Mother’s Day 2021

John 19;25-27

introduction:

Today is being celebrated as Mother’s Day, and the passage chosen for today is taken from the Crucifixion story. That part of the story that is often overlooked, but a very touching and moving part of the story. The Roman soldiers had full control of Jesus with their orders to crucify Him. The stories ake it look as if all Jesus’ friends, had just about abandoned Him. The disciples, we are told, stayed at a distance just observing the scene. Mary the Mother of Jesus, and the other three women, and John, stayed sufficiently close so that as the soldiers slackened off they could draw near. Near enough to closely observe Jesus during His final moments, and near enough for Jesus to see and recognise them. That was how Jesus could speak to them, particularly to His mother and John.

I recall watching the movie of the crucifixion, and the scene where Jesus, with blood running down His face takes a sad glance at His mother and His favourite disciple John, and Jesus said to His mother: “Woman, here is your son”, and to His disciple: “Here is your mother.”

The Crucifixion was a painful event. Pain was everywhere. It was painful to look at Jesus hanging on that cross, full of blood, and feeling what He was going through with. But at the foot of the cross were people in pain. Just think of His mother, standing there watching her beloved Son cruelly and shamefully crucified for something He did not do. John was the only disciple recorded as being at the foot of the cross during this terrible and painful event. He was bewildered. Imagine the pain in his heart as He watched His friend and Teacher cruelly treated, and he was helpless. And the women, having been with Him those three years, and watching their hope suffer in front of their faces.

John is careful to point out that there were at least four women at the foot of the Cross. John points out that there was His mother, His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleopas, and Mary Magdalene. These were the faithful and devoted four at the foot of the cross, but we know that Jesus had a lot of women friends who looked after Him and cared for Him. They were always at His back and call.

In the midst of all that cruelty, and all the pain that Jesus was going through, He thinks of His mother and of her well-being. This tells us something important, especially on this Mother’s Day. Our mothers are always important to us. They should be, but unfortunately there are many children who do not give the love and respect due to their mothers. Mothers deserve to be loved and cared for. Just think of what they go through for us. Think of the sacrifices they make for us.

Mary had seen a lot of rouble, and suffering. She suffered when she born Jesus in a dirty and smelly stable, away from her relatives and friends who would have been able to assist her. She suffered when Herod wanted to kill her beautiful baby boy and had to escape to Egypt. She suffered as she watched the whole nation misunderstood and taunt her beloved Son. And here at the foot of the Cross she suffers watching her beloved Son being crucified for a crime He did not commit. What an experience for a mother to have of a Son who she knew was innocent.

As she stood there she couldn’t help reflecting on what Simeon had said to her some thirty years previously: “This child is chosen by God for the destruction and the salvation of many in Israel. He will be a sign from God, which many people will speak against and so reveal their secret thoughts. And sorrow, like a sharp sword, will break your own heart.” And as she thought about it she realizes that the prophesy now makes some sense.

We can rightly assume that at this time Mary was a widow. The last we read about Joseph was when Jesus was twelve years old and they brought Him to the temple. All the other stories with Mary there is no mention of Joseph. At the wedding in Cana, when Jesus turned the water to wine, he is not mentioned. There was an occasion when Mary took the family, Jesus brothers and sisters to see Him but there was no mention of Joseph. We have to assume that Joseph had died, and Jesus knew that His mother needed someone to take care of her. And even as He was going through the most severe pain and torment possible, He was still thinking about the welfare of His mother. Even in His dying moments the welfare of His family was high on His mind.

At the beginning of Ephesians 6 Paul writes these words: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honour your father and mother, which is the first commandment with a promise: that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” In the Scriptures the advice given to children is that they should obey their parents, and that means listening intently to what they say and doing what they tell you. The listening is very important because it shows the attitude of love and affection, and gratitude and respect. As we all know this role is carried out mostly by the mother. She is the one who usually instill discipline in the home, and the one who passes on the needed advice. When a son gets out of hand the mother calls the father to give a cut skin, and that is normally when the other method does not work.

