Mother's Day 2020

Honor

Exodus 20:12 ESV

“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

Honor your father and your mother, so says the Lord. Honoring our parents has been a part of faithful obedience to God since the law was first handed down, and in continues to be an important part of how we serve Him today!

Today is our mother’s day special youth lesson where I remind all of you why it is soooo important to listen to your mother as my personal gift to all the mother’s of our youth group today! Dad’s, maybe pay attention too, we can all learn something from this

Jesus in Jerusalem

Sometimes our parents don’t understand. Sometimes we only think our parents don’t understand, when in reality they have a much better perspective on the situation than we do. How many times have you heard no from your parent and thought something like “they just don’t understand how important things like this are to me and my friends, it was different when they were my age!” Sure, in some ways things really are a lot different now than they were 20, 10, even 5 years ago, but there’s also a lot that has stayed them same.

Ecclesiastes 1:9 ESV

What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.

This means that no matter how unique you may think your situation is today, odds are your parents have faced something very comparable and the wisdom that they gained from that experience is informing the instructions they give you today. It doesn’t really matter what the situation is, odds are your mom is right and you are wrong, and that’s a good thing! Thank God that she doesn’t AGREE with you in those situations, can you imagine how much worse life would be if every time we were wrong, everyone just agreed with you anyway?!

But let’s face facts, sometimes parents really do just not understand. Sometimes there are forces in your life that are just so far beyond their comprehension that you really do understand it more than they do! Believe it or not, there’s a bible story for that.

Luke 2:41–51 ESV

Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.

We get exactly one story of Jesus’ actions as a child in the entire Gospel, and this is it. Jesus knows He should be in the temple, He is aware even at this young age of 12 that Joseph is not His real father, but God is. Of course, as the Son of God, still fully God even as He is fully a young man on earth, Jesus understands far more about what is going on in His life that His parents do! He could easily have told His mother and father to mind their own business! He will go as He pleases and do as He pleases to fulfill His purpose on Earth!

But what does Jesus actually do? He submits. He was submissive to His parents even when He knew better. Why do you think that was? I think it was for 2 reasons:

Jesus loves His parents, and wants to put their minds at ease.

Jesus wants you to see this, and the next time you think you know best, remember that even the Son of God was submissive to His mother on earth.

Glory of a Mother

So we’ve covered why we should listen to our mothers. First, they’re usually right, even if you don’t get it at the time. And if they’re ever wrong, just remember Jesus submitted too even when He knew more, so we should follow His example.

But there is more to “honoring” someone than just listening when they tell us to do something, so let’s talk about why mom might deserve our respect and our love beyond just our obedience.

Mom sacrifices for us

Two women came before King Solomon, each claiming to be the mother of the same child. Solomon, the wisest king who ever lived, did this:

1 Kings 3:23–28 ESV

Then the king said, “The one says, ‘This is my son that is alive, and your son is dead’; and the other says, ‘No; but your son is dead, and my son is the living one.’ ” And the king said, “Bring me a sword.” So a sword was brought before the king. And the king said, “Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one and half to the other.” Then the woman whose son was alive said to the king, because her heart yearned for her son, “Oh, my lord, give her the living child, and by no means put him to death.” But the other said, “He shall be neither mine nor yours; divide him.” Then the king answered and said, “Give the living child to the first woman, and by no means put him to death; she is his mother.” And all Israel heard of the judgment that the king had rendered, and they stood in awe of the king, because they perceived that the wisdom of God was in him to do justice.

You see, Solomon knew that a mother puts the needs of a child before herself, the one who would sacrifice her own pride and happiness for the sake of her child was clearly the real mother.

Moms comfort us

Isaiah heard the Lord speak over Jerusalem

Isaiah 66:12–13 ESV

For thus says the Lord: “Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream; and you shall nurse, you shall be carried upon her hip, and bounced upon her knees. As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.

For God knew that nothing could comfort us quite like a mother, and so He used this imagery to convey His comfort to the city of Jerusalem.

Moms teach us

As we established earlier, mom generally knows best.

Proverbs 1:8–9 ESV

Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.

The teaching of our parents isn’t just a list of rules, chores, and punishments.

They are treasures that we can wear with pride and will guide us for as long as we hold fast to their instructions and walk with the Lord.

Honor Mom

So for all of those reasons, and so many more that only you and mom know, today and every day I encourage you to honor the moms in your life, mom, step-mom, grandma, aunt, even those who have just been your mom in the faith, and let them know how much you appreciate everything they do. Most importantly, remember how blessed we are for getting to have them.