That’s my boy!

John 19:25–27 NRSV

And that is what the soldiers did. Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.

Intro:

Many of us have experiences that we cherish greatly of our Mother!

And while there may be times through life where we have possibly not agreed with everything our mother has suggested to us regardless of whatever the topic may have been......

......and even though we may not have appreciated or expressed appreciation for our beautiful, resilient, and nurturing mothers

The one thing we have never questioned is her love!

(pause)

I can remember one of my worst memories regarding my actions as a child....

.....where one day I had done something that I should not have done

.....and while receiving a well deserved whipping i would imagine ( I didn’t get many, but I got one that day)

.....my mother collapsed on the floor.

(pause)

I cannot tell you the level of guilt that consumed me in that moment....

......when I assumed complete responsibility not knowing she was wrestling with an uncontrolled medical condition at the time.

And needless to say.....

........that moment shaped my life masterfully!

(pause)

And what I know about my Mother, as I am sure you share in knowing concerning your Mother is that.......

..........there is no measure of faithfulness greater than hers towards you!

(pause and expound)

And as I began to study this text....

I found out that.....

All four gospel accounts of Jesus’s death agree that women keep vigil at Jesus’s death.

And not only that but......

Jesus predicted that all of his followers would abandon him at his death....

..........but according to the Gospels the women stand firm.

(pause)

In the face of death, instead of running away, they gathered together proving their faithfullness!

(pause)

And while we may not want to admit it fellas.....

.........the Gospel is telling the truth when it comes to the faithfullness of a woman.

.......Men have left them to raise the children

......Society has reduced them and still expected them to carry the load

.....Churches have abused them and called them unfit to lead

And the whole time........

......they have been faithful!

..........hanging in there raising their sons

........hanging in there building our churches

........standing in the backgrounds, but still standing faithful none the less!

(pause)

And all I am suggesting is that there is this “Faithful” quality that God has put in a Mother that we really ought to admire!

When the two mothers in the OT text brought the baby to King Solomon arguing over which of them were the true mother of the infant who had not been smothered accidentally......

.....it is when Solomon suggests cutting the child in half that the REAL MOTHER speaks up!

And......

......there’s something about the faithful love of a True Mother!

(pause and expound)

And on this Mother’s day that is resting on the hills of the arrest of the two cowardly killers that took the life of Ahmaud Arberry while he was jogging.......

.....I want to encourage the Mother’s to keep watching the greatness in your children even though it’s painful!

It’s Painful.......

......to wonder if it’s safe to allow your children to go for a jog in simple excercise

......to consider that even in confrontation as a victim, you are viewed as the threat

.....to have to protect greatness so much that there is no freedom for them to develop in purpose

(pause)

But I want to encourage you.......

....... to not become paralyzed by the pain!

But instead......

........to be fearlessly faithful!

(pause)

And....

If anybody represents a Mother’s love for her son.......

It is Mary the mother of Jesus who gives us this crystal clear picture!

(pause)

For it is Mary who as a virgin engaged to be married to a Joseph is faithful to her purpose of giving birth to the Messiah....

And.....

......when the angel explains to her that she will give birth to the Messiah and his name shall be called Jesus

.....instead of walking away from the pain, and the embarrasment of her community

......she embraces this supernatural opportunity.

.......and this begins her extraordinary journey of watching the greatness of her son

I have no idea what Ahmaud Arberry’s mother was thinking when she named him,

but I do know that his name means; a person who is praiseworthy!

And I also know that when First Lady and I were expecting the birth of each of our children.......

........we spent a lot of time picking out the name.

Because........

........this is what our children would be called!

........and watch this, no one would ever have the right to change or call them out of their name without permission!

(pause)

And.....

I believe this is why the angel tells Mary what to call Jesus, because this is the name that when humanity calls on it, has to carry the weight of.......

......Truth

......Justice

.......Redemption

.......Salvation

And.......

........that’s why you can’t allow anyone to call you out of your name

.........because we live up to what we are called!

......and if you call me something beneath my name you are reducing me to something that I was never called!

And........

.........that aint my level!

(pause)

And I don’t know about you but my Mother has never called me,

Stupid

Weak

Dumb

Lesser than

Unequal

Because.........

Every good mother knows that you are.........