In Luke 2: 51 We read where Jesus went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them. It means that Jesus was under the discipline and control of His parents. He was obedient to them as they trained Him to do the right things. He was loving, listening and respectful of all they told Him and showed Him. From the stories we read we get to feel that He was the most obedient child ever. There was never an occasion for a spank or even a tough word. He was an exemplary child.

There is another dimension to this story which we must consider. In all of the Bible stories no mention is made of Jesus brothers and sisters ever getting interested in what Jesus was doing, or tried to involve themselves in His ministry. At this point we get no mention that they were even looking after their mother. And we know that Mary had four other sons: James, Joseph, Simon and Judas. She also had two daughters, although their names are not given. But Mary was always keeping a keen eye on her Son. She was following His every move, and all the time remembering what had been told her by the angels. It would be natural for us to assume that by this time there was no one to assume responsibility for Mary, a widow, and Jesus was most concerned for her well-being. We may also be wondering why were the children not there to look after their mother? Even in this terrible situation Jesus realised this, and He wanted to make arrangements for His mother to be looked after He was gone.

John, on the other hand was His close friend, and John had a home. We have two people here who deeply believed in Jesus and what His mission to this earth was about. His brothers and sisters on the other hand did not believe in Him, and for all we know had gone their own way. Putting His mother with John would make a lot of sense. Here were two people who deeply believed in His mission. They both believed His claim that He was the Son of God, the Lord and Savior of the world. And so it seems that what is happening here between Jesus the Saviour and the two people at the foot of the cross, who believed in Him and trusted Him, was that a new family is being born. Jesus tells John: “She is your mother.” and to Mary He says: He is your son.” From that time the disciple took her to live in his home.

This story brings out a few pertinent points: (1) Mary’s concern and devotion to her Son. She showed a devoted motherly love. She was always near Him wherever He was, and whatever protection He needed she provided. At His last she was at the foot of the cross, enduring all the pain and agony that a mother under those circumstances could bear. Many mothers in our modern world go through similar situations with their children. Some stand up like Mary and others abandon their children at the time they are most wanted. (2) Jesus, even at His worst moment, on the cross and dying, takes notice of His mother and makes arrangements for her after He was gone. We can think of many young men today, in various parts of the world who never think of their mother, even when their pockets are full and they have it all. They never look back at their mother.

I believe there should be no disagreement in my saying that Mary must be the greatest mother the world has ever known. She possessed all the qualities that would make a woman great, definitely by God’s standards. She was chosen by God to be the Mother of the Saviour. We are told that she possessed all the godly qualities that God needed for the Mother of Jesus. From what we read of her she brought Jesus up in the right environment, where He could develop spiritually. She protected Him wherever she could from all enemies. We remember that on advice by the angel in a dream she and Joseph fled to Egypt to keep Him safe from Herod. She was always in the background wherever Jesus was, keeping a watchful eye on Him and to be available for any help she could offer. We remember the wedding at Cana. She was there when the wine ran out. From all that we read in the Scriptures she was an exemplary mother.

What about mothers today? I will say that we have been fortunate in these islands to have, for the most part, very good Christian and exemplary mothers. Mothers who bore the brunt and toil to keep the home together, and to bring us up in the fear of the Lord. To do everything for us with the meager resources they had. Even if the material things were short or non-existent they found a way to make us happy and comfortable. All of us can look back and say with a clear conscience that we had good mothers. Thank God for our mother. But we all know that there were, and perhaps still are, mothers who turn their backs on their children, leaving them to fend for themselves. Mothers who think that children should not interfere with their lifestyle. They would look after themselves and the children can go where they fetch. I know we wonder how some mothers can be like that, but we hear stories about it, and we see it on television all the time.

Today we honour mothers, and we thank God for them. We pray that God will continue to protect and guide every mother, especially those who live up to their responsibilities. And I pray that God will continue to endow every mother with the Christian love for their children, bringing them up in he fear of the Lord. A love like Mary’s. An exemplary love. If all mothers can can do that our communities and our world will be a better place.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. AMEN.