This is the manuscript of the sermon preached at Christ Church on Mother's Day May 12, 2019.
This is not the stereo-typical Mother’s Day sermon. It's a different kind of day sermon that I pray will minister to all of you.
Perhaps the most amazing display of Jesus honoring women happened after Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. Jesus was severely beaten, wrists and feet nailed to a cross until he died. He was buried in a tomb. And on the third day, Jesus left the tomb and came back to life, physically, just as he said he would. The first people Jesus talked to after his resurrection were women.
When you look at how Jesus treated women throughout His earthly ministry it's easy to understand why it is both fitting and proper to honor Jesus on this Mother's Day.
To hear the audio click on the YouTube image at the end of the manuscript.
Scripture:
Luke 7:36-50 (ESV)36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment,38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.”40 And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”41 “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.42 When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?”43 Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.”44 Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet.46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”49 Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?”50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Mother's Day is a celebration honoring the mother of the family, as well as motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. The modern holiday of Mother's Day was first celebrated in 1908, when Anna Jarvis held a memorial for her mother at St Andrew's Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia. Her campaign to make Mother's Day a recognized holiday in the United States began in 1905, the year her mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis, died. Ann Jarvis had been a peace activist who cared for wounded soldiers on both sides of the American Civil War, and created Mother's Day Work Clubs to address public health issues. Anna Jarvis wanted to honor her mother by continuing the work she started and to set aside a day to honor all mothers because she believed a mother is "the person who has done more for you than anyone in the world".
In 1908, the U.S. Congress rejected a proposal to make Mother's Day an official holiday, joking that they would also have to proclaim a "Mother-in-law's Day". However, by 1911 all U.S. states observed the holiday. In 1914, Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation designating Mother's Day, held on the second Sunday in May, as a national holiday to honor mothers.
I don't know what your relationship is like with your mother. She may not be here any longer. Or you may not have had a strong or healthy connection. This Mother's Day, however, think of someone (your mom, a relative, a teacher or any another godly woman you see as a mentor) who has given you valuable instruction. Let her know how much she has meant to you and what an impact she has made in your life.
This is the manuscript of the sermon preached at Christ Church on May 5, 2019.
This is not the stereo-typical Mother’s Day sermon. It's a different kind of day sermon that I pray will minister to all of you.
Perhaps the most amazing display of Jesus honoring women happened after Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. Jesus was severely beaten, wrists and feet nailed to a cross until he died. He was buried in a tomb. And on the third day, Jesus left the tomb and came back to life, physically, just as he said he would. The first people Jesus talked to after his resurrection were women.
When you look at how Jesus treated women throughout His earthly ministry it's easy to understand why it is both fitting and proper to honor Jesus on this Mother's Day.
To hear the audio click on the YouTube image at the end of the manuscript.
Scripture:
Luke 7:36-50 (ESV)36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment,38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.”40 And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”41 “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.42 When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?”43 Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.”44 Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet.46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”49 Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?”50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Mother's Day is a celebration honoring the mother of the family, as well as motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. The modern holiday of Mother's Day was first celebrated in 1908, when Anna Jarvis held a memorial for her mother at St Andrew's Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia. Her campaign to make Mother's Day a recognized holiday in the United States began in 1905, the year her mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis, died. Ann Jarvis had been a peace activist who cared for wounded soldiers on both sides of the American Civil War, and created Mother's Day Work Clubs to address public health issues. Anna Jarvis wanted to honor her mother by continuing the work she started and to set aside a day to honor all mothers because she believed a mother is "the person who has done more for you than anyone in the world".
In 1908, the U.S. Congress rejected a proposal to make Mother's Day an official holiday, joking that they would also have to proclaim a "Mother-in-law's Day". However, by 1911 all U.S. states observed the holiday. In 1914, Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation designating Mother's Day, held on the second Sunday in May, as a national holiday to honor mothers.
I don't know what your relationship is like with your mother. She may not be here any longer. Or you may not have had a strong or healthy connection. This Mother's Day, however, think of someone (your mom, a relative, a teacher or any another godly woman you see as a mentor) who has given you valuable instruction. Let her know how much she has meant to you and what an impact she has made in your life.
This is the manuscript of the sermon preached at Christ Church on May 5, 2019.
INTRODUCTION
Ask any preacher, “What is the hardest sermon you have to prepare each year” and most will tell you it’s a Mother’s Day sermon, and a Father’s Day sermon is second.
The typical Mother’s Day sermon falls along one of two lines:
One, is to “Celebrate Godly Mothers” and tell you how great and wonderful you are, and how much God loves you, and how blessed we are to have you in our lives. And all those things are certainly true!
