2022-5-8, Mother's Day: God, Moms, Redemption, Honor, John 19:25-27
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Introduction:
Introduction:
2022-5-8, Mother's Day: God, Moms, Redemption, Honor, John 19:25-27
One Great Point:
One Great Point:
Moms play an important part in God’s redemption plan and they are worthy of honor.
Passage:
Passage:
This morning I want to share with you one of the most touching, yet heart-wrenching passages of Scripture. It has to do with a mother and her Son.
25 but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
Context:
Context:
The scene is the cross of Calvary.
The preceding several verses demonstrate vicious brutality by the Roman guards. Jesus is nailed to the cross, beaten and naked, and the guards callously gamble away His possessions.
-Jesus endured the worst physical abuse on the cross, though He committed no crimes.
-Jesus would suffer the worst spiritual wrath for sin, though He Himself had no sin.
Yet, in John’s account, there is a strong pivot away from the ugliness of the situation signified with the word “but”.
John turns our attention to something very touching.
25 but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
Standing by the cross are four women who’ve managed to come close to Jesus’ cross. You have Salome, Mary the wife of Clopas, Mary Magdalene and most significantly, you have Jesus’ mother, Mary.
Take a moment and simply let the weight of the situation rest on you.
Just imagine the immense emotional pain of this scene. You have a mother watching her Son suffer and die. It is awful. For any of us, this would be a worst nightmare.
Yet, Mary knew this was coming. Mary knew the prophet Simeon’s words from so long ago.
34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
Even though Mary knew this was God’s plan for the child given to her, the emotional pain must have been excruciating.
Nevertheless, Mary was there for her Son on His darkest day. What a great mom.
She ministered to Jesus through presence. She was there, in His line of site, looking upon Him lovingly in His pain as He fulfilled the will of God.
In this we see the expression of something God designed moms to give...
God designed moms to be godly and steadfast influences for their children.
Think about Mary. God favored her (Lk 1:28, 30). She was a woman of virtue. God chose her to be the mother of the incarnate Christ.
One of her great qualities was that she submitted to God’s will. Remember when Gabriel told her she would be a mom?
38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
Then she sang the following words about the joy she felt that God was using her family for His will.
46 And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
As she learned more and more about what Jesus would grow up to do, She treasured these things in her heart and pondered them (Luke 2:19, Luke 2:51)
So God put her as Jesus’ mother, to love him and model righteousness, to talk to Him about the Lord.
Scripture tells us that...
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.
In this mysterious development in Jesus’ life, as 100% God and 100% man, with both a divine nature and a human nature, Mary was there asserting godly influence, unconditional motherly love, and faithfulness.
It’s important to point out that Mary didn’t always get it right as mom, but even in her misses God used her in the story of her Son.
1. You might recall that incident when Jesus was a twelve year old boy and Mary and Joseph lost him.
46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 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.” 49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 50 And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them.
2. Then there was the time that God used a little of her motherly nagging to set the stage for Jesus’ first miracle.
2 Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. 3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
3. Then there was the time that Mary and Jesus’ half brothers decided to go get Jesus because they thought he was acting mentally unstable...
31 And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. 32 And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.” 33 And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” 34 And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”
Even in these things, she loved Jesus and was doing her best to be a godly influence. God used her despite her weaknesses.
In our passage, she was where she needed to be, doing what she need to be doing.
Let this be an encouragement to moms out there trying to honor the Lord by being godly influences on your kids and models of faith- God honors your faithfulness even though you don’t always get it right.
Consider what happens next in our primary passage.
26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!”
So, Jesus is bearing all physical suffering and on the cross, He endures the wrath of God for sin, but He sees His mother and gives her His attention.
Jesus gives her a new ministry of motherhood.
John, the disciple whom Jesus loved was standing nearby. He tells His mom essentially, “I am going away, you will not be able to be my mother as you have. Now, I want you to fulfill this calling as mom with John.”
