The verse reads (33). "My children, I will be with you a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now. Where I am going , you cannot come.
(34). A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another".
2007-01-29 12:36:30 · 12 answers · asked by Charles H 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The time had come that for Jesus to announce His departure to His disciples. Little children is and expression of tender affection used nowhere else in the Gospels. : )
2007-01-29 12:48:03 · answer #1 · answered by SeeTheLight 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are like children to Him. He could have equally called them his flock, or His disciples, but "children" is more personal. He is their spiritual father and their father by the fact He created them in the beginning, along with everyone else. It is a loving term, as well, given to all Christians who follow Him. We are "adopted" as children of God because of His love for us; we sinned and strayed, but he bought us out of the slavery of sin by His death on the cross.
We are also Children because, compared to the power and knowledge of God, we are small and weak.
2007-01-29 20:48:03 · answer #2 · answered by Crono 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The word children in the Greek "teknion" in this passage. This refers to 'darlings' or better said, novices in Christ or young converts. Thus, Christ is not referring to His disciples as little babies or physical children, but rather as children in the Bible, young novices which required growth in their spiritual walk with God.
2007-01-29 20:57:47 · answer #3 · answered by Mykhall 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Kindness allows people (even Jesus) to refer to those they care about as children.
John 13:34 is by far and away one of my very favorite Bible verses.
Wouldn't this world be awesome if we all but lived by that verse.
2007-01-29 20:52:22 · answer #4 · answered by Aunt Henny Penny 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because of what John himself wrote in the Prologue to the Gospel he penned:
John 1:10 He (Jesus) was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
2007-01-29 20:43:13 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Because He talks on behalf of the One True God, Who is the ever-loving Father of all mankind. We must learn and practice love, because our heavenly Father is LOVE.
2007-01-29 20:44:05 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well he is the Father so if u read between the lines. He created u.
2007-01-29 21:24:22 · answer #7 · answered by ~*Kathryn*~ 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
All Christians are adopted children of God.
2007-01-29 20:47:06 · answer #8 · answered by Lives7 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Anybody who accepts Jesus as LORD is a part of Gods family.
2007-01-29 20:46:16 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
WE ARE GOD'S CHILDREN SAME REASON HE CALLED GOD ABBA FATHER WE ARE his children and he is our father we are part of his family hope this helps in some way!!!
2007-01-29 20:46:34 · answer #10 · answered by THE WAR WRENCH 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