Sixth Sunday of Easter Mother s Day May 10, 2015 10:15 am Rev. Todd Goldschmidt, Pastor Sermon Text: John 19:25-27 Sermon Theme: Our Dying Lord s Undying Love Text: John 19:25-27 New International Version (NIV) 25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, Woman, [a] here is your son, 27 and to the disciple, Here is your mother. From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. (425) 868-9404 - www.lhlc.org, pastortodd@lhlc.org Page 1 of 5
The relationship between mother and child is so close that God even compares it to the relationship between Christ and His Church. In fact, He does so in this month s memory verse. He pledges in Isaiah 66:3: As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you. The same tender, loving bond existed between our Savior, Jesus, and His mother, Mary. We ll explore that relationship on this Mother s Day, and also take a look at how Jesus relationship with sinners like us is characterized by that same unconditional love! Jesus, Our Dying Lord had Undying Love for His Mother and For Us! Talk about a tumultuous childhood! Let s look back at what Jesus first few formative years were like. Even before He was born, the heavenly Father dispatched winged messengers from heaven to announce His impending arrival. Mighty Gabriel appeared to a young Jewish virgin and proclaimed the startling news that the Lord had chosen her to be the mother of His long-promised Son, the Savior of mankind! The Holy Spirit would accomplish the miracle of His immaculate conception. But how would Mary explain her pregnancy to her fiancée? God took care of that detail, too. While godly Joseph had in mind to divorce Mary quietly so as not to expose her to public disgrace (Matt. 1:19), God wanted this Galilean carpenter to have a steadying hand in the raising of His Son; to serve as Jesus role model. So An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins (Matt. 1:20-21). The adventure had just begun for these pious newlyweds! Jehovah orchestrated world events so that His ancient prophecies about the Messiah would be fulfilled to the letter. You re familiar with the traditional Christmas Gospel from Luke 2. We could probably recite it in unison even the children: In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn (vv. 1-7). Ah, this tender, tranquil scene depicted in crèches for centuries transpired that first Christmas night in a lowly stable. Mother Mary cradled her newborn son as He nursed in her arms, tears of joy streaming down her cheeks as she rejoiced with Joseph at the gift of a healthy baby boy. The bond between mother and child that was formed while He was still in the womb, burst into life now that He d entered the world. (425) 868-9404 - www.lhlc.org, pastortodd@lhlc.org Page 2 of 5
His parents knew their Son was unique but had no idea exactly what that would mean for them or for Him. They were as clueless as all parents are about how their children s lives will turn out despite the hopes and dreams of Mom and Dad. What did this young Jewish couple think when a group of unshorn shepherds showed up later that night to worship their infant son herdsmen who told them that a heavenly choir had sung His praises to them above the nearby Judean hills? His mother Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart, Luke informs us. Before the young family settled into a regular routine in their ancestral hometown, they made a trip to the temple: On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived (2:21). Thirty-two days later, they made that six mile trip again, to offer a sacrifice for Mary s purification and also to redeem their firstborn Son; to buy Him back from fulltime service in the public ministry. Levi s descendants would serve in His place according to God s law. While there, a devout, Spirit-filled Jew named Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, Sovereign Lord, as you have promised me, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel. Jesus parents marveled at what Simeon said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul, too (2:28-35). Upon their return to Bethlehem, the couple enjoyed the first full year of marriage getting to know each other, exploring their hopes and dreams and learning the intimate details of each other s distinct personalities. That s the way God set it up under the old covenant. What a wise way for a couple to start off their new life together! Relatives thrilled to watch little Jesus take His first tentative steps, mouth His first word most likely אמא (momma in Hebrew) and eat His first mushed up matzo balls. But the family s daily routine was turned on its head once again sometime around Jesus first birthday. An exotic camel caravan arrived at their doorstep. Leathery Persian Wisemen had followed a star across the desert sands, first to Herod s palace and then to David s City, where it stopped over the place where the child was. Imagine what Joseph thought when he opened the door to their humble home, a wide-eyed Jesus peeking out from behind his sturdy leg! And Jesus mother, too, as he scampered back into her waiting arms! Matthew writes that when the Magi saw the child with his mother Mary... they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh (2:9-11) worship and wealth worthy of the King of kings! Practically speaking, those riches would prove to be an invaluable source of income for the family almost overnight. For after the Magi left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. Get up, he said, take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod (425) 868-9404 - www.lhlc.org, pastortodd@lhlc.org Page 3 of 5