.......who I call you

Church family,

Don’t ever let anybody call you something God has not named you!

(pause and expound)

Not only that but according to Luke 2.43.......

........we find Mary and Joseph watching the development of greatness in Jesus

........and it was happening so fast......that they almost missed it.

Because.......

......according to the text while Mary and Joseph are returning home

.....Jesus lingers behind in Jerusalem listening and quizzing the teachers in the temple

And the bible says,

....all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers.

Now what I loved about Mary’s interaction with Jesus in this text is the fact that......

Sometimes even Mothers can forget just how great their children are!

Because when Mary explains her anxiety to Jesus based on the fact that she had no idea where he was

Jesus responds by saying,

Why were you searching for me?

You should have known I would be in my Father’s house!

(pause)

And while I am not a Mother........

As a Father I can attest to the fact that we are indeed raising greatness in our children.

.......and they are developing right before our eyes

.........and it happens so quick that if you are not completely engaged in the development process

......while you are waiting on them to develop

.....they are looking back at you as if to say,

“What are you waiting on?”

This is why as Mothers and Fathers,

We can not just watch the greatness in our children.....

But.....

We have to walk with the greatness in our children.....

And right here I just want to give a major shout out to all of the single mothers!!

Because I don’t know how yall do it!

and......

I have no idea how my Mother did it!

(pause)

Becuase First Lady and I are tag teaming on a day to day basis........

and we still look like Mary and Joseph did on occasion

(pause)

And so if you are single parent........

......walking it out with your son and daughter

You DESERVE.......

........a hand clap and a pat on the back every once and a while!

(pause and expound)

And that’s not the only time that Mary watches the greatness of her son........

Because in John 2.1-11.........

.......we witness the first miracle of Jesus as he is being encouraged by his mother Mary to be great at this Cana wedding where they have run out of wine!

(pause and expound)

[SHIFT]

And now here we are in the text catching a glimpse of Mary at the foot of the Cross that’s holding her son Jesus!

The same son that the angel told her to name Jesus....

The same son that her and Joseph almost lost while leaving Jerusalem....

The same son that she told to perform his first Miracle at the wedding in Cana.

(pause)

So......

She knows exactly who her son is.....

She doesn’t need anybody to affirm who her son is!

(pause)

And....

While everyone else has scattered and left him to go through this alone........

........His mother refuses to leave him,

and in my spiritual imagination I hear her saying in a loving and faithful way,

“That’s my boy!”

(slight pause)

“Meanwhile.........

.......standing near the Cross of Jesus!”

While he is dying............she is there watching

And the first question I had was very simply.....

1. Why does a mother have to see this?

And....

I am under the persuasion that if she had the choice this would never be happening.

If it was left up to her Jesus would never be in this situation....

But......

Since she does not get to control what happens to her boy.....

One thing she has decided in my spiritual imagination is the fact that.....

She refuses to not watch over the process!

(pause)

And Freedom family......

There comes a time where we have to make a commitment in our eyes and hearts that suggests this kind of faithfulness we see in Mary that says,

“I refuse to not watch this entire thing through!”

And so what that really means for us is......

Governor we’re watching.....

District Attorney’s we’re watching and so far it aint looking like we need it to.....

....but don’t you think for a minute that we are not watching....

GBI we’re watching.......

Liberty county officials we’re watching.....

.......this entire thing through!

An arrest is a good start.......

.......but it’s a bad place to stop!

(pause)

And......

watch this,

......we can’t control what already happened

But just like Mary.......

.......we refuse to leave this CROSS now that we’re here!!!

(pause)

And you can call it whatever you want to......

But I believe that what is produced out of Mary’s faithfulness is creating some accountability

Because in my spiritual imagination I hear her saying,

That’s still my boy!

He will not be dehumanized

He will not be just thrown away improperly

There will be Restorative Justice

(pause and expound)

“Meanwhile........

.......standing near the Cross of Jesus!”

(pause)

And the next thing we see is that at least in John’s Gospel.....

Her position is close to Jesus

Which suggests to us that...

Our position needs to be close enough to Jesus that it causes us to remain close enough to Justice as difference makers

Meaning......

There’s got to be some Truth telling!

Because.....

Justice does not look like a citizens arrest without a crime being committed....

