Following Jesus in the School of Love: Discipleship, Mothering, and the Heart of God
Mothering Sunday Sermon
Introduction — A Day of Celebration and Reflection
Today we gather for an all-age Mothering Sunday service. For some, this day is filled with joy and gratitude. For others, it carries memories, longing, or even pain. Some celebrate mothers, some miss mothers, some long to be mothers, and some carry wounds connected to family.
Yet the beauty of the Gospel is this: God meets every person exactly where they are.
Mothering Sunday is not merely about celebrating human motherhood — it is about recognising the heart of God revealed through love, nurture, sacrifice, and discipleship. The Church itself is called to be a nurturing family, raising disciples who follow Jesus faithfully.
Today we ask: What does it mean to follow Jesus in a world desperate for true love and spiritual nurture?
John 19:25–27 (NLT): “Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, ‘Dear woman, here is your son.’ And he said to this disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ And from then on this disciple took her into his home.”
This moment occurs at the cross — the darkest hour in human history and the brightest moment of divine love. Jesus is suffering physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Yet even in agony, He notices His mother.
Crucifixion was designed for humiliation and prolonged suffering. Victims often struggled to breathe. Yet Jesus speaks with clarity and compassion.
The phrase “Dear woman” is respectful, not cold. It echoes the same term Jesus used at Cana (John 2), signalling the completion of His earthly mission.
Jesus entrusts Mary to John, forming a new family rooted not in biology but in discipleship.
At the cross we see:
The compassion of Christ
The formation of spiritual family
The model of discipleship rooted in sacrificial love
Even while saving the world, Jesus cares for individual people.
Point 1 — Discipleship Begins with Christ-Shaped Love
John 13:34–35 (NLT): “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
The Greek word for love here is agape — self-giving, sacrificial love. This is not emotion alone; it is deliberate action.
Jesus says discipleship is recognised not by knowledge, status, or performance — but by love.
Mothering reflects this agape love:
Sacrifice without applause
Faithfulness in ordinary moments
Nurture that shapes lives over time
In a culture obsessed with self-promotion, Jesus calls us to self-giving love.
John Piper wrote: “Love is the overflow of joy in God that gladly meets the needs of others.”
That is the heartbeat of Christian discipleship. When Christ fills us, love overflows naturally — not as duty but as delight.
Think of a mother teaching a child to walk. She bends low, holds out her hands, and celebrates every step — even the wobbly ones. That is how God disciples us. He does not despise our small beginnings.
Point 2 — God Reveals Himself Through Mother-Like Compassion
Isaiah 66:13 (NLT): “I will comfort you there in Jerusalem as a mother comforts her child.”
Isaiah speaks to exiles longing for restoration. God uses maternal imagery to communicate His tenderness.
The Hebrew word nacham (comfort) carries the idea of deep consolation — soothing grief and restoring strength.
God’s compassion is not distant. He draws near.
Many in today’s world feel unseen — especially in a fast, digital culture where connection is shallow. Yet God comforts personally.
Max Lucado said: “God loves you just the way you are, but He refuses to leave you that way.”
Mother-like compassion does not ignore truth; it nurtures growth. God comforts us so that we may mature in Christ.
A child wakes from a nightmare and runs to their mother. The fear disappears not because the room changes, but because someone loving is present. The Gospel tells us God steps into our darkness.
Point 3 — Discipleship Creates a New Family in Christ
Mark 3:33–35 (NLT): “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” Jesus asked. Then he looked at those around him and said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers. Anyone who does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”
Jesus is not rejecting His earthly family; He is expanding the definition of family.
The idea of household in the ancient world meant identity, protection, and belonging. Jesus creates a spiritual household.
Mothering Sunday reminds us:
The Church mothers the young in faith
Older believers nurture younger disciples
No one should walk alone
Tim Keller wrote: “The Gospel creates a new community where people who would never naturally belong together become family.”
That is the miracle of the Church — we are united not by bloodlines but by the blood of Christ.
Point 4 — The Ultimate Picture of Love: The Gospel
Romans 5:8 (NLT): “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”
Gospel Explanation
At the cross:
Jesus died for our sins
He was buried
He rose again on the third day
This is not merely an example of love — it is salvation.
Sin separates us from God. No amount of good parenting, good deeds, or religion can save us. Only Jesus can.
The Greek word hamartia (sin) means missing the mark — falling short of God’s holiness.
Christ takes our place so we can be forgiven.
Charles Stanley said: “The cross demonstrates both the seriousness of our sin and the immeasurable love of God.”
Mothering love points us toward something greater — the love of Christ who lays down His life for His children.
21st-Century Relevance
We live in a world of:
Broken families
Digital isolation
Identity confusion
Performance pressure
Jesus calls us back to something timeless:
Real love
Real community
Real discipleship
Children today need spiritual examples more than ever. Adults need reminding that worth is not measured by success but by grace.
Gospel Invitation — A Call to Salvation
Friend, perhaps you have known religion but not relationship with Jesus.
Today, hear this clearly:
Jesus died for you.
Jesus rose for you.
Jesus invites you to follow Him.
Repent — turn from sin and self-rule.
Trust Jesus as Saviour and Lord.
You can pray: “Lord Jesus, I believe You died for me and rose again. Forgive my sins. I turn to You and place my trust in You. Be my Saviour and my Lord.”
Call to Action for Believers
Love intentionally — practise Christ-like love at home and in church.
Disciple someone — spiritual mothering and fathering matters.
Receive God’s comfort — stop carrying burdens alone.
Live visibly for Christ — let your love point people to Jesus.
Conclusion
Church family, may we become a people shaped by the love of Christ — nurturing, faithful, and courageous. May mothers be encouraged, may those who grieve be comforted, and may every disciple grow deeper in the grace of Jesus.
Let us walk from this place knowing that we are loved by God, called into His family, and sent to reflect His heart to the world.
May the Lord bless you and keep you, may His love strengthen you, and may your lives reveal Jesus — the true Shepherd, Saviour, and King. Amen.
