What is the significance of children in Mark's Gospel?

[Houro]

A mate of mine has been reading Mark’s Gospel and has asked me this question. I was wondering if anybody has any understanding of the significance and how it may relate to his style of writing? Any ideas would be great!

Thanks

 

[Houro]

Any links or texts would be great too!

 

[CB_Catholic]

A mate of mine has been reading Mark’s Gospel and has asked me this question. I was wondering if anybody has any understanding of the significance and how it may relate to his style of writing? Any ideas would be great!

Thanks

I don’t understand the question. Are you thinking his style of writing (short, fast-paced, and to the point) was aimed at children, and this Gospel was written for children? Never heard that one, but I’m no Bible scholar.

 

[GloriousOrder]

I believe our friend is referring to lines such as Mark 10:15. Here, our blessed Saviour says that anyone who does not receive the word of God like a little child will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Our Lord emphasises the simple and innocent trust of children. He uses these childlike qualities as an image and type of the true Christian. It’s one of the dearest passages to my heart in the whole Bible, but I can’t see how it makes St. Mark’s Gospel more or less symbolic than the others.

 

[laszlo]

Any times when the word child or children occurs in Mark, it is found in the parallel place of Matthew, and most cases also in Luke.

The admonition

10:15 Amen I say to you, whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, shall not enter into it.

is not in Matthew only in Luke. Also in the story of the Cananite women Mark says with three sentences that the children = Jews have priority, which is only one sentence in Matthew.

Still children does not seems to have special significance in Mark.

Passages with the word child/children: Mk 2:18-20, 7:24-30, 9:14-29, 9:33-37, 10:13-30, 12:18-27, 13:12, 13:14-20