Mother’s Day (5/13/12) Bible Bap0st Church, Port Orchard, WA — Dr. Al Hughes
How Jesus Honored His Mother
John 19:25-30
Mother’s Day is for… Every mom… Expectant moms… Existent moms…
Empty-nest moms… Elderly moms.
It’s about the mother your daughter (or your granddaughter) is or will
someday become!
One little girl said to a friend: "I'm never having kids. I hear they take nine
months to download."
Mother’s Day is in MAY—add the letter “R” to MAY and you have MARY,
the mother of Jesus.
Try to put yourself in Mary’s place as she stood at the foot of the cross
watching her firstborn Son die in agony. How would you feel?
What was running through Mary’s mind? Did she wonder about Gabriel’s announcement to her in Luke 1:31-33? As she looked at her Son
nailed to a rugged cross, she must have been confused: “What happened
to Him sitting on the throne of David? Where is His kingdom?”
1.
It was a day of HEARTACHE—Can you imagine the heartache Mary
experienced as she recalled the time when she brought the baby
Jesus to the Temple and the prophet Simeon prophesied—“A sword
shall pierce through thy own soul” (Luke 2:35).
Beside the cross in tears, the woeful mother stood,
Bent ‘neath the weight of years, viewing the flowing blood.
Her mind with grief was torn, her strength was ebbing fast,
And through her heart forlorn, a sword of anguish passed.
2.
It was day of HONOR— In the midst of the most important event of
the ages— Jesus paused to honored His mother.
Jesus set the perfect example what it means to honor your
mother! He gave her no flowers… no greeting card… No meal at her
favorite restaurant… He gave her no jewelry…
He gave her something far better!
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I.
He gave her ATTENTION (v. 26).
Though beaten and abused, with blood running down His body…
struggling for every breath… Jesus cleared His throat and spoke TO
and ABOUT His mother.
Imagine the CEO of a big corporation about to make the biggest
transaction of his career, saying, “Wait just a minute—I’ve got to talk
to my Mother, before closing this deal.” They would think, “What? Why now?”
A. Jesus kept the 5th commandment—“Honour thy father and thy
mother” (Ex. 20:12).
“Give honor unto whom honor is due.”
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1. Mothers definitely DESERVE and are DUE HONOR! Everyday
should be “Mother’s Day.”
2. Our mothers gave us life and helped mold the person we’ve
become. What gift can we give that compares to that?
B. Children have a responsibility to their mother as long as she
lives—“If any widow have children or nephews, let them learn
first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that
is good and acceptable before God… But if any provide not for
his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied
the faith, and is worse than an infidel” (1 Tim. 5:4, 8).
1. Jesus would not be around to care for His mother, so He
committed the care of His mother to John.
2. JOHN became “the substitute” for the Substitute. In essence, Jesus is saying, “John I’m Your Substitute. I’m dying in
your place to provide for you salvation. Now, you be My
substitute in providing for My mother.”
Why John? Why not His brothers (Mt. 13:55; John 7:5)?
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Jesus knew John loved Him. People who really love you care
about what you care about.
John was available. All the other disciples have fled.
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Jesus knew He could count on John. “From that hour” John
took custody of Mary at his own home. Can Jesus count on
You / Me?
3. We have a responsibility to take care of those who took care
of us! "Despise not thy mother when she is old" (Prov. 23:22).
“I’m too busy” — Jesus was very busy!
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He was busy doing His Father’s will.
He was busy providing for us the way of salvation!
He was busy fulfilling many O.T. prophecies.
Yet, He took time at Calvary for His mother!
You are NEVER too busy for your Mom!
You sure kept HER busy while you were growing up! The phrase "working mother" is redundant! Young people— It is wrong if you are more thoughtful, more
patient, and more helpful towards your friends than you are
towards your own mother! If you treated your friends like
you treat your mom, would you still have any friends? •
If the Son of God took time while on the cross to honor
His mother, WE should take time to honor OUR mother!
Do you want to be like Jesus? Give your mother some attention!
II.
He gave her AFFECTION.
As He expresses His love to ALL sufficiently — He takes time to
express His love to ONE specifically.
A. “Woman”— Jesus addresses Mary as “Woman,” not “mother.”
Jesus was not being disrespectful.
1. First, Jesus was severing His human family relationship to He
provide a better relationship—He was dying, not as her Son,
but as her Lord and Savior!
2. Secondly, in Bible days, “woman” was a term of endearment.
B. Jesus wasn’t ashamed to express His affection for His mother!
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1. Couldn’t He have told John this some other time? Yes—but
here PUBLICLY He proclaimed His love for her in front of everybody!
2. REAL MEN love their Moms!
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It really bothers me when I see someone act disrespectfully toward their mother! Calling her “the old lady.” BTW girls, if you meet a boy who is disrespectful to his
mother—he will do the same to you someday also! •
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You are never too OLD to tell your mother you love
her! Only too COLD!
That’s what she wants!—more than a flower or a card!
There are some here this morning who would give almost anything to have just a few more moments with their mother!
III. He gave her ASSURANCE.
A. Jesus gave His mother assurance He was going to heaven!
1. She heard Him tell the dying thief, “Today..shall be with me in
paradise.”
2. She heard Him pray for others, “Father forgive them.”
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A tremendous blessing for a mother to hear her child
pray!
B. Does your mother know you will be in heaven? 1. The best way to honor your mother is to make sure she
knows you’re going to heaven with her!
President William McKinley was very close to his mother.
When word came of her impending death, he sent a telegraph
message: “Tell mother I’ll be there!”
Upon reading this story in the newspaper, Rev. Charles
Fillmore wrote this song...
Tell mother I’ll be there, in answer to her prayer;
This message, blessed Savior, to her bear!
Tell mother I’ll be there, Heav’n’s joys with her to share;
Yes, tell my darling mother, I’ll be there.
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Does your mother know you’ll be there?
2. If your mother is already in heaven—she wants you join her
someday!
3. No mother wants her child in hell!
SUMMATION: A teenage girl gave this testimony at the invitation of a
Tim Lee meeting— She said, “I got in a fight with my Mama and I said
some cruel things to her I shouldn’t have. I went to my room and
slammed the door. My Mama came in—I turned around and looked the
other way. She spoke to me, ‘Honey I know you don’t understand now
why I won’t let you do this. One day you will. Please try to understand. I
love you.’ I just sat there with my back turned to my mama.”
The next morning I got up and got on the school bus without speaking a word to my mom. After several bus stops on the way to school an
ambulance passed by. My friends made crude remarks, ‘There goes the
meat wagon.’ I laughed right along with them. When I arrived at school
there was a message that my mama had a heart-attack and was taken to
the hospital. She was in that ambulance. When I arrived at the hospital—she was dead.
If I could go back to that night—I would turn around and hug her tight
and say ‘I love you mama… I love you!’ But, I can’t in this life… but I can
in Heaven…and I WILL!”
Do you want to give your Mom a great gift this Mothers Day? The
greatest gift you could GIVE is to RECEIVE the greatest gift ever given—
The gift of eternal life (John 1:12).