* 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 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 perseverance: "You are going to sit here until you eat every last piece of that broccoli."
* 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." (Adapted from Sermon Central)
There are many lessons that we learn from mothers. While these items are in jest, we learn a great deal from mothers. Here are a few examples from scripture:
Biblical Examples of Godly mothers
Eve - literally means the mother of all
Sarah - The elderly mother who laughed at the notion of having children. She gave birth to Isaac
Hannah - Mother who prayed for god to give her a child. She gave birth to Samuel.
Mary - The mother of Jesus
21 Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession." 23 Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, "Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us." 24 He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel." 25 The woman came and knelt before him. "Lord, help me!" she said. 26 He replied, "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs." 27 "Yes, Lord," she said, "but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." 28 Then Jesus answered, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." And her daughter was healed from that very hour. Matthew 15:21-28
What lessons do we learn from this nameless mother?
1. We learn a lesson in love (v. 22)
The mother comes to Jesus with a desperate for her daughter. The girl was plagued with the ongoing presence of a demon. The grim reality is that the mother no hope of healing for her daughter. The mother had obviously heard about Jesus and His ability to heal diseases and cast out demons. The love of this mother moves her to action and seeking out Jesus.
The woman loves her daughter so much that she was willing to seek out Jesus and do whatever it took to get Jesus to help her. Notice what the mother does:
She asks for mercy
The woman appeals to the compassion of Jesus and pleads with Him out her own heart of compassion.
She acknowledges Jesus as the Messiah
The woman accepted the identity of Jesus when many Jews did not. She calls Jesus Lord and Son of David. Both of these titles signal the identity of the Messiah. Lord is a direct title of Christ or messiach in Hebrew which means messiah. Son of David was a title that would be given to the true messiah. The woman gives Jesus a double acknowledgement to reveal the depth of her faith.
Love is fuel for life
When life gets rough - love gives strength
When life gets tough - love gives power
When life lets you down - love gives encouragement
When life seems empty - love gives meaning
When life gets mundane - love gives enthusiasm
When life seems sad - love gives joy
When life gets confusing - love gives clarity
Love is at the center of our new life in Christ. Jesus shows us His divine love through dying on the cross. Jesus loved us enough to put that love into action. It is the love of Christ that paved the way of salvation through His blood and body. The active love of Jesus allows us to look forward to eternity.
2. We learn a lesson in persistence
The disciples saw the woman as a problem to be solved. They were trying to do the work of Jesus and this woman was getting in the way and causing problems. Notice what they say to Jesus: send her away, for she keeps shouting at us. The reality is that the disciples completely missed the point of ministry. The woman was part of the reason they came to Tyre and Sidon.
Jesus did not answer the woman immediately but He was not ignoring her. There is a lesson here for the woman and the disciples. When Jesus waits to answer it gives the woman, He allows the woman to continue to pursue her faith. Jesus uses this opportunity to teach the disciples about persistence.
The woman was unwilling to give up. She kept on seeking Jesus and refused to give up until he answered. Many times people start seeking Jesus but give up when the answer comes too slowly. People start seeking Jesus and stop when they do not get what they want. Part of the lesson that Jesus teaches here is to not give up. The woman was willing to be persistent and continue to seek Jesus.
Persistence is stubbornness with a purpose – Rich DeVoss
We learn the value of being persistent. Perseverance or endurance is a key quality in our walk with God. The ability to keep on keeping on during difficulties is essential to personal and spiritual growth. There is no way to get through the daily rigors of life without developing a sense of perseverance.
Those words apply to the Christian life as well. We should never give up trying to do something greater for Christ’s Kingdom. We should never think that there is nothing for us to accomplish. We should never think that quitting is the answer.
3. We learn a lesson in humility
The woman comes to Jesus and falls before Him. Before anything more can be said, the woman is on her knees pleading to Jesus. Jesus again makes His mission clear that He has come to spread the gospel to the Jews first and then the gentiles. The story that Jesus uses about the dinner table is not about the dog but about the children. The priority is going to be feeding the children and not the dogs.
Notice the response of the woman: even the dogs eat the crumbs from the masters table. The woman is saying that even the crumbs His power is enough. The crumbs of his ability can solve her problem. The woman was willing to take whatever Jesus was willing to give her and that would be enough. The woman not only trusted in the power of Jesus but also in the compassion of Jesus.
We learn the proper attitude to approach Jesus from this woman. We need to humble ourselves before Him. We need to be willing to bow in His presence and focus on Him. We must be willing to surrender our pride, our will and our attitude to the Lordship of Jesus.
4. We learn a lesson in faith
Jesus proclaims the faith of this nameless woman. He not only acknowledges her faith but he grants her request. Jesus listens to the woman because of her humility and persistence. He answers her request because of her faith. Persistence without faith is worthless and humility without faith is pointless. Jesus spurs on this woman’s faith and she focused that faith on Jesus.
We face challenges that can help to stretch and strengthen our faith. We face issues and people that might deter us in our seeking Jesus. However, Jesus makes it clear that we must be willing to press on. When we focus our faith on Jesus, we must keep on seeking Him and His face.
When circumstances cause us distress – press on
When people cause us to be discouraged – press on
When problems cause us to be dismayed – press on
When obstacles cause us to doubt – press on
No matter what we face, Christ can and will see us through – press on
