This past Sunday was Mother’s Day, and I had the privilege of preaching to moms about moms from the Bible. If you would like to listen/watch it you can find it here.

Now, it may be blatantly obvious, but I am not a mother. My first sermon point, “A Mother is a Woman” supports that fact. Mother’s Day is not an easy topic to handle and I acknowledge it is a very difficult day for many. Even while preparing, it was hard to capture all the social and emotional baggage that goes along with “Motherhood”. In the Bible mothers suffer from a variety of pains: infertility, family drama and violence, death of a spouse, adultery, rebellious children, and it goes on. And that’s just sticking to the biblical story, not even venturing into the messy lives of those reading this post. 

Pierced by Motherhood

I mentioned in my message that the Bible does not have rose-coloured glasses on when it comes to motherhood or womanhood. It is a battle from the very beginning for women and mothers to follow God’s design and stay hopeful in the face of trials. One of the passages I used in my message was Luke 2:34-35,

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

Mary is told on the day of her son’s dedication, a day of celebration, that a “sword will pierce through her own soul” when it comes to her baby boy. Not only was her son destined to be pierced (Isaiah 53:5), but Mary was to be pierced through the heart watching her son’s life and ministry move toward God’s plan of the cross. There’s a Christmas song that says that Jesus was a “baby born to die”, and Mary was a mother born to watch it all happen.

33 or so years later we see this prophecy fulfilled ultimately in John 19:25-27,

So the soldiers did these things, but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

This passage not only highlights the love of biological family members but highlights the beautiful and godly love that the family of God shares regardless of biological connection.

Such a beautiful picture of the love a mother and son share. But this passage not only highlights the love of biological family members but highlights the beautiful and godly love that the family of God shares regardless of biological connection.

The Family of God

Mother’s Day is a hard day for many. And one of the ways it hurts people is by putting a clear dividing line between those who are mothers and those who are not. 

I can still remember a Mother’s Day when I was leading worship at our church. At the beginning of the service I asked all the mothers to stand up so we could celebrate them with applause. In the second row, where she always is, was a wonderful woman of God now heading into her 104th year. A woman many in our church call Grandma. At my invitation I saw her rise ever so slightly from her seat then roll her eyes and sit back down to celebrate the mothers. She and her late husband had never had children, though she was a mother and grandmother to more than any biological family could hope to support. I stood on stage with a sick feeling in my stomach. I still regret not speaking up and inviting her to stand. I learned in that moment that having biological children is not the only way one becomes a “mother” in the family of God.

Jesus knew this reality. He said,

“Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” – Matthew 12:48-50

The Church is not a place where we are defined by our marital or parental status. We are defined by Jesus Christ and his amazing grace that adopts us as brothers and sisters. I owe a great debt to people who have taken on the role of spiritual mother, father, and sibling in my life whether it has been for a season or decades. I look forward to years of growing in love with my spiritual family at our Church. The body of Christ in the Church of Jesus Christ is a true family that will last for eternity.

Jesus hammered this point home emphatically in Matthew 19:29,

“And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.“

If you felt left out on Mother’s Day then know that there is a family table full of mothers, fathers, children, brothers, and sisters waiting for you in God’s kingdom and His Church. The pain is real and comes in so many different shapes and forms. But none of that pain has more power than the cross and love of Jesus. Jesus promises one hundred times as much joy and satisfaction in Him. You are loved, you are valuable, and we need your service, gifts, and love in the family of God.

A Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I pray for all the spiritual mothers. Those who have prayed, served, and cared for your children with the love with which you first loved them. I pray your grace on their hearts and lives, that you would give them a taste of the reward you have for them in your kingdom. Thank you for the sacrifice of love they have given. Continue to build up your Church through the actions of godly women and please do so more and more. You are our perfect Father, please help us rest in your love and grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.