The other type of “Mother’s Day” sermon counsels mothers on “How to be a better mother.” These sermons tend to remind a mother of her failures and shortcomings by comparing her to that ideal wife and mother in Proverbs 31 all or a part of it is read every Mother's Day. It's a beautiful description of the godly woman but I'm not going to talk about it today.
Today I’m going to steer clear of the stereo-typical Mother’s Day sermons and preach a different kind of day sermon that I pray will minister to all of you here this morning.
The title of my message this morning is “Honoring Jesus On Mother’s Day.”
Please turn with me in your Bibles to the Gospel of Luke, chapter 7.
Luke 7:36-39 (ESV)36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment,38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.”
When God created woman from the rib of man, GOD viewed the woman as equal in value to the man. She was man’s helpmate she was his partner she completed the man.
Genesis 2:23 (ESV)23 Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.”
Unfortunately, with the passing of time, man’s view of women drastically changed.
It is a well-documented fact that women in the ancient Roman world and Jewish society of Jesus’ day were viewed as “second class citizens.” They were viewed as “the personal property” of the man and were considered of no greater value than a man’s sheep or cattle.
Women were considered inferior to the man intellectually…. physically…..and emotionally. They couldn’t even testify in court trials.
If an unmarried woman wanted to go outside the house she had to get permission from her father. If a married woman wanted to go outside the house she had to get permission from her husband. And in both cases, they were never to appear in public without having their faces “veiled” and they were never to speak to a stranger.
Let's get back to our Scripture.
In our scripture text we see this negative attitude of men towards women on full display.
Jesus had been invited to eat in the home of Simon the Pharisee.
Everyone seated at the table that day was a man.
While they were eating “a woman known to be a sinner” entered the room where all these men were dining and she began to extravagantly worship Jesus.
She anointed Jesus’ feet with a fragrant oil and with her tears, and she wiped Jesus feet with her hair, and she kissed Jesus feet, and anointed them with more of the fragrant oil.
The dinner host, Simon the Pharisee, interrupted this moving scene with these cold, insensitive words (he said them to himself but Jesus knew what he was saying):
Luke 7:39 (ESV)39 ... “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.”
The implication in that statement is that every male in that room knew who this sinful woman was, except Jesus. This woman obviously has a really bad reputation in the community, leading us to believe she was probably a prostitute or an adulteress.
In the eyes of every man in that room that woman had three strikes against her:
STRIKE ONE: She was a WOMAN.
STRIKE TWO: She was a SINFUL woman
STRIKE THREE: She was worshiping JESUS, a man who they despised.
But as we continue on, we see the honorable and respectful way Jesus treated this woman.
Luke 7:40-50 (ESV)40 And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”41 “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.42 When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?”43 Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.”44 Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet.46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”49 Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?”50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
When you look at how Jesus treated this sinful woman and how He treated women in general throughout His earthly ministry, it is easy to understand why it is both fitting and proper to HONOR JESUS ON THIS MOTHER’S DAY.
For one thing ladies and gentlemen………….
Jesus VALIDATES Your Worth To God
1. I think every woman here this morning would agree that one of your greatest needs is the need to be VALIDATED. You need to know that your life matters. You need to know that your life has worth.
2. Look at how Jesus validated the worth of that Samaritan woman at the well in John chapter 4. The entire encounter is in verses 1 through 30.
Here was a woman who had lived a very rough life. She had been married five times and was living with a sixth man, who she was not married to.
While Jesus certainly did not condone or approve of the Samaritan woman’s lifestyle, He looked beneath the surface of a woman who had five failed marriages and He saw an “empty soul” crying out to be filled. And so Jesus offered her what no man had ever offered her before. He offered her “the living water.”
John 4:13-14 (ESV)13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again,14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
Jesus validated that woman’s worth to GOD.
3. And look at how Jesus validated the worth of that adulterous woman in John chapter 8:3-11.
John 8:3-11 ESV The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?" This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her." And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more." ]]
When her accusers looked at this woman what they saw was a “worthless piece of trash” who was deserving of death. And they were intent on giving her what she deserved.
But then Jesus spoke those penetrating words: “Let him who is WITHOUT SIN cast the first stone at her.” One by one they walked away until the only ones left were Jesus and the condemned woman.
Jesus looked beneath the surface of this woman who had been caught in a very sinful act and He said, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, LORD” she replied.
And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”
Jesus validated this woman's worth to God
Jesus looks beyond all your sins……and all your failures…….and all your foolish choices……and all the unwise decisions of your youth and He sees a soul that is so precious and so valuable to His Heavenly Father that He was willing to lay down His own life to save you.
