Increasing Christ Through A Mother’s Love

a mothering journey to elevate Christ

Text: John 19:25-30

Introduction

Q — What is the number one reason why God has gifted women with a special mothering love?

It is the love you extend to your kids if you have kids.

It is the love you share with your husband in your thoughtful ways of taking care of him.

It is the love you share with others when you are going the extra mile to make sure they feel loved and valued.

ANS — So humanity will get a better understanding of the kind of love the Fat her has provided through Jesus Christ. In short…to increase the name of Jesus.

There was a mother named Mary who was chosen for a particular journey of motherhood. One that would be similar to other, but one that none could compare too.

She would carry the Christ child like any other mom. She would love, nurture, provide, and even teach like other moms would.

What stands out completely different with Mary’s motherhood is that her Son was God manifest in the flesh. There were certain visitors (angels, shepherds, wise men) who came and left her with much joy, but also with saddened curiosity.

I want to take you back to that moment when Mary was approached by the angel.

Luke 1:34–38 “Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.”

In other words, the angel was saying, “Mary, you are going to be touched with a special grace that will enable you to glorify God with your future motherhood.

What we will witness today is nothing short of a motherhood that could not have been accomplished to the glory of God without the amazing and sufficient grace of God.

1) A Mother Who Was Silent

A. Mary had less than 33 years to prepare for this prophesied moment

Luke 2:34–35 “And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

Q — How many of you believe Mary was a prayer warrior?

Q — How many of you believe Mary was someone who meditated on the truth from God?

a) This reveals the reality of mothers needing to pray for grace and then resting in it

Q — Can you imagine the prayer life of Mary? You know good and well she often prayed for sufficient grace to bare the sight of what has not come into full vision.

If you have the question of, “Does God hear the prayers of a believing mother?” The answer is YES!

Q — How often and how do you pray for your children?

Are you only praying for their success, or are you praying they successfully give Him glory from nothing less than a surrendered life?

Are you only praying they have friends, or are you praying they claim Christ one day as their closest friend?

Q — How often and how do you pray for your role as a mother?

Sometimes parents can have the feeling, “The way they acts makes “me” look terrible. You have then transformed your motherhood as an idol. (Every parent has committed this sin before)

We say, “I don’t care how the world sees my parenting.” Yet, we then find ourselves caring about that very thing.

B. Motherhood can have the identity of God’s love toward their children regardless of the situation

Where was Marry at what seemed to be her Son’s greatest hour of need? She was standing as near to Him as she possibly could.

She was not deterred by the enemy or by the horrible sight.

She and the others could not rescue Him, yet they stood near Him.

a) There are many situations that have and could yet arise with your children. How should you approach the good and the bad?

Let’s ask a better question: How does God approach you?

When there is sin in your life — God loves you enough to inform you of your sin and it’s impact on the fellowship you have with Him.

When hurt comes your way — God pours out His healing love into your heart and provides the exactly healing you needed. (Mom’s usually know exactly what you need, right?)

What disappointment/rejection come your way — God reminds you that He will never fail or reject you at a time when He rejects your ways.

C. It was God’s grace that gave her strength to remain totally silent

What speaks loudest to me was Mary’s silence as she watched her Son slowly die.

She saw the Christ child she invested time, tenderness, and tears become and image barely recognizable.

If anyone could have stopped all of this it was His mother. All she had to do was to announce that Jesus’ words were false. Did she say anything? NO!

We do not find his mother wringing her hands, or tearing her hair, or rending her clothes, or making an outcry; but, with a wonderful composure, standing by the cross, and her friends with her. Henry, Matthew. 1994. Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume. Peabody: Hendrickson.

I think this is evidence that she had a fuller expectation of the bodily resurrection than the others. THAT MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE!

APP — Mamas, if you are a child of God, the risen Savior is always close to you.

