Seeing Jesus Alive: The Women

"My job as a mom is the most important thing I'll ever do."

Who? A Mother — Female parent (dict.) —

Proverbs 31:28 “Her children arise and call her blessed...

…the influence of a mothers touch in their life? Woman?

Responses

(S) — MOTHER — God’s idea —

Genesis 3:20 “Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living.”

Am/Em — Aleph: Strong Leader/First (OX) — Mem: waters (stream, life-giving)

Strong Life GIver. The birthing process — A child grows and develops in the water held in the womb of the mother. Life is in this water, and many necessary compounds such as proteins and carbohydrates are absorbed by the child during development. Without these, the child would not grow.

The mothers life-giving to the child, goes beyond the womb, as the child is nursed with the mother's milk.

Strong — life-giver — More than a job — Life calling

I am blessed to have had a mother whose faith made a difference in my life

Mom (Song) — Jenny — Met Jesus

Proverbs 31:28 “Her children arise and call her blessed;

(S) — SERIES — Disciples — Thomas — Women...

Jesus’ earthly mother’s influence — Woman disciples...

27:55-56, 28:1

Mary M/Mary — Mom-to-Mom Group — Tomb

28:5-6, 7, 8

Announcement — Invitation — God given-woman intuition

Matthew 28:9 “Suddenly Jesus met them.

Met (drew near) — Forever different — Mary M. the first evangelist — The other mothers witness? — Their influence in spreading the news that Jesus is alive.

Thankful my Mom had met Jesus — Jenny

(S) — Godly attributes that point to the faith of these women and their influence would have upon the disciples and so many others — Not just as moms but as disciples — That all followers of Jesus to consider as our calling.

More than a job — Pointing people to Jesus — The giver of life

I. They possessed a hallowed OBEDIENCE

Matthew 28:8 “So the women hurried away from the tomb...

No questions for the angels? What if they don’t believe us?

Culture — Opponents smear campaign (11-15)

They responded in willful obedience — A sacred task

“The women hastened to report the news to the absentee apostles in obedience to the angel.” Like Moses they knew they were standing on sacred ground...

A mother’s touch is her response by faith in obedience to the call God placed on her lives

Susanna viewed motherhood as a role from God. This led her to take time for each child individually. "On Monday I talk with Molly;" Susanna wrote to her husband when he was away, "on Tuesday with Hetty; Wednesday with Nancy; Thursday with Jacky [John]; Friday with Patty; Saturday with Charles [the hymn writer to be]; and with Emily and Suky together on Sunday" (Wesley 285).

John spoke of her moms influence that satyed with him through his life

Proverbs 31:26 “She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.”

(S) — To follow Jesus takes sacred obedience — It’s a holy calling and our response to Jesus the life-giver alive in us.

Galatians 1:15-16 “But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles...

How do you respond like these women, in hallowed obedience to the call of God?

II. They were EMOTIONALLY Committed!

Matthew 28:8 “They hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy...

Dichotomy — Fear/joy in the same sentence —

Luke 2:10 “But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.”

FEAR — The presence of God — JOY — Jesus is alive

“Fear, produced by the appearance of this glorious messenger of God; and great joy occasioned by the glad tidings of the resurrection of their Lord and Master. At the mention of unexpected good news, fear and joy are generally intermingled.” (HBC).

A mothers fear today....? — Joy…? Motherhood is an emotional commitment — Nurturing their children through the ups and downs in life

Proverbs 31:25 “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.”

J.W. ministry changed when he became emotionally committed — His approach to Christian formation — Head/Heart/Hands

(S) —Jesus’s heart — compassion of the lost — tears for the grieving — Fear of what was to come — Joy that would follow

Psalm 28:7 “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.”

Are you emotionally committed in your faith? Given Jesus your heart?

III. They tend to the important with URGENCY

Matthew 28:8 “So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.”

They responded with urgency to the angels instruction — They ran...

Jen — Hurry? — Important

The women not only understood the sacredness of the instruction, but the importance of the message — Good News — Jesus was alive!

(S) —Jesus’ calm presence but always moving forward...

“If we really believe that people are lost apart from Jesus Christ, it should become a burning incentive to evangelize with zeal and passion.” Billy Graham

Proverbs 31:27 “She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.”

Proclaiming jesus alive is still important work — Is there urgency in your step?

Mark 13:32 ““But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”

(S) —

IV. They held firmly to the WORD

Matthew 28:9 “Suddenly Jesus met them. They came to him, clasped his feet...

The first thing they did when they saw Jesus alive? They drew near — Close enough to touch — Grabbing his feet

Imagine feeling warmth from the blood flowing — Evidence of Jesus alive

Miss the most — My mothers touch

(S) —How do we stay close to Jesus — Healing — Help — Hope

1 Corinthians 15:2 “By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you.

Grandparents bringing their children to church

Proverbs 31:26 “She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.”

A mothers touch in jesus’ name —a transfer of life — We can’t see Jesus alive — God’s word is the life-giving blood of Jesus

1 Peter 1:23 “For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.”

(S) —Are you holding friendly to Jesus through his word that is life?

V. WORSHIP was their FIRST priority

Matthew 28:9 “Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.”

The woman worshipped him — Responding as the wisemen had — 2:2, 11

Matthew and Mark Notes

Jesus reminding Satan that only God is to be worshiped (4:9–10), the women’s worship is indicative of Matthew’s high Christology. This first post-resurrection appearance of Jesus sets the tone for the proper response to him from now on—worship.

A mothers worship can have great influence in the life of a child — Drawing them near in faith and life

Proverbs 31:30 “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”

(S) —A follower of Jesus who makes worship a priority does the same — Jesus alive in our worship

Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.””

How can worship as your priority influence others to see Jesus alive?

Certainly the women influence would have far-reaching impact in bringing the good news that Jesus is alive! Because they had a Hallowed OBEDIENCE — EMOTIONALLY Committed — Important/urgency — Held firmly to the WORD — First priority WORSHIP

(S) —Because they did…other would see Jesus...

Matthew 28:10 “Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will SEE me.””

Just as a mother brings life-giving love to a child, so does the follower of Jesus who…responds in Holy obedience — is Emotionally connected — tends to the important with urgency — hold firmly to the word — Makes worship a first priority — So that others will too see Jesus is alive!

Proverbs 31:31 “Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.”

My mom helped me see Jesus...

(S) —But there would be others in my life who would point me to see and know Jesus alive!

1 Thessalonians 2:7-8 “Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.”

Just like a mother who trust in Jesus, yours/ours is a sacred task to bring life-giving water in the good news that jesus is alive...

Do you see your calling as a follower of jesus as sacred?

Have you given Jesus your heart?

How does knowing the urgency of your calling imoact your witness?

Is God’s word your source of life?

How can making worship a priority make a difference?