Moms, could you imagine being the mother of Jesus? What do you do with a perfectly obedient child? Before we begin today, let us make sure we are discussing the mother of Jesus who is found in the Bible. There is a profound disagreement between Catholics and Baptists regarding Jesus’ mother. Baptists stress we must have biblical view, rather than a superstitious view of Mary. This is because Mary is not the “Queen of Heaven”; she is a sinner saved by grace (Eph 2:8-9). You do not consecrate yourself to Mary because you must be wholly devoted to the Lord our God (1 Kings 8:61). You must not pray to Mary or ask her to be an advocate because Jesus tells us to pray in His name to the Father (John 14:13) and that the Holy Spirit is our advocate (John 14:26). Let us cast off any unbiblical views of Mary because the Bible is sufficient. According to the Bible, Mary was a pious Jewish woman who sought to always magnify the Lord (Luke 1:46). On this Mother’s Day, we shall look at four (4) key events in Mary’s life and see that she is an example of a godly mother who:
- Does not abandon you during trials (John 19:25). The darkest day on earth was the day Jesus died on the cross. Where was Jesus’ mother? We are told that “standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother and His mother’s sister…and Mary Magdalene.” Mary loved Jesus greatly and even though all the disciples had fled in the melee, Mary did not abandon Jesus during the most difficult time of His life on earth. A godly mother loves Christ and does not flee trouble, but helps.
- Encourages to fulfill God’s calling (John 2:3-5). Mary, Jesus, and Jesus’ disciples were at a wedding in Cana in Galilee. When “the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.” This is a problem because it is a great embarrassment for the host. R.C. Sproul said that it was not only embarrassing, but “there is evidence that in the ancient Jewish world, if provisions such as this failed, the groom could face a lawsuit.” (Commentary on John). So we can detect a plea in Mary’s voice when she says, “They have no wine.” Jesus turned water into wine in order to help the family but also in order to show His power as the Messiah. This is significant because “this, the first of His signs, Jesus did…and manifested His glory. And His disciples believed in Him.” A godly mother knows your potential and that God has good work for you to do.
- Submits herself to God (Luke 1:38). When Mary was told by the angel Gabriel that she—a virgin—would have a son, she replied: “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” Mary submitted herself to the will of God for her life. She embraced it and found peace in whatever God brought into her life. A godly mother lives her life for Christ and submits herself to Him.
- Believes Jesus is the Christ (Acts 1:14). After Jesus’ ascension, where do we find Mary? She is with the other disciples “with one accord…devoting themselves to prayer.” The one thing that Mary was most convinced of, was that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. While there is not a lot of information recorded in the Bible about Mary, the consistent witness of Mary is that the emphasis is always on Jesus. A godly mother is known for her emphasis on Jesus.
Mother’s Day is, for many, a joyful day to celebrate with a godly woman who has always sought to magnify the Lord through her words and actions. For some, today may be a bittersweet day as you remember your mother who has passed away. Still others may not find much for rejoicing because of the strenuous relationship you have with your mother. Let all of us this day rejoice and commit ourselves to magnifying the Lord through our words and actions.
First Baptist Scott City, MO 