is going to search for the child to kill him. So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod... After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child s life are dead (2:12-14; 19-20). It might ve been five years earlier that a very-pregnant Mary and her husband Joseph headed out from Nazareth to take part in the Empire-wide census. Picture the scene as they crested the final rise into that mountain village and entered its outskirts. Word travelled fast: Hey, remember that carpenter Joseph and his wife Mary? They re back! And they have a son with them! His mother said His name is Jesus. Nearly the whole town turned out to welcome them home and to listen, for days on end, to their amazing adventures. Joseph un-boarded his carpentry shop, dusted off his workbench, oiled his tools, hung up his shingle, and started sawing boards and pounding nails once more. Pounding nails. Mary winced at that sound that had once made her feel so comfortable and cared for in Nazareth when her Son, Jesus, was growing up. He d become a talented, hard-working carpenter just like her dear, departed husband Joseph. But these nails were being pounded into her Son s wrists and ankles by uncouth Roman soldiers. Their vulgar mocking mixed in with the jeers of Jesus enemies who d gathered nearby like vultures on a freshly-killed carcass. Don t you know who you re crucifying? Mary thought as she sobbed in anguish. Don t you care that you re killing my firstborn Son? Has your unbelief so blinded you to the truth that you re murdering the Savior of the world your Savior, too? Jesus hung on that cross, beat up, bruised and battered; naked as the day He was born; mocked and humiliated like some no-account laughing-stock. But When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, Woman, here is your son, and to the disciple, Here is your mother. From that time on, this disciple took her into his home (John 19:26-27). Jesus is a Son any mother would love! Not long before His death, Jesus proclaimed to His disciples, the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many (Matt. 20:28). And so while Jesus mother Mary mourned His passing that day, she also realized deep down in her anguished soul that her Son was God s Son, too: fully God and fully man in one unique Person. And she also knew, by Spirit-worked faith, that He was her Savior from sin as well a Deliverer she desperately needed; a Rescuer without Whom she, too, would perish in hell for all eternity. And this mother s son, this Jesus, is our Savior from sin as well! We needed Him to come in fulfillment of that promise made to the first mother on earth, to Eve, and to her believing descendants that one day in the future a Champion would arrive on the scene to reverse the curse that Satan had brought into God s perfectly harmonious creation. God warned the devil that day, He that promised Redeemer will crush your head but you will strike his heel (Gen. 3:15). (425) 868-9404 - www.lhlc.org, pastortodd@lhlc.org Page 4 of 5
Jesus, the Christ of God, fulfilled that first gospel promise on His cross when He cried out in victory, It is finished! (John 19:31). Your sins; my sins; His mother Mary s sins; and the sins of every human being who has ever or will ever grace the face of this fallen earth were paid for in full that day when the Lamb of God offered Himself up as a sinless sacrifice! Three days later Jesus of Nazareth rose triumphant from the grave! The tomb is empty! Death and hell are vanquished! We are redeemed! In the joy and courage that good news provides, God encourages us to make the most of every opportunity (Eph. 5:16) He provides to share that message of salvation with others. Even better than cards and flowers, a fancy dinner out or a day of pampering for mom at a local salon, let your mom know on this Mother s Day that you re thankful for her love, especially her love for Mary s Son, Jesus. It s my hope that your mom taught you about Jesus from little on. And if your mom already passed from this life to the next, say a prayer of thanks to God for the years you had together and for the time you ll spend catching up in heaven. Imagine the memories Jesus and His mother, Mary, continue to make in their eternal home! Amen. (425) 868-9404 - www.lhlc.org, pastortodd@lhlc.org Page 5 of 5