Mother's Day Sermon

Introduction

Wish all the mothers a Happy Mothers Day.

This is a day to be thankful for our mothers.

I know some have gone to be with the Lord…but we want to acknowledge all mothers regardless.

They played such an important part of our lives.

When I think about a mother... I automatically think about families. It is good memories and I hope it the same for you.

Mom taught me about a lot of different things:

I want go over some of the things I learned:

She taught me about foresight:

Make sure you wear clean underwear in case your in an accident.

Logic: if you fall out of a tree and break your neck… don’t come crying to me.

Religion: You better pray that comes out of the carpet.

Time Travel: If you don’t straighten up I’m going to knock you into the middle of next week.

Genetics: Your just like your father.

Contradictions: Shut your mouth and eat your dinner.

Contortions: Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck.

Circle of life: I brought you into this world... and I can take you out.

Bee bee gun was true.

We laugh about that, but I remember some of those things.

I had a great mom.

I know she loved me and she died way to young.

Passage on a Mother

I want to talk about a mom today in our Bible... but there’s not much that we know about her.

It is about a woman of faith. Its about a mother who loved her daughter and its a story that tells about her concern and determination because…she is a Mother.

Background of the story.

Jesus had been talking to Jewish leaders in the previous verses in chapter 15.

Matthew 15:21–28 “Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.” But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.”

Jesus and His disciples have now traveled north to a different area near two port cities…Tyre and Sidon.

Back in the Old Testament times it was known as Canaan.

This was what the land was called during the time of Joshua.

You need to understand that this woman, this Mother is a Canaanite…a Gentile.

Gentiles were enemies of the Jews.

In the Jewish world a Gentile was commonly called a dog.

This is where we need some context in the story.

That sounds pretty rough calling someone a dog.

When Jesus said “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs …He was thinking of a family at mealtime around a table eating food provided by the head of the household.

This Canaanite woman... This Gentile…this Mother understood this.

She was not a child in the family of Israel that was could eat the best food on the table.

She saw herself as a household dog (which meant...a Gentile: the Jews often called the Gentiles... dogs).

She only knew that she was eligible to eat crumbs that fell from the masters table.

She was not wanting to deprive Israel of God’s blessings.

She was just asking that some of the blessing be given to her in need…just the crumbs.

So, we know that this woman approached Jesus…and she had a big problem.

She knew there was something wrong with her daughter.

I’m reminded of a Mother’s intuition to know things … that men don’t seem to have.

Men typically don’t have that intuition.

Probably in this case of demon possession anyone could have seen there was a problem.

Anyway this Mother recognized that her daughter was demon - possessed.

She’s able to find Jesus and cries out in verse 22 “Have mercy on me Oh Lord, Son of David, my daughter is severely demon-possessed.”

This Mother knows who Jesus is…she calls Him Lord. Son of David.

Its interesting that she referred to Jesus as Lord and the Son of David.

To call Him that she must have faith.

To call Him that outraged the Jewish leaders because it connected Jesus to all of the prophecies about the Messiah in the Old Testament.

Jesus responds to her in a way that is surprising.

In verse 23, He says “But He answered her not a word.”

The disciples seem to be a little put out and want her to leave.

They said “Send her away, for she cries out after us.”

This Mother has come to Christ and needs help for her daughter and Jesus and the disciples are not very responsive.

Jesus gives an answer in verse 24. He makes the comment “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

That statement might sound a bit cruel but we need to see it from a different perspective.

Jesus was not sent into the world to heal everyone on earth that was sick or demon-possessed.

His first purpose in coming to earth was to offer the Kingdom to the Jewish people that had been promised in the Old Testament.

Another verse that supports that is Matthew 10:5 “These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans.”

This is why Jesus says in the Gospels: “Repent for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

It was not His highest priority to heal everyone He encountered.

His priority was to offer salvation to the Jews, then through them salvation to the rest of the world.

The Mother by her faith seemed even more determined.

In verse 25-27 something happened:

Matthew 15:25–27 “Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”

This Mother showed her faith. She knew she was not first…she was not a priority.

Jesus saw that.

Matthew 20:16 “So the last will be first, and the first last.

Look at Matthew 15:28: Then Jesus answered and said to her.

“O woman great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.”

We see a Mother with faith and determination to get help for her daughter.

That’s what Mothers do.

She recognized the problem… demon possession...

She knew the answer to the problem was Christ.

It was a spiritual solution.

She tracked down Jesus and confronted Him.

She did it with dignity and humility.

It looked as if she was going to be turned down…rejected.

She didn’t get mad …She didn’t throw a fit.

She had 2 strikes against her…She was a woman and a Gentile.

She was not of the house of Israel

It didn’t matter!

You know why?

IT WAS HER FAITH!

Jesus saw her faith!

CLOSING

We have so many great moms in this church.

I see how you take care of your family, raise your children...

And you do it without any fanfare.

No pats on the back.

Cindy raised our kids. I was working two jobs.

If they went to church its because she took them.

It took me quiet a while to grow up.

My point here today is to say Mothers are important.

If it wasn’t for you…we wouldn’t be here!

Your tasks as a mom are innumerable.

Changing diapers, dishes, buying groceries, washing clothes, fixing meals, cleaning the house, taking care of sick kids and husbands. Doctors visits.

Can I say this without making anyone mad...

I’m glad God made me a man!

Cindy and I were talking about this the other day:

The number of elderly ladies having to work to make ends meet.

The number of young mothers that are single.

Honestly…I don’t know how they make it.

Cindy went to the grocery store yesterday and what she got costs 169.00.

She didn’t get anything!

It really struck me while I was preparing the sermon how as a church we always need to be ready to help Mothers.

I haven,t even mentioned the ones in the criminal justice system.

God Loves them as much as He loves us.

I hope you have a great Mothers Day!