People were bringing children to [Jesus] that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.” Then he embraced them and blessed them, placing his hands on them.

Setting the theme of the entire movie, the movie “Mud” begins with a young person hoping that his parents will work out their difficulties and learn to love. Young teenager Ellis had all the typical problems of a boy growing up in today’s complex world, but he had the added problem of parents who would not work out their difficulties. Even as he wondered about his parents, Ellis and his friend Neckbone met Mud, an older man who was also trying to work out some love difficulties in his life. The movie is almost centered around the phrase “I love you” which is spoken in one way or another many times in the relationships that are described in the movie. Symbolized by Ellis hoping that love would re-enkindle with his parents and with his new found friends Mud and Juniper, the movie is a statement of how everyone of us want to feel love from the significant people in our lives.

Why did Jesus call attention to a child as he gave his sermons? There are no doubt many reasons including their simplicity and how straightforward they were. Jesus wanted his followers to trust completely in God in order to be part of his Kingdom, the way children trust another who loves them. But perhaps more than anything Jesus realized how much children needed love. He “embraced them and blessed them, placing his hands on them” because he loved them and understood how much they wanted to feel the love of others.

It is a fact of life. In order to function well in our world which is already complicated because of behavior patterns, we must feel the love of others. In the movie “Mud,” Ellis wanted more than anything to feel the love that he wanted his parents to have. Also, both Mud and Juniper wanted to feel the love that was present every once in a while between them. The people of the movie knew what love should have been, and they wanted it with all of their hearts.

People must feel love from others. Although everyone knows it in one way or another, not everyone acts on it. For whatever reason–and there are many personal reasons why that come from our own past experiences–we may not be as loving as we should be to other people, especially the person whom we feel is not loving to us. The ideal love for us comes from Jesus’ love of children–we must be loving to people because people need the love.

Good and gracious God, your Son taught us to be loving to others because as children, we must feel love in our lives. May we learn his lesson, realize your love for us, and have the grace to truly give our love to others. Be with us, we pray.

All of us, especially young people, desire most of all to be loved.

1. What scene during this session of the movie is most striking? Why?
2. A child is totally dependent on another. If we accept Jesus’ Kingdom as a child, we will be totally dependent on and obedient to the Gospel. In general, do you think most Christians can be described in this way? Yes or no and why?
3. Jesus shows his affection for children by embracing them and touching them. In today’s world, we must be careful about such actions, but we can help young children. What is the best way to help children in our world today?
4. In general, do Christians “trust” God the way children “trust” the people who love them? Yes or no and why?
5. It has been said that children in today’s world need to feel love more than any other time in history. Do you agree with the statement and why?
6. What are the reasons why our world is so “complicated”?
7. What can children do in order to make their parents love each other more?
8. As you study the world today, what group of people “need love” more than any other?
9. Mud has led a difficult past life. What is the most important thing to learn about our past?
10. Analysis: Ellis wants to know how his parents’ divorce will affect him. In general, how will divorce affect a young teenager?
11. Analysis: Is it a good rule for parents to “stay together for the sake of the children”?
12. Analysis: what could keep Ellis’ parents together?
13. Scene analysis: The police are paid off by the men who are searching for Mud. In general, do you believe that at times police are “paid off” to accomplish evil? Yes or no and why?
14. Analysis: There is personal pressure on Ellis from all of his endeavors. What does “pressure” do to young teenagers?
15. Analysis: Ellis’ “love” for May Pearl. Why is “first love” so difficult for the young person?
16. Analysis: In your opinion, did Tom Blankenship treat Mud well? Yes or no and why?