Justice does not look like a modern day lynching while jogging.....

Justice looks rigtheous at all times

And even while we are sitting here with Mary watching her son Jesus on the cross

......He is not on a Cross because he is doing something wrong

Jesus is on a Cross because he is doing something RIGHT!

(pause and expound)

“Meanwhile.........

........standing near the Cross of Jesus!”

Her son is on this Cross, but he’s not staying there!

Our mindset must be....

.........what’s next!

And yes she has to watch this horrific picture unfold.......

But she knows this aint the end of this story!

And so just like Mary,

We have to be convinced that this aint the end of this story!

Challenge:

How can we be as faithful as Mary is to Jesus

to our very own sons?

And........

How can we celebrate the greatness of this young man Ahmaud Arberry?

And i believe.....

....As Nehemiah encouraged the nobes and the officials we should be encouraged the same way,

Nehemiah 4:14 NRSV

After I looked these things over, I stood up and said to the nobles and the officials and the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your kin, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.”

And while we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against spiritual wickedness in high places,

There is still a fight to be had that calls for Righteousness....

Because.....

“That’s my boy!”

“That’s your son!”

And......

This is how we honor the life of this son “Ahmaud Arberry” who was jogging down the road

we.........Run to the Polls!

(pause)

we.........Educate ourselves on Policy

we..........Remain at the table of decision makers

And here it is....

....at Freedom

.......we birth a new ministry that is Socially responsive called “The Justice Ministry” that will focus on social and economical issues facing our community.

Scripture: Luke 4.18

Luke 4:18 NRSV

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free,

And Freedom if you down with your Pastor....

......just hit

.......#Jesus and Justice

(pause)

And.......

Everytime you say to yourself it's not going to make any difference.....

Everytime somebody tells you voting does not matter.......

(pause)

.......I want you to see the greatness in this young man that died way too young while jogging down a road in South Georgia!

And tell yourself, like I tell myself.....

“That’s my son!

“That’s your son!

“That’s my boy!”

(pause)

And oh there’s one more thing that I need to mention!

According to the text........

Mary is not at the Cross by herself!

(pause)

But the text says.......

Meanwhile.......

Standing near the cross of Jesus

.....were his mother

(WATCH THIS.....)

And.......

his mother’s sister Mary the wife of Clopas

And......

Mary Magdalene, and the disciple he loved named John!

(pause)

And so here’s what I’m closing with!

We don’t need to make Mary stand at this Cross by herself!

And Freedom family,

Ahmaud Arberry’s mother needs to know that she does not have to stand alone!

(pause)

And what I am praying for us all to experience is a Resurrection that proves greatness!

........what I am praying for is a Resurrection that will include not just Black mothers, but also White mothers at this Cross

........what I am praying for is a Resurection that will include not just Black pastors, but also White pastors at this Cross

(pause)

Because you do know that this aint the end of the story right!

You do know that while Mary is grimacing silently in pain at the foot of the Cross.....

...........that the clock is ticking

...........and this aint the end of the story....

(pause)

And so what I’m praying for is that.......

even though we are all gathered at the foot of this proverbial Cross right now

........becuase the clock is still ticking

........Justice is getting ready to be Resurrected!

(pause)

And all of the pain.........

.........is now getting ready to turn into PRAISE!!!

(pause)

And in my spiritual imagination

.....I believe that it is that HOPE that keeps Mary at the foot of the Cross

and it is that HOPE that helps a MOTHER to overcome

because she keeps saying to herself!

“Justice is getting ready to come out of this!!!”

(PAUSE)

“That’s my boy!”

(Long Pause)

And that’s when it HIT ME yall!!!!

As a Father, that’s when it HIT ME!!!!

This is not just Mary’s boy!

........but that boy also got a DADDY!

(slight pause)

And the clock is still ticking.......

But now Mary aint the only one I’m hearing!

But now.......

I hear God the father saying....

“That’s my Son, in whom I am well pleased!”

(pause)

And now..........

I know Justice is getting ready to RESSURRECT.....

.......because every good thing and every perfect gift comes from above!

(pause)

And I believe it was Jehaziel that told Jehosophat in a prophetic messaging that suggested......

........this battle belongs to God!!

Now FREEDOM.......

let’s be faithful!!!