Mother's Day

Mother’s Day

Introduction:

A In the Scripture the ultimate responsibility for teaching and training the children about spiritual thins is daddy, but what momma’s influence is immeasurable.

1 Here are some things mom taught us:

a Mothers teach us about FORESIGHT: Make sure you wear clean underwear in case you’re in an accident.

aa LOGIC: If you fall out of a tree and break your neck, don’t come crying to me.

bb RELIGION: You better pray that comes out of the carpet.

cc TIME TRAVEL: If you don’t straighten up I’m going to knock you into the middle of next week.

dd GENETICS: You’re just like your father.

ee CONTRADICTIONS: Shut your mouth and eat your dinner.

ff CONTORTIONS: Will you look at the dirt on the back of your neck?

gg CIRCLE OF LIFE: I brought you into this world and I’ll take you out of it.

b Mother’s know!!

aa Kitchen utensils are probably going to wind up outside shoveling dirt.

bb Have sticky floors, dirty ovens = happy kids.

cc Know dried play dough doesn’t come out of shag carpet.

dd Know they’d like to be able to eat a whole candy bar (all by themselves) and drink a Diet Coke w/o any “floaters” in it.

2 Mother’s are incredible, influential teachers.

B Matthew 20.20-23, is a text usually preached to showcase negative attitudes & wrong thinking and rightly so.

1 Most scholars believe that the woman in our text is quit possibly a woman by the name of Salome’.

a We come to this conclusion by looking at the women who stood vigil @ the cross.

aa Matt. 27.56; Mark 15.40; John 19.25.

bb She is Mary’s, the mother of Jesus, sister

b Jesus’ aunt Salome’; James & John were probably Jesus’ first cousins!

2 At first blush it’s a story of a mother (Salome’) trying to get her two boys cushy jobs with the State.

a The boys had been brought up by their father, Zebedee, to be fishermen (Matt. 4.21-22). Hard work, life.

b When she talks about Jesus’ Kingdom (v.21), she’s not thinking in the spiritual, heavenly realm but rather as a Kingdom that will overthrow the Romans who are occupying Israel. (Restore Israel’s former glory)

c Working as one of the King’s advisors seems like a whole lot easier way to make a living than fishing Galilee.

T.S. In these three verses there are some “how to’s” and “what to’s” that Salome’ can teach us.

PRAY

I We learn where to go to get the best in life.

A Salome’ approached Jesus, bringing w/ her her two adult sons with a perceived need in her life: sons would find favor with Him (bad motives aside).

1 She brings herself, her kids and her requests to the Lord Jesus.

a Scripture tells us to bring our needs (& even wants) to the Lord.

aa Matt. 6.8; Php. 4.19 NEEDS

bb Ps. 37.4; Matt. 7.7-8 DESIRES

b She doesn’t come alone; she brings her kids!

2 There are things that are taught and there are things that can only be caught.

a Have you ever noticed that children imitate their parents (words, sense of humor, good, bad, ugly & often even an attitude.)

aa IL. Dad salting table & mom would get on to him. So I started intentionally salting the table too.

bb Your children may not always succeed in listening too you but they will never fail to imitate you.

b Salome’ had knelt down before Jesus (as her Messiah).

aa For all she did wrong she showed respect, submission, respect & affection. (Ever see a man kneel to kiss a woman’s hand? Same thing!)

bb Her kids caught mom’s attitude toward Jesus.

c James becomes a martyr for the church (Acts 12.2) & John is persecuted and put in exile (Rev. 1.9)

3 Parents, you need to have an attitude of respect, submission, respect & affection for Jesus, His Church, His People, the leaders He puts over you AND TEACH IT TOO YOUR CHILDREN.

a There are many things we can teach our kids, advantages we try to provide for them . . .

aa Wealth, education, power & success

bb Ecc. 12.8 NLT MEANINGLESS!!

b What does count? Ecc. 12.13 NLT

aa W/O God life is meaningless & empty.

bb The greatest advantage we can give our children is a solid foundation in their relationship with God.

cc Not being a good baptist, rather being a good disciple of the Lord Jesus.

II We also learn what to do when Jesus doesn’t give us what we ask for.

A Salome’ asks Jesus for her boys to have sets of honor, prestige, power & authority. To be “somebodies” in His Kingdom.

1 Her request was based on a promise given in Matthew 19.28!