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!
a Another testimony to her true heart: she believed in Jesus’ promises!
b Jesus says, “You don’t know what you’re asking! . . . but you will drink from it!”
aa Mom didn’t say another word, plead her case, make a deal . . . She just accepted His word as truth!
bb She just put everything in His hands and left it there. What a testimony moms! Legacy!
2 Salome’ is the feminine of the Hebrew word for Shalom, which means peace!
a I think her name suits her because she had . . .
aa two sons who loved Jesus.
bb her own heart was submitted to His.
b You can’t help but have “peace” when you’re trusting His hand, heart, word, promises.
B When you don’t get what you asked for you still go looking to be with Jesus!
1 Checkout who’s at the tomb on Easter morning! (Mark 16.1)!
a She didn’t get mad, upset, bitter.
b She just keep after Jesus (Cross/tomb/probably in Upper Room @ Pentecost)
2 Momma’s when your prayers are not answered the way you want them too just remind yourself that His promises are good & the tomb is still empty.
Conclusion:
A We learn . . .
1 Where to go when we want the best for ourselves or family.
2 What to do when we don’t get we asked for.
B Why does a momma love a her newborn baby? (Indulge me)
1 For 9 months (practically 10) this baby has brought you nothing but pain.
a Break out in pimples, stretch marks, waddle like a duck when you walk.
b Occupied space that wasn’t yours, eat food they didn’t fix.
aa To show you their appreciation they hit the side of your tummy, made you crave sardines & peanut butter, & throw up every morning.
bb You kept them warm, safe, dry and they didn’t even give you a thank you.
cc In fact the moment their born he begins to cry!
(Room is too dark, blanket too rough, nurse too mean)
c The first thing that little guy wants is his momma. (You’ve been doing all the work for the last 9 months but no break for you! Dad won’t do . . . he wants you.)
d Your head hurts, back aches, you screamed/swore, bit bullets, every muscle in your body has been stretched and strained . . . you should be angry, but you’re not. FAR FROM IT.
2 On your face is a longer-than-forever love.
a He has done absolutely nothing for you . . . but you’re crazy for him.
b Brought nothing but pain, nausea in the morning but you love him.
aa Face is wrinkled, eyes are dim and all you talk about is how beautiful he is and how smart he is because he’s holding your finger.
bb He’s gonna keep you up every night for the next 18 years, you don’t care.
c Why? Why does a mother love a newborn?
aa He is hers. MORE THAN THAT.
bb He is her. (Her flesh, blood, flesh, sinew, spine, hope, legacy. . . he is her!
d It doesn’t bother mom in the least bit that the baby gives nothing.
aa She knows the baby is weak, helpless.
bb She knows the baby didn’t asked to be born into this world.
3 God knows we didn’t ask to be born either.
a We’re His idea, we’re His kids.
b When He sees us He says “He has my face, eyes, hands, touch . . . we have our daddy’s heart.”
c Your picture is on God’s refrigerator!
B The love a godly mother’s love for her child is olay a small taste of the love God has for you.
1 When He looks at you He sees His finest creation. (Eph 2.10)
a There is one thing that mars the beauty that He desires for your and my life, it’s called sin.
b It’s why we give an invitation at the end of every service.
2 Invitation (Gospel, rededication)
3 Baby dedication
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Mike Fogerson
