What I can learn from a Mom
Matthew 20:20-23
READ “Things moms teach us”.
* Mothers teach us about foresight: "Make sure you wear clean underwear in case you’re in an accident."
* Mothers teach us about logic: "If you fall out of that tree and break your neck, don’t come crying to me."
* Mothers teach us about maturity: "Eat your vegetables or you’ll never grow up."
* Mothers teach us about religion: "You better pray that comes out of the carpet."
* Mothers teach us about time travel: "If you don’t straighten up, I’m going to knock you into the middle of next week!"
* Mothers teach us about contradictions: "Shut your mouth and eat your dinner!"
* Mothers teach us about contortionism: "Will you look at the dirt on the back of your neck?"
* Mothers teach us about perseverance: "You are going to sit here until you eat every last piece of that broccoli."
* Mothers teach us about genetics: "You’re just like your father."
* Mothers teach us about the weather: "It looks like a tornado swept through your room."
* Mothers teach us about the circle of life: "I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."
* One of the tasks of mothers has been and is “teaching.” When we are young, very few (if any) hold as much influence over children as mom. That is why when the football player waves to the camera, he says, “Hi Mom.” Dad may have taught him to play football, but mom is the big number. That is why when airliner was going down, the little black box records the last words of the pilot as, “Mom, I love you.” Our ladies are seemingly always on the front lines of family, giving unselfishly that their families may have.
* This morning we have read a scripture which is frequently used to illustrate seemingly negative things and rightly so. At first blush, the story is of a mom trying to “weasel” her boys into the best seats in the house in the Kingdom. I simply say “the Kingdom” because it seems to me that this mom didn’t perceive that Jesus’ Kingdom would be in heaven, but still thought He was going to overthrown Roman rule.
* However, let’s consider 5 lessons we can learn from Salome, the mother of James and John. From her, let’s learn some “how tos” & “what tos.”
1. The Approach to Jesus – There are several lessons we can see in this.
* First, she obviously knew that to get the best life had to offer that Jesus was the one, so she made it a point to come to Him. For years, the picture of mom was sung in the old song, “IF I could only hear my mother pray again” which is one of the greatest pictures a child can have about his mom. While dads have the ultimate responsibility for teaching and training the children about spiritual things, Mom’s influence is immeasurable. She teaches us to approach Jesus with both our needs and our desires.
* Next, she brought her children to the feet of Jesus. Perhaps one of the outstanding positive lessons we can learn from such a questionable story is the importance of having our offspring with us when we approach our Lord. And think about this, her kids were grown! Whether or not her motives were pure matters little for what we can learn from her. She brings herself, her kids, and her requests to Jesus. The Bible tells us to bring our needs, families, and even wants to Jesus.
* The message of Jesus is always the same. It is, “Come to Me” or “Bring it to me.” Mothers teach us all kinds of lessons but one of the greatest is to “bring all your cares to Jesus.”
2. The Attitude toward Jesus – It is very interesting to watch children and discover that they carry the attitude of their parents. If a parent carries prideful, arrogant, or negative attitude, the kid(s) will pick up on that &, as a general, will project the same attitude as their parent. If a parent carries a positive, happy, and caring attitude, then the child will pick up on that. This is especially true in the case of mom because, generally, she spends a great deal more time with the little ones. Notice this mom’s attitude toward Jesus.
* HCSB says, “She knelt down before Jesus.” Most of the newer translations say she “bowed down” but the KJV says she came “worshipping Him.” Candidly, for all we may see that she did wrong, she taught her adult boys how to show respect to the Lord. The word worship literally means to kiss or lick the hand. A couple of years ago, I brought a young lady up on the platform and demonstrated this type of action. Getting down on one knee and kissing her hand was a display of respect and affection.
* This is a far different display of attitude than seems to be the norm today. Somehow, the respect for Jesus seems to be almost lost, even among believers. Do we truly feel the need to kneel before Him? Do we present an attitude of ultimate respect, or treat Him like one of us?
