Mother’s Day
John 19:25-27
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.
“Mothers are one of the greatest signposts God ever fixed on the earth, carrying on daily with strength, love, consistency, the healing art, and just the right words at just the right time. The amazing love and effectiveness mothers display demonstrates, in thousands of ways, that behind them there is a God who also cares. And where even the best of mothers cannot reach us, heal us, or offer the right words, there is someone even stronger, more perfect and availing. Loving mothers point us to a loving God.” – Alastair Begg
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I’m going to need your help a bit today. Maybe the quote I just read didn’t really fit how you grew up. Not everyone had a wonderful childhood, not everyone had June Cleaver as their mom. Of our friends, family and church family, not everyone who could be a mom desires to be a mom and not everyone who desires to be a mom always becomes a mom, so there’s no shame or negativity if everyone doesn’t fit the mold of a nuclear family. We have a variety of situations in our lives including blended families with step children and adopted kids and all sorts of differences across. So if you are a momma today. Happy Mother’s Day, we honor you. If you are not, Happy Mother’s Day, we hope you can honor your momma today, if your momma has passed away like some of us, let’s see if we can remember something we’re thankful for….. and if that’s too difficult, then let’s look at those around us who are like a momma to us regardless of who birthed us and be thankful for them, because you don’t have to give birth to be a momma to someone. These factors do not change the message. They do not make anyone second class. The gospel is good news for everyone and regardless of our situations or our past, God wants us to know Him and draw near. Let’s see if we can do that today.
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Let’s have a little bible study for a moment……Sometimes the Bible is indicative….it tells us who God is and what he is like (a statement of fact). Sometimes the Bible is imperative….it is practical and tells us how to respond or act. It instructs us how to behave in this world. The right way to act and be.
Example:
Philippians 2:2-11
[2] complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. [3] Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. [4] Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. [5] Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, [6] who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, [7] but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. [8] And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. [9] Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, [10] so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11] and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
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Let’s look at a few imperative passages on how to honor mommas and ladies in our lives. (Instructions)
Matthew 7:12
The Golden Rule
[12] “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Proverbs 31:30 says, “A woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”
“A gracious woman gets honor…” – Proverbs 11:16
Ephesians 5:25
[25] Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,
Colossians 3:19
[19] Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.
Deuteronomy 5:16
[16] “‘Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.
James 1:27
[27] Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
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Let’s now look at our passage for today.
John 19:23-27
[23] When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, [24] so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture which says,
“They divided my garments among them,
and for my clothing they cast lots.”
So the soldiers did these things, [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.
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Who is a better example than Jesus…. and you see Jesus loved his momma even in the end. He’s thinking of her in his last breaths. Instructions on how we are to treat people.
John 19:28-30
[28] After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” [29] A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. [30] When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
But what if….Bro John.
What if today is difficult for me?
Sarah Kinnard says it this way –
“If Mother’s Day is about love, it’s also about loss and longing, which are wrapped up with love. Honoring the love of mothers means also honoring the pain that comes with Mother’s Day. Because in all the circles of our lives, women are hurting today. They are mourning losses and unfulfilled longings. Some have lost children; some have lost their mother. Some grieve for the babies they could never bear; some grieve for the mother they never knew, or the relationship with her that was never what they dreamed. Some weep for children gone astray, or for children who face myriad challenges.
Somewhere a woman and her children are suddenly alone, and she finds herself embarking on a single motherhood that she never planned for her life.
Somewhere a woman who made the brave and loving decision to place her baby for adoption aches for the child she carried, but feels judged and demonized for her careful choice.
Somewhere a woman is staring at yet another single line on a pregnancy test; somewhere a woman is waiting for another bland and clinical phone call from her doctor, telling her that this IVF, too, was unsuccessful.
Somewhere a woman is innocently preparing for an ultrasound that will shock her with the worst news of her life.
Somewhere a woman is waiting, wondering if her turn for marriage and motherhood will ever come; and another woman is wondering why other people think she should desire those things when she doesn’t.
For every woman celebrating on Mother’s Day, there must be at least one who wishes it would just go away.
Last year Mother’s Day fell the month after we buried our son. The day was torture—not because I didn’t love and cherish our living children, but because I realized I would never again celebrate with my whole family. This year I have a new reason to rejoice—our sweet Baby Petunia—but every year we celebrate, we will still feel the hole where Simon should be. My mom doesn’t get to celebrate with both her children because my brother passed away almost three years ago. For us, and for so many other women, Mother’s Day holds both joy and sorrow. . . .
To those who endure grief on Mother’s Day: I am deeply sorry. I hope you are touched with love today, somehow, through the pain. I hope you feel that your sorrows are seen, and that your love and your losses are honored.”
What if that is the case? What if some of that hit home? How can I deal with that?
Jesus, that’s my answer. Jesus
When he’s on the cross facing the weight of punishment for the sins of the world, he’s thinking of his momma. He loves you.
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Let’s do two things for invitation today. First as usual, if you want to know the Lord, or get baptized or join the church, please come down and I’ll be glad to pray and talk with you…..
Second…..
Titus 2:3-4
[3] Older women likewise are to be reverent…… They are to teach what is good, [4] and so train the young women to love their husbands and children,
If you are a lady who needs a friend or confidante or someone to lean on, maybe you are a momma with her hands full. There are many wise wonderful ladies here at Oak Grove who would pray with you and be there for you if they knew you needed it. If you want to pray today I would ask that you come down and one of our ladies will be glad to pray with you.
