There was a "mothering" day in the early church. It was on the 4th Sunday of Lent. People would go back to the church they were raised in and attend there that Sunday.
(Shannon shares other examples of Mothers' Days that were set aside for friendship, reconciliation and prayer, but you'll have to listen to the sermon to hear them. I didn't take great notes today.)
In 1914 Woodrow Wilson made it an official holiday (Mother's Day).
“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you." Exodus 20:12.
This is the only commandment with a promise attached to it.
Talk about 3 Mothers in the Bible:
1. Hannah -- Sacrificial Love:
"In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly.11 And she made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.” 1 Samuel 1:10-11
God blessed her with a son, and Hannah followed through with her vow. After giving Samuel up when he was weaned she saw him just once a year when she would bring him a new robe she had made him.
"I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. 28 So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there." 1 Samuel 1:27-28
2. Peter's Mother-in-Law -- A mother's Servant Love:
Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. 39 So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them.
She got up and served Jesus, Peter and the rest of the ministry team (disciples and others) and then see who else showed up at her doorstep that night:
"At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them.41 Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Messiah." Luke 4:40-41
Peter's mother-in-law very likely was serving these people as they were healed. Hospitality demanded it.
3. Mary -- A mother's long-suffering and blessing Love:
"Then they asked him, “Where is your father?”
“You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” John 8:19
The Pharisees bring up the controversy of Jesus' birth -- his supposed illegitimacy! Very likely Mary was there and heard this jab. She had to hear this his whole life even though it wasn't true and she had done nothing wrong.
"When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”
49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”[a] 50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them.
51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man." Luke 2:48-52
Jesus was (and is) perfect, but he still obviously vexed his mother!
"On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”
4 “Woman,[a] why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” John 2:1-4
Mary and Jesus had a fun relationship. You can see this in the above verses. She probably vexed him a bit in this scene!
"Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. 2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.
“Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? 3 Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph,[a] Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.
4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” 5 He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6 He was amazed at their lack of faith." Mark 6:1-6
Mary had to see her son rejected by her community.
"Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman,[a] here is your son,” 27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home." John 19:25-27
Even on the cross Jesus cared for His mom.
Why did God allow Mary to go through Jesus' crucifixtion? Because He wasn't done with her yet. He had more blessings to give her.
"Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk[a] from the city. 13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers." Actts 1:12-14
Mary was with the disciples constantly in prayer. Now read the next chapter of Acts:
"When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them." Acts 2:1-4
Mary was there at Pentecost! She was filled with the Holy Spirit.
(Shannon shares other examples of Mothers' Days that were set aside for friendship, reconciliation and prayer, but you'll have to listen to the sermon to hear them. I didn't take great notes today.)
In 1914 Woodrow Wilson made it an official holiday (Mother's Day).
“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you." Exodus 20:12.
This is the only commandment with a promise attached to it.
Talk about 3 Mothers in the Bible:
1. Hannah -- Sacrificial Love:
"In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly.11 And she made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.” 1 Samuel 1:10-11
God blessed her with a son, and Hannah followed through with her vow. After giving Samuel up when he was weaned she saw him just once a year when she would bring him a new robe she had made him.
"I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. 28 So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there." 1 Samuel 1:27-28
2. Peter's Mother-in-Law -- A mother's Servant Love:
Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. 39 So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them.
She got up and served Jesus, Peter and the rest of the ministry team (disciples and others) and then see who else showed up at her doorstep that night:
"At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them.41 Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Messiah." Luke 4:40-41
Peter's mother-in-law very likely was serving these people as they were healed. Hospitality demanded it.
3. Mary -- A mother's long-suffering and blessing Love:
"Then they asked him, “Where is your father?”
“You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” John 8:19
The Pharisees bring up the controversy of Jesus' birth -- his supposed illegitimacy! Very likely Mary was there and heard this jab. She had to hear this his whole life even though it wasn't true and she had done nothing wrong.
"When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”
49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”[a] 50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them.
51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man." Luke 2:48-52
Jesus was (and is) perfect, but he still obviously vexed his mother!
"On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”
4 “Woman,[a] why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” John 2:1-4
Mary and Jesus had a fun relationship. You can see this in the above verses. She probably vexed him a bit in this scene!
"Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. 2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.
“Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? 3 Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph,[a] Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.
4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” 5 He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6 He was amazed at their lack of faith." Mark 6:1-6
Mary had to see her son rejected by her community.
"Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman,[a] here is your son,” 27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home." John 19:25-27
Even on the cross Jesus cared for His mom.
Why did God allow Mary to go through Jesus' crucifixtion? Because He wasn't done with her yet. He had more blessings to give her.
"Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk[a] from the city. 13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers." Actts 1:12-14
Mary was with the disciples constantly in prayer. Now read the next chapter of Acts:
"When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them." Acts 2:1-4
Mary was there at Pentecost! She was filled with the Holy Spirit.
RSS Feed
