Mother's Day 2025 - A Mother's Bond

Mother’s Day 2025 – A Mother’s Bond

Scripture: John 2:1-11; Second Timothy 1:5

Good morning Strangers Rest and happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers here and those viewing this live streamed service. There will be little that I will say in this message that will be new to you, but I hope you will leave here today knowing this truth: the bond between a mother and her child is different than that of a father and child. This is true on an emotional and physical level. I will share more about this shortly, but I want you to consider something. How many songs have been written about mothers versus songs that have been written about fathers? Let me bring it closer to home. How many gospel songs have been written about mothers compared to those written about fathers?

Let me list a few you might be familiar with: “Mama’s Amazing Grace.” That song is special to me because I learned it as a child as one the old deacons of the Church would sing it upon request, especially on Mother’s day. If you are not familiar with that song, look it up. It opens with, “I was young, but I recall, singing songs was mother's joy, as the shadows gathered at the close of day. And I'd sit upon her knee, in those days that used to be, as she sang of God's amazing grace.” Then there are the songs of mothers praying for their children. Songs like, “My Mother’s Prayer” and “My Mama Prayed for Me.” There are also songs that speak to how special mothers are like “Mothers are Special” by the Chicago Mass Choir. There are many songs, gospel, and secular, which are either focused on mothers or mentions them in a loving, cherished and kind way. This is not necessarily so with fathers.

There are a few Christian songs about fathers, but they do not necessarily fall into the traditional gospel realm. When most gospel songs mention fathers, they are referring to God the Father. And this is interesting; when secular songs mention fathers most reference fathers who are not the best example of fatherhood like “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” by the Temptations. There is one great exception to this, and it was the last song Luther Vandross recorded titled “Dance With My Father Again.” My point with this is simple; mothers are viewed with different lenses than fathers. Mothers are often spoken of affectionately while fathers might not be – I am speaking in general terms. The reason for this is the bond that mothers have with their children.

Turn with me to chapter two of the book of John and we will begin reading at verse one. It says, “(1) On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. (2) Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. (3) And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, ‘They have no wine.’ (4) Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.’” (John 2:1-4) This story is often referenced during wedding ceremonies and the book of John is the only book that records it, and I am so blessed that John recorded it because it also gives us insight into Jesus’ relationship with His mother.

In this story, Mary had been invited to a wedding along with Jesus and His disciples. During the wedding feast, the wine ran out, which was a failure of hospitality on the part of the bridegroom and an insult to the invited guests. It was a great social embarrassment because the family had an obligation to provide a feast that represented their social standing. Also, there was no vast variety of beverages as we have today. The people normally drank only water or wine. Mary came to Jesus and told Him the problem. Jesus looked at His mother and asked her “…Woman what does your concern have to do with Me?” Before I continue, I want you to understand that when Jesus said “Woman,” He was not being demeaning to His mother but courteous and respectful in His interaction with her. Now, Jesus told His mother that the wine running out was not His concern. He also told her that His time had not come yet. There are several interpretations of what this meant, but suffice it to say that until this moment, all everyone knew of Jesus was that He had just begun His teaching ministry. He had yet to perform any healings or miracles when Mary, His mother, came to Him so there was no history from which she could base her request.

Here is what I want you to consider: Jesus had recently begun His ministry, but He had not done any miracles at this point. The Bible says that this was His first miracle. John 2:11 records, “This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.” Each of the four gospels portrays Jesus from a unique perspective. The Gospel of John portrays Him as the Son of God that has come to touch the lives of those who didn’t know God as a Father. I find it interesting that Jesus’ first recorded miracle was at a wedding feast, a marriage and not in a synagogue or in a crowd of people, but at a wedding. I believe this is another glimpse into God’s heart and how He values marriage. Now, if this were His first miracle, how did His mother know that He could do it? Why did she come to Jesus when, by all accounts, He was just “another” teacher? How did she know that He could do something about this situation when He had not done anything like this before? She knew because He was her son. She knew Him as she had a bond with Him unlike that of any other. He was her Son. I will explain more of this story later but first let me share some facts with you about a mother’s bond with her child and how it is different from that of the father’s.