MOTHER'S DAY: Lessons From A Questionable Encounter

Memorial Drive 5/12/19 LESSONS FROM A QUESTIONABLE ENCOUNTER Matthew 20:20-23 OUR TEXT … “Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Jesus with her sons, bowing down and making a request of Him. And He said to her, ‘What do you wish?’ She said to Him, ‘Command that in Your kingdom these two sons of mine may sit one on Your right and one on Your left.’ But Jesus answered, ‘You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?’ They said to Him, ‘We are able.’ He said to them, ‘My cup you shall drink; but to sit on My right and on My left, this is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by My Father.’” (Matt. 20:20-23) THE CONTEXT OF THE TEXT … • Christ Has Spoken of Rewards Given to His Followers (Matthew 19:27-30) • Christ Presents A Parable: The Last Shall Be First, and the First, Last (Mtt. 20:1-16) • Christ Teaches The True Nature of God-Honoring Exercise of Authority (20:24-28) FIVE FAIR CONCLUSIONS THAT WE CAN DRAW … • The Two Sons Have Shared Some Things With Mom • They’ve Probably “Put Mom Up To It” • Mom Is Deeply Engaged In and Endorses The Request With a Proper Motive • Christ DOES Acknowledge the Request and DOESN’T Rebuke the Request or Mom’s Heart In Making It • Christ’s RESPONSE Is To REDEFINE Authority As They Understood It and to RETURN the Decision to the Father FIVE LESSONS FROM A MOTHER’S HEART … • She Modeled a Commendable HEART OF HUMILITY and WORSHIP “Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Jesus … bowing down and making a request of Him.” (vs. 20) • She Came To the Lord Not Only REGARDING Her Sons but WITH Her Sons “Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Jesus with her sons …” (vs. 20) • She Demonstrated Her Desire That Her Sons To Be A PART of His Kingdom • She Wanted Her Sons To Be ACTIVELY INVOLVED In the Work of the Kingdom • She Had GREAT EXPECTATIONS “When I came home I could smell the aroma of motherhood everywhere.” (Dobson) I pray that “the aroma of motherhood” – GODLY motherhood – will be everywhere in Christ’s Church! And that it will spread everywhere through the whole of our world!”