"Tribute to a Mother"
Text-John 19:25-27
Danny Moss
Introduction- This morning, I would like to preach a message that will give honor to all of our
women, especially, our Mothers, whom we acknowledge and thank God for today. May all
of you be blessed by the living God, who loves you, and cares for you.
I. First, I would like for us to notice WHO IT WAS THAT GAVE THIS TRIBUTE, and also
THE SPECIAL PERSON TO WHOM HE GAVE IT.
The person who gave the tribute was none other than the Lamb of God that taketh away
the sin of the world, the One who suffered and died on Calvary's tree, so that we could
inherit eternal life.
The one to whom the tribute was given, was of course, Mary, the Mother of Jesus Christ.
He was her son. He was also God's Son, and she soon would realize the impact of all
that was involved in what was happening on a hill called Golgotha so long ago. She was
honored more than any other woman has ever been honored-to be God's chosen one to
be the Messiah's Mother. Yet, there was a dark side to this honor also, one that would
pierce her soul and break her heart, as she watched her son die.
II. Secondly, notice THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE MOMENT OF THIS TRIBUTE.
It was a sacred moment, a holy time. The price for the redemption of mankind was
being paid, and in His dying moments, our Lord could not fail to remember the one
who had held Him, and watched Him grow, and loved Him so deeply. It was a dark
hour, in the midst of the shinning of a great LIGHT. He had accomplished His mission.
He was finishing what God the Father had sent Him into the world to do.
III. Thirdly, notice LET'S EXAMINE THE DEPTH OF MARY'S GRIEF, AS SHE WATCHED
HER SON DIE.
Surely, the greatest loss a parent can have is to loose a child. It tears the heart into
a thousand pieces, over and over again. The aged man Simeon's prophesy had come
true that he spoke to her when she and Joseph took Jesus to have Him circumcised
according to Moses'Law. Simeon says-"Lord, now let Thy servant depart in peace,
according to Thy word: For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, Which thou hast pre-
pared before the face of all people; 'A Light to lighten the Gentiles, and the Glory of Thy
people Israel. (Then he spoke these words to Mary)-'Behold, this child is set for the fall
and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (Yea,
a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may
be revealed.' "
IV. Fourthly, notice THE MAGNITUDE OF JESUS' LOVE FOR HIS MOTHER.
He knew how much His Mother loved Him, and He felt the same towards her. What
greater tribute could anyone give to their Mother than to bestow love upon them.
He would no longer be present in the flesh with her, but he entrusted her to one that
He deeply loved(John), and who He knew would be the best of the best He could find
to see that she was continually loved, and cared for.
The Scriptures are strangely silent about when and where Joseph left this life. We
don't really know when, or how he died exactly. But we assume that he had to have
been.
V. Fifthly, notice JESUS' FINAL WORDS TO HIS MOTHER
"Here they are: 'Woman, behold thy son! Then, to John'-'Behold thy Mother!" Simple,
yet, sublime words. In those words, full of mercy and compassion, He was trying to
heal her broken heart, and to see that she was well taken care of in the days to come.
In those simple words, He was trying, I believe, to get this message across to her-
"Mama, I love you deeply! Mama, everything is going to work out for the good! Mama,
I have triumphed, and accomplished what the Father sent me to do! Mama, I will see
you soon again in the kingdom of Heaven."
VI. Sixthly, notice THE FAITHFULNESS OF JOHN TO SEE FOR JESUS' MOTHER.
The Bible says that "From that time on, he took Jesus' Mother into his home, and
cared for her."
VII. Seventhly, I WANT ALL OF YOU WOMEN, ESPECIALLY OUR MOTHERS TODAY,
THAT YOU ARE LOVED AND APPRECIATED. GOD ALMIGHTLY CARES FOR YOU!
That is true for everyone else here today also. God really and truly does love you, or
He would not have allowed His Son to go through the awful ordeal of the cross for us.
Invitation-Right now you have heard the Gospel of the grace of God. Jesus Christ died for
you. He rose again from the dead for you, and He is coming again for you, if you accept
Him as your Lord and Savior. If you have not done this, do it now. Now is the accepted
time. Now is the day of salvation. Don't put it off. Don't let Satan deceive you. Come
to Jesus now.
