A Mother's Desire

A Mother’s Desire

May 12, 2002

Grace International Baptist Church

A teacher gave her class of second graders a lesson on the magnet and what it does. The next day in a written test, she included this question: "My full name has six letters. The first one is the letter M. I pick up things. What am I?" When the test papers were turned in, the teacher was astonished to find that almost 50 percent of the students answered the question with the word “Mother”.

Happy Mother’s day! Moms are great aren’t they? Have u heard that there are 3 stages of motherhood: young, middle age and "you’re looking fine". If there were no moms none of us will be here. If there were no moms we wouldn’t know how to relate to another. They are the first special people in our lives we all relate to. No one remembers the paramedic who helped your mom give birth to you, while stuck in rush hour traffic. No one remembers the social worker or lawyer who picked you up when you were adopted. But mom you can count on. Mom, you remember!

Our moms are a lot like “Spiderman”. Already that new movie is touted as no. 1 movie for this summer on CNN, beating out “Star Wars Episode 2.” According to CNN, “Of all the superheroes, Spider-Man has always been a little more human than the rest. He doesn’t fly; he swings. … Even when it comes to the ladies, he struggles. Is it any wonder it’s so easy to relate to him?” That’s just why moms are #1 on our list. Just like Spiderman she swings into action for us. Yet she is very much human, she may not fly (maybe off the handle a bit at times) but she sure can swing it when it comes to getting the minivan, without forgetting to buckle us in our seats, to soccer practice/ music lesson and cook/help with homework and wanting the best for us kids. Like any human, she may struggle but she will never be voted off, she’s like the ultimate Survivor whom we love and adore.

In scripture we find a mom just like that… She swung into action for her boys.

Listen in to the story… as we hear a mother’s desire…

Matt.20:20-21 (NIV)

Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him.

21 "What is it you want?" he asked. She said, "Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom."

Here she is, the typical mom doing what she can. Swinging into action. She knew she could approach Jesus. So she asked Jesus a favor. But who is this woman?

Take a look into her life… We know that her name is Salome, according to Mk.15:40 and 16:1. She was one of the three women named in Bible who witnessed the crucifixion and went to the tomb on the first Easter morning. That she was named as an eyewitness to both the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ says something of this woman’s faith. There must be something about her that Jesus liked that she was given this privilege. You see, she is not just some casual believer, but has a strong faith that Jesus is the Messiah. That is why she came kneeling and would ask Jesus a favor. Even the very the nature of her request and posture indicates that she is aware of Jesus’ kingliness and majesty. She believes that Jesus will be who He says He is and He will reign as King. In short, she was a woman, who knew her theology. You can’t fault her faith. It was right on. Jesus too acknowledged her faith, (v.21) and it seems to me, welcomed her intrusion into his private space.

Here she is with great faith but a mom nonetheless. A mom who wants nothing but the best for her darling boys, James and John, disciples of Jesus, and who were also cousins of Jesus, who were also close friends of Jesus, part of the inner circle that included Peter. I believe these boys were her pride and joy. She must have visions of greatness for her boys dancing in her head. Being so close to Jesus, being related to Jesus, sure was a bonus.

There was a new mom who told this story: “I shouldn’t have been upset, but I must admit I was. My doctor released me from the hospital only two days after my baby was born because my mother would be here to help me. I had been home only about an hour when the doorbell rang.

Our neighbor’s thirteen-year-old son was standing outside. “Can I see your baby?” What could I say? “Sure, come in.”