Some of us are blessed to still have our mothers, while others’ moms have passed on, but one thing is certain: all of us have been influenced by our precious mother.
Abraham Lincoln once said, ”No one is poor who had a godly mother.” He went on to add, ”I remember my mother’s prayers and they have followed me; they have clung to me all my life. All that I am and hope to be I owe to my angel Mother.”
Abraham Lincoln recognized the greatness in a loving mother and so did Jesus.
Jesus spoke seven times while He was upon the cross. His first word was a prayer, asking God to forgive His enemies. His second word was a promise to the dying thief. His third word was to His mother and John, the beloved disciple.
To his mother Jesus says, ”Behold thy son,” and to John, He says, ”Behold thy mother.” Let us picture the scene for a moment. Three heavy-laden crosses stand upon Calvary’s hill. Jesus, the Son of God, hangs upon the central cross.
The mob jeers, the soldiers gamble, and the religious leaders rejoice. Jesus looks down and sees His mother standing near the cross, the disciple John by her side. Jesus now lifts His voice and says to His mother, ”Woman, look at John. From now on He will be your son.” Then He speaks to John, ”John, from now on she is to be your mother.” From that time on, John took Mary to his own home.
Jesus lived a full life. He discharged fully His duties to man and God. He was not willing to die and leave anything undone that He ought to do, including arrangements for His mother’s future. We just witnessed Jesus setting a wonderful example.
When God gave the Ten Commandments, He gave us instructions as to how we should feel and act toward our parents. Exodus 20:12 says,
”Honor thy father and thy mother that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.”
In conjunction, we have Paul’s admonition in Ephesians 6:1-2,
”Children, obey your parents in the Lord; for this is right. Honor thy father and mother which is the first commandment with promise.”
Even in the darkest hour of His life, Jesus stopped long enough to do the right thing concerning His mother. Even while He was on the cross, bearing the weight of the sins of the whole world upon His shoulders, He took time for his Mother.
God bless Mothers everywhere.
-Pastor Tim Hart
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