8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:8 (NKJV)
By Bro. John L. Cash
When my grandson Landon was spending his days with me, I got familiar with the TV shows for toddlers. He was very fond of “Paw Patrol,” “Mother Goose Club,” and pretty much anything on the BabyFirst channel. But one week we found a show about the thrilling animated deeds of “Pocoyo.”
Pocoyo is a cartoon toddler who has all kinds of adventures with his animals and friends. The series was produced in Spain, and the programs have been translated into English to be shown in the US on Netflix. It’s a well-done, entertaining program, and it helps to instill positive values. I recommend it for you and your toddler.
While reading the background of the series, I was moved to hear how the main character, Pocoyo, received his name. David Cantolla, one of the creators, was listening to his 3-year-old daughter recite her prayers at night. She was supposed to say “Eres niño como yo” (“You’re a child like me”). Instead she said “Eres niño poco yo” (“You’re a child—a little me.”)
When I read that, I couldn’t get it out of my mind. Her childlike slip of the tongue is the gospel in its purest form. Truly, every child can say, “Jesus became a child–a little me.” In my mind, it sanctifies the role of children in daily life. Jesus Christ loved the little children…so much that He became one.
There is a passage of Scripture, Philippians 2:5-11, that the theologians call “The Kenosis Passage.” “Kenosis” means “emptying”; that is, that Jesus Christ was truly God, but He humbled Himself to become one of us. The child’s prayer of “Pocoyo”/”A Little Me” is really a summary of the Kenosis passage.
Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,
11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
And this certainly isn’t a lesson just for children. Each of us can say, “Jesus loved us so much that He became a human. He humbled himself to become a person—a little me.”
The Lord has given me a renewed understanding of His great love for us. That’s the thing I’m most grateful for this Thanksgiving. I am so thankful Jesus loved and gave Himself for us. Even the little ones, like Pocoyo.
Dr. John L. Cash is the “Country Preacher Dad.” He was raised in Stuttgart, Arkansas, and spent almost 35 years being a country preacher in the piney woods five miles south of the little town of Hickory, Mississippi. He’s currently on a sabbatical from the preaching ministry, and is an English teacher at the Choctaw Tribal School. He and his lovely wife, Susan, live in a brick house in town. You can send him a note at countrypreacherdad@gmail.com.
