When a Child Dies

Today 25th May 2022, I woke up to a horrific news that a teenage gunman killed 19 children and two adults at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas on 24th May, the latest bout of gun-fueled mass murder in the United States and the nation’s worst school shooting in nearly a decade.

Whenever a child dies, for the parents it is an agonizing pain for the loss of their child while thinking and worrying about where the child goes – heaven or somewhere undesirable.

After reading the news in sadness and anguish, it is comforting to know that all the children are now in heaven regardless of whether they had known Christ or not. Is it a wishful thinking? Definitely not.

Some may argue that if the child was not baptized, or had not received Christ in life he or she won’t go to heaven because we are born sinners, and Jesus (Yeshua) is the only way by quoting “No one comes to the father but through me” (John 14:6), and, Romans 5:12 “When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.” etc,.

Destiny after life here on earth depends on the judgement of God based on what we’ve done in life, as read in Hebrews 9:27 “Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgement”.

Yes, ever since Adam fell, we are all born with the knowledge of good and evil in us, however, children are innocent, their actions while they are still developing both physical and mental capacity to become an adult cannot and will not be held accountable. No judicial or court system on earth condemns an innocent child, let alone the heavenly court presided by Yeshua (Jesus) himself.

How Yeshua (Jesus) sees and treats the children are clearly seen in many passages in the Bible;

Mark 10:13~14
People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these”.

Matthew 18:10
“Beware that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father.

Matthew 19:14
But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them. For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.”

Then, till what age the children are considered innocent and they won’t be held accountable for their actions?

The Bible does not explicitly mention the age of accountability, but just by looking at the life of Yeshua (Jesus) we can easily see that.

Since birth, there is nothing mentioned about Yeshua’s (Jesus) childhood in the Bible till He was brought to the Temple in Jerusalem at the age of twelve. This is a very significant point to take note of.

Luke 2:39~47  “So when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.

His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast.

When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it; but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances.

So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers.”

That is the age, twelve is when a child begins to transform into adulthood and begins to be able to differentiate between right and wrong, good and evil. Also, it is the age of puberty in general. In Jewish tradition, Bar Mitzvah (בר מצוה) and Bat Mitzvah (בת מצוה) refer to the Jewish coming of age ritual – for a boy at thirteen and a girl at twelve years of age. 

It is important for parents to teach the children about the Grace of God and the Love of Yeshua (Jesus) and get them ready to receive Christ by the time they turn twelve.

Let me end this article with Proverbs 22:6 – “Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.”

Shalom (שלום).