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“I Love You, Mom” Screen 2 John 19:25-27 March 1, 2020

Since the beginning of 2020, we have been discussing the first family – Adam and Eve. Husbands and wives dynamic from Genesis 3, “The Fall” and its consequences on marriage relationships (which is unspeakably horrible)! We still reel from it every day . . . In Genesis 4, we talked about their boys, Cain and Able, brothers with two very different paths/personalities in life . . . Cain murdered his brother and went on to continue a godless pursuit of happiness (which he never got apart from God). But, because God is a God of new beginnings, in Genesis 5, righteous Seth is born to a godly and a godly line begins, which results in the birth of Noah, the greatest father of the ancient world.

In Genesis 6 and 7 we read about how after preaching for 120 years (Genesis 6:3; 2 Peter 2:15) no one followed/no one listened except the most important people in his world – his wife, his sons Shem, Ham and Japheth and their wives.

I want to be the kind of father that no mater how crazy my message sounds, because of my strong relationships –the trust my children have in me—that they will follow me (just like Noah’s kids did).

Now, though today is not Mother’s Day (we still have almost three months to go before then), we need to talk about Mothers – Moms and the Mom we need to zero in on is none other than Maty, a direct descendant of Sham, son of Noah.

PRAY HERE

There are seven sayings of the Savior - - - on the cross: Screen 3

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1. “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” :34

(10 words) – The Word of Forgiveness

2. “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” – Luke 23:43 (13 words) – The Word of Salvation

Today 3. “Woman, behold your son!” – John 19:26 “…behold your mother” – John Screen 4 19:27 (7 words) – The Word of Affection have you 4. “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” – :46 (9 words) – The Word of Anguish

5. “I thirst.” – John 19:28 (2 words) – The Word of Suffering Screen 5

6. “It is finished.” – John 19:30 (3 words) – The Word of Victory your 7. “Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit.” – Luke 23:46 (8 words) – The Word of Contentment

Total of: 3 recorded in Luke (#1, #2, #7)

3 recorded in John (#3, #5, #6)

1 recorded in Matthew (#4) [repeated in :34]

If today were your last day on Earth – of what would you speak?

If you had six hours to live – what would you say? (speak of?)

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These are the subjects in the last six hours of his life (from the cross before the resurrection): Forgiveness, salvation, affection, anguish, suffering, victory, contentment.

Listen to them, learn from them . . . (meditate on them, mull over them . . .)

LET’S PRAY

John 19:25-27 25 but standing by the cross of were his mother and his Screen 6 mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and . 26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, Screen 7 your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

Like her son, Mary was not unacquainted with grief (Pink, “The Seven Sayings of the Savior on the Cross”, p. 55) From the moment she enters the Scriptures, there is pain and controversy:

Luke 1:28-29 28 And he (Gabriel) came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored Screen 8 one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she (just a kid) was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.

This was just the beginning of many troubles. Though Mary would be the most blessed of all women, she would undergo great suffering to be the Mother of our Lord. (She is the most painted woman in history – we have no clue what she looked like.) Her reputation among the community would be terrible from that day forward. (She had gotten pregnant during her betrothal/engagement, by someone other than her betrothed.) She most likely gave up her marriage

3 ceremony – which was considered the greatest day of her life – to be obedient to

God’s will for her life: Screen 9

Luke 1:38 And Mary said, “Behold, the servant (literally bond-servant, i.e. “he owns me”) of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the departed from her.

• She probably had a private wedding ceremony that none of her family Screen 10 attended – because of the circumstances.

• Then, there was no room in the inn.

• Herod’s rampage to destroy the child, the fleeing to Egypt for months – possibly years.

• Then, she had watched him grow up and never really completely understood (what humans could) who he was or his mission.

But one thing could never be said of this woman [say respectfully] she never left her son’s side. She is the epitome of a mother’s love! She stuck to her son like glue – even when he was out and about teaching/preaching/healing/and saving the world (what every boy wants to do)! Screen 11 Matthew 12:46-50 46 While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him [47 not in ESV] 48 But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and Screen 12 who are my brothers?” 49 And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

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And now, she and three of her closest friends/family –(Salome *the mother of James and John * - Jesus’ cousins) “his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene” are standing by the cross of Jesus … Christ was the man of sorrows, was she not the woman of sorrows? Three Mary’s and one Salome – My mom always sat to my right, down front, every Sunday at Noonday Baptist Church. I picture Mary to Jesus’ right that day. Screen 14 Six “sees” and one “discovery” from this saying:

