesus & the Small Child – Bloch

Christ instructs us about the Kingdom of Heaven by pointing to a child, as shown in this artwork by C. Bloch. 

Mt 19:13-15

Blessing of the Children.^*

13^f Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked them,

14^g but Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

15After he placed his hands on them, he went away.

Lk 18:15-17

Saying on Children and the Kingdom.

15^* People were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them,^* and when the disciples saw this, they rebuked them.^g

16Jesus, however, called the children to himself and said, “Let the children come to me and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

17Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.”^h

Christ and the Young Child-Carl Heinrich Bloch, 1873

“Amen I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.” – Luke 18:17

Upon entering Sankt Nikolai Kirke, the magnificent figure of Christ and the shy young boy presents an image of pure majesty. Viewers cannot help but observe the loving, protective relationship as Christ affectionately puts His hand on the child’s cheek and gestures toward him. Looking out at the viewer, Christ seems to issue an invitation to “become as a little child.”

The young boy stands close to the Savior and holds a palm frond in his clenched hand. Originally a symbol of military victory, early Christians used the palm frond to represent Christ’s victory over death. It recalls the palm branches raised in hosanna shouts greeting the Savior upon His last entrance into Jerusalem.

MORE ABOUT BLOCH

Carl Bloch was an academic Danish painter who is best known for his paintings depicting the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.

He received his artistic training at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen. Later, while living in Rome for several years, Bloch studied paintings by the great Italian masters.

When he returned to Copenhagen, Bloch quickly established a reputation as a religious painter. This led to major commissions for paintings in churches and chapels of Denmark and Sweden.

His extensive body of work includes over 250 paintings and 78 etchings. Still, Bloch considered his religious works to be his most valuable contributions. His productive career ended early when he died of cancer at the age of only fifty-five.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teaching_of_Jesus_about_little_children