Mothers' Day 2023

John 19:25–27 KJV 1900

25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! 27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

Introduction

In the midst of the greatest moment in all of earth’s history the mother-child relationship takes center stage.

Jesus made seven statements from the cross.

One of these statements is completely dedicated to Jesus providing for the care of his mother, while also demonstrating for us a Christian ideal of church life.

As Jesus hung on the cross, in excruciating physical, spiritual, and emotional pain, His mind and focus turned to His mother.

On the cross, Jesus magnifies the importance of natural motherhood.

There were 4 ladies that came to Golgotha.

Mary, Jesus mother.

Mary’s sister.

Possibly Salome.

The mother of James and John.

Would have made John Jesus’ cousin.

Mary, the wife of Cleophas.

Mary Magdalene.

She is not the woman caught in adultery, but rather a woman out of whom Jesus cast 7 demons.

Traditionally, she was a woman of considerable means who supported Jesus’ ministry.

These women followed Jesus to the cross.

They were there because they loved Jesus.

They were also there to comfort Mary.

Simeon had prophesied in the temple that this day would come.

As Mary carried her miracle baby boy into the temple, Simeon had met her and Joseph.

He had warned her that a sword would pierce her heart.

As Jesus hung on the cross for our sins, we see the love of our Savior.

For Mary, though, that was also the little boy that she had held in her arms.

Jesus knew how His death uniquely affected His mother.

Amid severe suffering another person might have his whole mind turned in on himself; not so with Jesus.

Mothers must have been a common sight at the foot of a criminal’s cross.

Usually, mother love is rated as the purest and strongest type of human love.

How many hardened criminals cried for their moms during their final moments on a cross.

Jesus speaks to His mom, but it is not with a desire for pity or relief because of his own suffering.

Even now as he dies she is in his heart.

Jesus continues to fulfill His duty to care for her in her lonely state and suffering.

Nothing more tender and touching is found in the Gospel story than this love of Jesus for his mother.

Joseph had long ago passed away.

As the firstborn, Jesus is expected to provide for Mary and, really, his younger siblings.

We must remember that Joseph and Mary had other children after Jesus.

It is doubtful that any of these other children were in a position to care for Mary.

Remember, Joseph and Mary were among some of the poorest people in Israel.

There was no inheritance to improve the prospects of Joseph’s children.

One of Jesus’ disciples, however came from a relatively successful family.

This disciple, of course, was John.

His father owned a thriving fishing business.

Tradition says that John owned a house in Jerusalem.

This would have made him well equipped to provide for Mary.

John had also proved his love and loyalty to Jesus.

Jesus knew that John would faithfully care for Mary for the rest of her life.

The text tells us that John adopted Mary and she lived with him for the rest of her life.

Some early traditions say that this means John put his missionary endeavors on hold and lived in Jerusalem until she died.

Other traditions say that John took Mary with him when he moved to Ephesus, and that this is where she died.

Nothing in the Gospel story is more tender and touching than this love of Jesus for his mother.

It was His love, after all, for Mary and for all of us that motivated Him to hang on that cross for all of us.

When we look at this from the perspective of Jesus and His mom, we see an example of honoring and caring for our mom’s.

If we look at this from the perspective of Mary and John we get another incredibly important lesson.

As Jesus is dying, He also elevates the importance of adopted motherhood.

There are two aspects of motherhood that we see in this passage.

Natural motherhood that is based on a biological connection.

For some reason, God has withheld this connection for some women.

This doesn’t necessarily mean that a woman doesn’t have biological children.

This is the experience of many women.

It may also be that she is not afforded the opportunity to interact with her children like she wishes she could, for whatever reason.

I want to say, based on the authority of the word of God that there is an equally fulfilling expression of motherhood for women in this situation.

Don’t fall victim to societal pressure that says a woman without a man, or a woman without a child is less than other women.

The familial connections that we nearly worship are temporal.

Mary knew this firsthand.

Her husband was dead.

Her son was dying before her eyes.

She wasn’t even 50 yet.

Jesus, on the cross, points His mom to a more lasting relationship than what natural motherhood can express.

Spiritual motherhood is based on the connection that exists between believers because of the cross.

Beneath the cross, Christian fellowship is born, a fellowship wholly different from all purely human fellowship based on natural kinship, mutual sympathy, or a common outlook upon human affairs.

The great and distinctive characteristic of this new fellowship is that all who enjoy it are drawn to one another by the consciousness that they are a part of a family for whom Christ died.

This is a family that has no end and cannot be broken up.

We see an example of this gospel-based family in this passage.

John became Mary’s son.

He gained the love of a woman that did not bear him.

Mary became John’s mother.

She gained the love of a son that she did not raise.

Jesus entrusted the woman who carried Him and the disciple that loved him the most to demonstrate the familial love that ought to exist between believers.

These relationships formed literally because of what Jesus did on the cross.

How important is it for believers to be in fellowship with each other and to care for each other?

Important enough for Jesus to encourage it while on the cross.

Jesus spoke of the possibility of this gospel-based family during His ministry.

Mark 10:28-31 “28 Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. 29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, 30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. 31 But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.”

This is one of my favorite verse for my ministry.

It has proven true in my life as God’s will for my life has moved me around the country.

There is one possible threat to this being realized.

The one last aspect that I want us to consider from this passage.

True to form, John doesn’t name himself as the disciple Jesus loved.

Nor does he name his mother, Salome who both Matthew and Mark tell us was also present at the cross.

Salome was there to hear Jesus’ words to her son.

What went through Salome’s mind when John was given the responsibility to care for a woman that was not his mom?

She could have gotten territorial or defensive.

Most basically John had been given a commission by Jesus.

Obedience to this commission carried the possibility of limiting John’s involvement with his own family and mother.

John’s mom had to be okay with her son taking on this ministry for Jesus.

Too many children have been commissioned by God only to be discouraged or held back by their parents.

We see no indication of that from Salome.

Within the context of the gospel, there is no contradiction between natural and spiritual families.

On the cross, Jesus demonstrated proper honor to His mother by providing for her future.

At the cross, Mary and John demonstrated the love and sacrifice that the Christian family should show to each other regardless of biological connections.

At the cross, Salome demonstrated the liberty that Christian parents must extend to their children to follow the direction of Christ in their lives.

All of us need to take something from this passage.

If you have a mother, as much as possible, you must endeavor to honor her.

If you are part of God’s family, who are you loving the way that John loved Mary?

If you are a Christian parent, have you given your children permission to engage with the spiritual family that God has blessed them with?