1. Here we see the fulfillment of Simeon’s prophecy.

Luke 2:29-35 29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant (literally

“bondservant”) depart in peace, according to your word; 30 for my eyes Screen 15 have seen your salvation 31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” 33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said

about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, Screen 16 “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

When Simeon had said those words, how unlikely they seemed → but here as Mary stands at the cross, they were totally and completely fulfilled. From the birth narrative to the flight to Egypt → to Jesus at 12 years old in the temple, Mary was in the forefront of Jesus’ life and the Scriptures then apart from her presence at Jesus’ first miracle in of , she fades into the background. But NOW, at this very hour, she emerges from the shadows and stands in the

5 shadow of her son’s cross! Here, we see displayed the mother’s heart. She’s the dying man’s mother. She was the one who first planted kisses on that brow now crowned with thorns. (ibid. Pink p. 57). She taught him how to walk, talk. She potty trained him! She held him when he cried, and she will not leave him now. Listen closely to this: There was no wild outcry of uncontrollable anguish, no fainting. Not a word fell from her lips that are recorded for us by the four evangelists! Apparently, she suffered in unbroken silence. “Still waters run deep.”

“The Greatest Life of All” by Charles Swindoll – Pages 219-222 inserted here → Screen 17

She doesn’t crouch away, she doesn’t faint, she does not shrink to the ground – SHE STANDS (I believe she was the strongest woman who ever lived!) UNBELIEVABLE COURAGE – Women of Rockdale – emulate Mary!

2. Here we see the perfect man setting an example for children to honor Screen 18 their parents. (Mary is probably 46, maybe 47 – Jesus is about 33.)

Exodus 20:12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may Screen 19 be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.”

Ephesians 6:1-3 1 “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is Screen 20 right. 2 “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”

“Honor” does not just mean to obey, but it also includes love, affection, gratitude and respect. This is not just for small children – but for children of all ages.

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Hear me – our obligation to honor our parents does not cease when you and I become adults. We are never to say: “I obeyed you growing up, now I’m going to live my life the way I want to!”

You and I owe our parents a debt we cannot fully repay – our very lives! Jesus chose as the Son of God to be born of a woman and submitted himself to both of his parents.

Jesus’ first recorded words in the were toward his mother: Screen 21

Luke 2:49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?”

(12 year old; 50 year old) When Jesus makes this reply to his mother, he does not rebuke her! (Jesus never rebuked his mother in the Scriptures because he never rebuked her! If anyone ever had the right to rebuke his parents, it was Jesus and he never got onto them – either one!) Screen 22

Luke 2:51 And he went down with them and came to and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.

Let me make a point perfectly clear here:

*Notice with me that Jesus never in any of the , refers to Mary as “Mother.”* When he addresses her, he always uses the term ‘WOMAN” – which is the equivalent of “Ma’am” today. Jesus did this to avoid giving credence to “Mariolatry” – the idolatry of rendering to Mary the homage that is due her Son: the idolatry of worshipping her as “The Mother of God.” When Jesus does refer to

7 his Mother as “Woman” – it is both times in John’s , the gospel that presents and focuses in on the deity of Christ. While she gave birth to the Son of God, Mary is not the “Mother of God.” Screen 23 Luke 11:27-28 27 As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” 28 But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”

Jesus rebukes those that wanted to elevate Mary to a place of extraordinary veneration. Christ’s mother did not carry special titles such as Comediatrix, queen of heaven, or any othe other forms of deification medieval superstition has attached to the popular concept of Mary (John MacArthur, “The Murder of Jesus.” P. 217).

• Our Lord’s act of commending Mary to the care of John is better understood in the light of his mother’s widowhood. “A crucified man has the right to make testamentary dispositions, even from the cross. Jesus now makes use of this right, and with the official formula of the old Jewish family law he places his mother under the protection of the apostle John (George Murray, “Word Biblical Commentary,” p. 349)

Inserted pages →

We assume Joseph had died somewhere between Jesus’ 12-30th birthdays! Jesus is going to make absolute sure – legally that his mother is taken care of, when he dies.

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What about you and me today?

Proverbs 23:22 Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not Screen 24 despise your mother when she is old.

3. Here we see that John had returned to the Savior’s side. Screen 25

Matthew 26:56 But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the Screen 26 prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.

The upholding power of God was withdrawn from those (very) young men (the Holy DSpirit had not been given yet)!

