Mother May I...

Intro:

Growing up in a big family with more girls than boys I found myself playing games with them that were more up their alley than mine. But if you want to play you have to go with it. However, there was a game I really enjoyed playing and it was “Mother May I” y’all remember this game right?

The player who is “Mother” stands in front of the other players. Mother then calls on a child by name and gives them instructions so they can move forward. For instance, “Nate, take 2 GIANT steps forward.” The child who is called on must then say, “Mother, may I?”

The objective of the game is for the players to gradually approach one of the players, the "mother", by asking "mother may I...", upon which the "mother" either replies positively, allowing the players to do the action, or to decline it. “Yes you may.” “No you may not.” Either way the mother has to speak.

John 2:1–5 NASB95

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; and both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus *said to Him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus *said to her, “Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come.” His mother *said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”

The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language (Chapter 2)

Three days later there was a wedding in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there. Jesus and his disciples were guests also. When they started running low on wine at the wedding banquet, Jesus’ mother told him, “They’re just about out of wine.”4 Jesus said, “Is that any of our business, Mother—yours or mine? This isn’t my time. Don’t push me.”5  She went ahead anyway, telling the servants, “Whatever he tells you, do it.”

Points:

A Mother’s Request — They have “no wine” help them out. It’s believed that Mary and Jesus were connected to the family because of their invitation to the wedding. So this is not just about some random family; this is your family. At this time Jesus is not living with her and has been on His own.

I know what is inside you, because I raised you. You are equipped for the task.

Before you bless the world with your gifts; I need you to bless your family first.

I’ve been waiting for this moment for you to be great.

O dear mothers, you have a very sacred trust reposed in you by God! He has in effect said to you, “Take this child and nurse it for Me, and I will give thee thy wages.” You are called to equip the future man of God, that he may be thoroughly furnished unto every good work. If God spares you, you may live to hear that pretty boy speak to thousands, and you will have the sweet reflection in your heart that the quiet teachings of the nursery led the man to love his God and serve Him. Those who think that a woman detained at home by her little family is doing nothing, think the reverse of what is true. Scarcely can the godly mother quit her home for a place of worship; but dream not that she is lost to the work of the church; far from it, she is doing the best possible service for her Lord. Mothers, the godly training of your offspring is your first and most pressing duty. Come Ye Children, Page 112

Charles Spurgeon

2. A Mother’s Redirect - “Woman” “What does this have to do with Me?” (Message Bible: says, “Don’t Push Me”)

Mary stops talking to Jesus and redirects her energy to the boys that were with him (disciples)

I’m thinking about what saying because He wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for me.

No I’m about to push Him. Because we are the home team

The best mother is the one who stays on speaking terms with God and on spanking terms with her children.

Anonymous

Illustration:

Home court advantage occurs when the energy of the group magnifies what is happening on the court. With home court advantage, a basketball team struggling to put points on the board hears the energy surrounding them and all of a sudden something feels different there is a spark within. All of a sudden, that energy enables the team to do better than before and push past the enemy’s oppositions.

The fans in the stands are not physically going through the same thing the team is, but they are joining them in spirit and in a way that gives the team a sense of power they didn’t have before.

Strength appears out of nowhere because of this mysterious home court advantage. Many people ask why they need to come to church? Worshipping with other believers allows people pushing toward the same goal to gather together in spirit. Worshipping together sparks a view of God bigger than whatever situation you or I may be going through.

3. A Mother’s Response - “Whatever He tell you to do; do it”

We see here the human side of Jesus, including his acquiescing to his mother’s request. Mary shows a mother’s trust in her son when she ignores his mild rebuke and simply tells the servants who stood with the empty wine jugs, “Do whatever he tells you.” She is a model disciple, leaving everything to Jesus and trusting in his wisdom. In a sense, Jesus is saying, “I don’t want to do it, but I will.” Jesus’ subsequent actions show that her trust was well placed. This drama moves from Jesus’ reluctance to one of the greatest messianic miracles in the Gospels.

Whatever he tells you to do; do it

Most men are what their mothers made them. The father is away from home all day, and has not half the influence over the children that the mother has.

John Ploughman’s Pictures, Page 109

Charles Spurgeon