3. The Appeal for Jesus – Verse 21 gives us several visuals which we need to take to heart.
* Notice, that when she comes to Jesus in the right way and in the right attitude, He asks her, “What do you want?” Think about how wonderful this is. The Son of God, the Messiah, the Deliverer, the Sacrifice for our sins, is concerned about what “we want.” To me this is nothing shy of amazing! The translations use the words “want, wish, request, and desire (plus others),” to express that Jesus was truly interested in what this mom wanted. Here’s the point; He didn’t have to ask her because, in His divinity, He knew what the request would be. Yet, He asked. What a great reminder that when we come to Jesus, He is interested in our needs, wants, and desires; additionally, He wants us to tell Him our heart (whether good or bad)
* For this mom, perhaps she was attempting to get her boys a “leg up” or maybe she was attempting to make sure they would be taken care of after she and dad were gone, but don’t miss this; she was honest with the Lord Jesus. God desires for us to be transparent with Him. Sad to say that in my life, there have been times when I have gone to the Lord in prayer and then was less than honest about what I wanted or what was on my heart. Know what I have discovered? That when I attempt to fool God, I am really just fooling myself. What I attempt to hide from God, I am really hiding from myself. And on the other side of the equation, when I come clean with God, then I am honest with myself and it is at this point that God can speak to me and work in my life in a very real way. This mom was transparent with the Lord.
4. The Awareness about Jesus – When Jesus speaks in verse 22, Mom is silenced. Why? Could it be that maybe, for the first time, she realized the seriousness of her boys walking with Christ. Maybe for the first time she caught on to the cost as she was looking into the eyes of the Lord and heard that those seats required the ultimate commitment. Perhaps, when she heard His words, she wished she could take back her request.
* Think about this conversation. Jesus said, “You don’t know what you’re asking and how difficult this journey will be mom” and mom went silent. When I close my eyes and see this picture, I see a mom who was attempting to get the cushy jobs for her boys and found herself in amazement at what she had done. Perhaps when Jesus turned to the boys and asked them, “Are you up for this job” she had already changed her mind because, for the first time, she became aware of who Jesus was and what it was that He required.
* For years, I “thought” I wanted to be in the “Golf Business.” Just to get to hang around a golf course, cut a little grass, do a little work, dress nicely, and all my other preconceived notions. As you know, through a series of events I got my wish, but it was not what I THOUGHT it would be. Don’t get me wrong, to this day I consider my owner to be like family to us, but as I worked there, I became aware that what I had THOUGHT the golf business was was not entirely accurate. To say the least, I was surprised.
* I wonder how many times, people THINK they know what it means to follow Jesus and then through God’s Word and the Holy Spirit, they become aware that what they THOUGHT was not entirely accurate. Some people think that following Jesus is only about a onetime decision that is made and left at the altar. Others think it’s only about being baptized. Others think other “things” (I.E. church membership, church jobs, etc). To become aware of what it is actually required of one who follows Jesus can range from surprise to shock.
5. The Acceptance of Jesus – As we read verse 23 and get the divine design for the Kingdom, we notice one important thing; Mom didn’t argue, discuss, or try to debate with the Lord Jesus, she accepted His words as truth. What a legacy! To have a face to face with the Lord of Glory is to walk away a changed person. While the scripture doesn’t track in details the wife of Zebedee, the mother of James and John, this lady known as Salomé, we do see her at the tomb of Jesus. For me, this is conclusive that her encounter with Jesus led to her acceptance of Jesus.
* Of all a mother can do, giving her life totally and completed to our Lord Christ will have the greatest impact on her children. Here’s why;
* A mom sold out to the Lord Jesus is a mom who will display a life that demonstrates everything good and right. Because of this she will instill in her children a need to love the Lord, to walk in His way, and fulfill His calling.
* The result will be kids who;
i. Seek to discover this Jesus who Mom loves and serves so well.
ii. Find their purpose in life.
iii. Who make good decisions.