D. Her silence spoke loudly of who Christ was

Mary was never and should never be elevated above being a devoted follower of Jesus Christ. What is remarkable, she doesn’t sacrifice her discipleship for her motherhood.

She never allowed her emotional attachment to the Son she bore and raised, shake her focus on Who’s Son Jesus actually was; God the Father.

She never allowed her sentimental memories of their past shift her perspective of Jesus being the Savior of the world. That of course included herself.

I am not saying she never wanted to intervene. Any mother worth her salt would intervene when pain is being inflicted on their child. Her intervention was her silence.

At the most painful moment of her life, she was one of the most brightest lights at Calvary.

Mary was materializing what Jesus had taught them.

Matthew 5:13–16 “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

2 Corinthians 4:6 “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

a) What message are you using your motherhood to convey to your children and those around you?

Some parents today make their children so much so the centerpiece of their existence that they willingly sacrifice their discipleship. They are willing to stunt their spiritual success for the earthly success (at least that’s what we call it) of their child. NOT MARY!

As there were no shortcuts for Jesus the Son of God to redeem the world, there were no shortcuts for Mary to be a faithful Christ following mother.

You life must demonstrate obedience, grace, mercy, holiness, forgiveness, humility, and courage.

2) A Mother Who Was Loved

A. Jesus was very aware of His mother’s pain

His torments were her tortures; she was upon the rack, while he was upon the cross; and her heart bled with his wounds;” Henry, Matthew. 1994. Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume. Peabody: Hendrickson.

Jesus never lost sight of His mother. He not only knew intellectually, He understood experientially the pain she was going through.

a) Each one of you today who are God’s children have a Savior who “knows” your pain

There are not only multiple women whom God stooped down with compassionate and loving providence, but everyone who represents the human race.

Women: Rhab, Hannah, Ester, Ruth, Mary M., Mary, etc.

Hebrews 4:15 “15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”

b) You too should love your mother (even those closest too you) to learn of their pains and struggles

One of the greatest things you can do to bless someone is ask this: “How can I pray for you” or “Is there anything particular that I can pray for you about?”

B. Jesus new the value of continued sonship

a) Jesus teaches us the importance of parent and child relations

Even though Jesus’ relation to Mary as a son was coming to an end, He gifted her with a continued care and love of a son.

This continued sonship-like relationship would be carried out through the Apostle John.

Never stop being a caring and loving daughter or son (We have some great examples of this in this church)

Proverbs 23:22 “Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, And despise not thy mother when she is old.”

Those of you who have carried this out up until their last breath, your Savior is very pleased.

C. This love responsibility given over to John was an “entrustment” of something Jesus valued greatly

It is nothing short of a great honor to be entrusted with any of Jesus’ interests.

What prompted this special entrustment?

Jesus knew well the kind of love John had for Him.

An inward authentic love for Christ is demonstrated through the external.

3) A Mother Who Was Forever Changed

A. Mary went from pondering the words of the shepherds and the gifts of the wise men, to never being able to shake the horrific view in front of her

The view of Calvary was forever imprinted in her mind.

You and I should never stop trying to imagine the bloody scene of Calvary.

I would like to think it was settling in Mary’s mind that it was as much her sin as the rest of the world that brought them all to this very moment.

1 Corinthians 15:3 “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;”

1 Peter 2:24 “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”

1 John 2:2 “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”

B. Mary was not left only with the sight of Calvary. She was confronted with the resurrection

Luke 24:1–12 “Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. And they remembered his words, And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not. Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.

Conclusion

The purpose of a mother’s love has been established. The strength that is needed to be faithful in a God-like love toward your family has been established. The source from which you receive the grace you need to be a successful mother has been established.

Here is a question only you can answer? What will your family and those extended beyond your family whom God has led you to serve as a mother come to understand about God through your motherhood?

Husbands and children, you play an important role in this also. Make sure you are committing yourself to a life of making it easier for them to be successful; pray for them and surrender to Jesus.