Matthew 26:31 Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because Screen 27 of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’”- “because of me” - can be translated “scandalized”

They all left him. Screen 28

John 18:19 The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.

Caiaphas wanted to know names and the number of disciples, but Jesus did not open his mouth to “throw them under the bus,” even though they had just “thrown him under the bus!”

Interesting → they had NEVER done this before – NONE OF THE 11! (None of the 12 – not even Judas before the very end.) They would NEVER do it again. Read your () and your history! It was God’s will to protect

9 them, that they scattered. (A unique response to a totally unique circumstance! God always uses our mess-ups, doesn’t He? ) John was the first and the only of the 11 true disciples to show up at the cross and Jesus does not rebuke him → wondrous grace bestows upon him an unspeakable privilege!

➢ Has anyone here wandered away from the Savior today? If so, why not return IMMEDIATELY and He will greet you with a warm welcome! And, who knows, maybe He has some great honor to bestow upon you! I love this.

4. Here we DISCOVER an illustration of Christ’s prudence. Screen 29

(Lord’s personality) – She may not have fully understood his mission, but she did understand his personality.

None understood the Lord as well as his mother (“a mother knows”).

None understood the love of Christ as deeply as John (the disciple/apostle of Love).

Jesus could have given his mother to one of his brothers (1/2 brother, but brothers none the less – Joseph, Mary).

Matthew 13:55 Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Screen 30 Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? (or Jude – New Testament book)

Mark 6:3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James Screen 31 and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.

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“Judas” is the same as Jude – next to last book of the New Testament. The reason Jesus did not entrust his mother to one of his brothers is because they were not yet believers. Screen 32 :5 For not even his brothers believed in him.

They became believers after the resurrection! John would love Mary the best/most – in a Christ-like manner! Notice in verse 27 it says, “And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.” John got Mary out of that horrid scene, quickly, so she would not have to bear the final moments of Jesus’ agony.

IT WAS THE CORRECT DECISION!

5. Here we see that spiritual relationships must not ignore the Scree 33 responsibilities of nature. Jesus is right in the middle of becoming sin and paying the eternal penalty for the sins of the world and he still takes time to take care of his mother.

• No duty, no work, however important it may be, can excuse us from discharging the obligations of nature, from caring for those who have “fleshly claims upon us” (Pink, p. 67).

• Preachers, missionaries, MEN/WOMAN who neglect their own families (parents, husbands, wives, children, etc.) to care for someone else’s (parent, husband, wife, child, etc.) ARE NOT FOLLOWING THE STEPS OF THE SAVIOR!

“60-70-80 HOURS FOR WORK; 10 HOURS WITH YOUR FAMJILY AND YOUR FAMILY IS YOUR MAIN PRIORITY!!! You will be fired in 20 seconds at your job if you become inconvenient. . .”

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(Sometimes we need to hear “You have time for everyone else, but you don’t have time for us.” Wendy – about five years ago.) – GET VERY PERSONAL HERE –

6. Here we see a universal need exemplified. Screen 34

How different the Mary of Scripture is from the Mary of superstition!

(NO IMMACULATE CONCEPTION) She was no proud Madonna (Pink, p. 67) – but like each of us. A member of the fallen race, a sinner by nature and choice.

Luke 1:46-47 46 And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my Screen 35 spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

Notice: “God my Savior” - She was a sinner needing a Savior in the shadow of her Savior’s cross! Her Son became her Savior that day! The word “behold” is used in both phrases from Jesus → but salvation comes from “beholding Jesus” (“behold the man” – Pilate “behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world” – John the Baptizer)

“There is life in a look.” Have you looked to Jesus and been saved?

7. Here we see the marvelous blending of Christ’s perfections. Screen 36

ALL GOD – ALL MAN This is one of the greatest wonders of his person – the blending of the most perfect human affection with His divine glory. The very gospel that shows Jesus to be all God is here careful to prove that he is all man – the Word made flesh.

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He's never too busy saving the world, that he doesn’t have time to take care of his family – his mother. (If Joseph had been there he would have taken care of him, too.)

Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the Screen 37 government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

“Wonderful he was in all he did. Wonderful he was in every relationship that he sustained. Wonderful he was in his person, and wonderful in his work. Wonderful in his life, and wonderful in his death. Let us wonder and adore. (ibid, p. 69).”

• Salvation

• Rededication – of your effort to take care of your parents (if you have them)

• Church Membership – you come and this church will take care of you – love you, support you. . . Screen 38 Prayer and Invitation

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