13Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. 14But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven." 15And He laid His hands on them and departed from there.
Jesus' statement of "for of such is the kingdom of heaven", isn't much of a surprise since back in Matthew 18:3, Jesus said that you must be converted and become as little children to enter the kingdom of heaven. So, yes, I can believe that the kingdom of heaven is filled with souls that are like children.
Jesus had a warm spot in His heart for little children. He made time for them. There are some strict households who believe that children are to be seen and not heard. This is what it makes me think of when the disciples rebuked the ones who brought little children to Jesus. But Jesus wasn't there to just teach the adults and heal their afflictions, but to also bless the little children.
There are times when it seems like you don't have time for everything and you must choose what is more important and focus your time on that. I think Jesus' disciples were trying to help Jesus to not have to waste time on little children when there was so much important work to do with the adults. But of such is the kingdom of heaven. Jesus will always have time for each and every one of us, no matter how we feel we fit in the scale of who is important and who is not.
The other application I see of this lesson is in how welcome churches make the little children. I have seen more and more programming provided for little children: children's sermons, puppet theater, bible activities planned specifically for little children. Jesus said to let the little children come to Him, do not forbid them. If you provide no way for little children to come to Jesus at their level, if you expect them to sit quietly as instruction and worship atmosphere are provided only for what the adult mind can appreciate, you are in a sense forbidding the little children from coming to Jesus.
Let the children come. Jesus wants them. He welcomes them. He always has time for them. You will see them demonstrate the child like acceptance, wonder, and trust uncorrupted by worldly concerns that Jesus wants all of us to emulate in our approach to Jesus. Let the children teach us.