In the ancient world, children were not regarded. A child was ranked somewhere just below a slave and above a domesticated animal. Many children were aborted, or left to die of exposure, or enslaved and worked to death. No great teacher would speak to children. Often portrayed as a sweet and tender moment (which it was), this was also one of the most revolutionary moments in Jesus’ ministry. Jesus put a flag in the ground for the inherent dignity of every human being, no matter how young.