One thing I’ve learned about moms as the kids grow up, is they need to be needed. I think it’s a beautiful thing here that Jesus gives Mary a new way to be mom.
It’s important to note that Mary was not John’s legal mom and John was not her legal son. He actually already had a mom, who was standing next to them. But Jesus gave her a ministry to be mom to him. There’s something else in this for women here to know.
There is an ocean of people in this world who need a woman to serve as a godly influence, demonstrate unconditional love and model faith and talk about Christ (aka, be a mom). In this, Jesus invites you to be a mom for whomever you can.
The last part verse of this passage.
27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
Jesus gave John a new ministry. He gave John a mother to honor.
Moms should be recognized in their role and honored in it.
Not only did Jesus do this by giving Mary attention in the midst of His most important work, he did this. He gave her someone to recognize and honor her as a mother.
This echos something we see in scripture. God wants His people to recognize the part moms play in His plan and to honor them in this role.
12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
This is echoed in the NT in Ephesians 6:1-3.
And...
8 Hear, my son, your father’s instruction,
and forsake not your mother’s teaching,
9 for they are a graceful garland for your head
and pendants for your neck.
Jesus gave John the call to honor Mary for the rest of her life. He would bring her into his home and treat her as his own mother.
Great Main Point-
Moms play an important part in God’s redemption plan and they are worthy of honor.
Application
Application
What difference does this make in our homes?
Moms, I think this makes a difference in the way you view yourself.
A lot of mom’s struggle to feel that what they do is valid. There are many voices in our world which suggest that your role as a mother is second rate to other things.
Yet, Scripture portrays your role as most noble, pleasing to God, and worthy of praise.
Just think, you get the opportunity to cultivate faith in the heart of a person.
You have the high honor to tell them about Jesus Christ and demonstrate a life of one of His followers.
You get to teach children to know and trust the word. You get to encourage their hearts after Him.
In how many ways will God use your example, your prayers, your influence, your love, to lead that child into the arms of the almighty God in salvation.
So if anything must change for you in your home, it must change in your heart.
See yourself as a valid part of God’s redemption plan.
1. See yourself in the biblical example of moms who cultivated faith in the hearts of their children. See yourself as an heir of Deuteronomy 6:4-7. Pray for confidence in your divine calling.
2. Surround yourself with people who support this view that motherhood is a sacred calling. This also means tuning out the voices who try to belittle motherhood as godly influence. Turn off the voices which suggest that you are not as valid as some other mother. Get out of the comparison game.
3. Foster godliness in your own life so you have what you need to give to your children. A lot of moms are like this guy...
tire picture
This guy is trying to deliver something he doesn’t have.
Work with Dad, parents, kids to create abide time. Join with others to know the Word. Really, create margin so you can listen to the Lord.
4. Be a mother to whomever you can.
Husbands, children, and others. In order to recognize mothers and their sacred calling and to honor them.
See your mom’s role for the God given calling that it is and be grateful for it. You can shun it, scoff at it. But really, who else in your life is going to be a persistent in loving you, praying for you, and influencing you in godliness as your own mom. There will be a lot of people who say they love you, but probably no one is going to love you like your mom. Don’t wast that relationship.
Be the voices who affirm her God-given role. She is valid. Tell her these things. Praise her when she does her role well. Make Mother’s Day everyday. Make honoring her a spiritual habit. With your words and actions. Through the week, return the blessing that she’s given to you.
Wait for her to sit before you eat dinner.
Relieve her of cleanup
Make her life easier and do as she says.
Contribute to her margin.
Call and talk often
Ask for and listen to her wisdom
Remember mom’s need to be needed.
Honor your mother does not expire with adulthood.
Find someone to be your mom.
Dear Mom,
Thank you for being a godly influence in my life. Thank you for showing me unconditional love and for modeling faith. To honor you, I’d like to practice the following habits
I commit to ___________________ each day.
I commit to ___________________ each week.
I commit to ___________________ each month.
Love,