Your life matters to God! Your life is worth everything to God.
Consider the following five truths Jesus wants women to know:
1. Society doesn’t determine your worth. God sees you as His beautiful creation. You matter, regardless of your position in life. The Samaritan woman at the well must have thought Jesus was out of His mind when He started talking to her. He was Jewish. She wasn’t. Jewish people didn’t associate with Samaritans. But He did. And He took it one step further by revealing to her that He was the Son of God. That changed her life, and her testimony impacted the lives of Samaritans around her.
John 4:27-30, 39 ESV Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, "What do you seek?" or, "Why are you talking with her?" So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, "Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?" They went out of the town and were coming to him. Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me all that I ever did."
2. You were created for a purpose. No matter your job or what you do, you are here for a reason. God has something for you that can have far-reaching implications if you have guts enough to join Him and pursue it. Consider teenage Mary who put aside her fears and chose to trust God when she learned she would give birth to our Savior. Or Mary Magdalene who was healed of demon possession and spent her life praising Jesus with her life. She may even be the woman we read about who came into Simon’s house with the perfume. She stayed by His side through His crucifixion and death, and returned to anoint His body that Sunday morning when He had risen. It was to her that Jesus first appeared and shared the message of His resurrection.
Mark 16:1-5, 9-11 (ESV)1 When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him.2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb.3 And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?”4 And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large.5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. 9 [[Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons.10 She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept.11 But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.
3. Grace was meant for you, too. So you messed up, we all do, you’re human. Remember the woman caught in adultery?
John 8:10-11 ESV Jesus stood up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more." ]]
4. Don’t be afraid to be persistent in prayer. You can’t wear Jesus out, so ask away. Reach for Him with relentless abandon.
Jesus Himself said;
Matthew 7:7-11 (ESV)7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent?11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
Despite the crowds pressing in on His way through Capernaum one day, He took the time to notice and free a woman who desperately reached out for a healing touch.
Mark 5:25-34 (ESV) 25 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years,26 and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse.27 She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment.28 For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.”29 And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease.30 And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?”31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’”32 And he looked around to see who had done it.33 But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth.34 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”
5. You aren’t called to juggle and do everything. As a daughter of the Most High, you are invited to leave the world in His hands where it belongs.
Luke 10:38-42 (ESV)38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house.39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching.40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.”41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things,42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
In other words, calm down Martha and adjust. Setting the table is important, but spending time with Jesus has to come first.
That’s five truths, and here’s one more: Jesus loves you.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, let me just say this: It is no wonder that it was a woman who was the first at the cradle and the last at the cross.
Perhaps the most amazing display of Jesus honoring women happened after Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. Jesus was severely beaten, wrists and feet nailed to a cross until he died. He was buried in a tomb. And on the third day, Jesus left the tomb and came back to life, physically, just as he said he would. The first people Jesus talked to after his resurrection were women.
Matthew 28:5-10 (ESV)5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.”8 So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.9 And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him.10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”
John 20:11-18 (ESV)11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb.12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet.13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.”14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus.15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.”16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.
You can search every verse in the Gospels, every miracle and every parable, and you will never find Jesus cracking jokes or making disparaging remarks about a woman. He treated women with dignity and respect and honor, even those who were shunned by society.
He thought so much of His mother that He made provisions for
John 19:25-27 ESV 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.
And were it NOT for JESUS, I dare say there would be NO Mother’s Day Celebration.
And so ladies, as we honor you and express our gratitude to you today for all you have done to enrich our lives, let’s not forget to HONOR JESUS ON THIS MOTHER’S DAY
For one thing ladies and gentlemen………….
Jesus VALIDATES Your Worth To God
1. I think every woman here this morning would agree that one of your greatest needs is the need to be VALIDATED. You need to know that your life matters. You need to know that your life has worth.
2. Look at how Jesus validated the worth of that Samaritan woman at the well in John chapter 4. The entire encounter is in verses 1 through 30.
Here was a woman who had lived a very rough life. She had been married five times and was living with a sixth man, who she was not married to.
While Jesus certainly did not condone or approve of the Samaritan woman’s lifestyle, He looked beneath the surface of a woman who had five failed marriages and He saw an “empty soul” crying out to be filled. And so Jesus offered her what no man had ever offered her before. He offered her “the living water.”
John 4:13-14 (ESV)13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again,14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
Jesus validated that woman’s worth to GOD.
3. And look at how Jesus validated the worth of that adulterous woman in John chapter 8:3-11.
John 8:3-11 ESV The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?" This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her." And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more." ]]
When her accusers looked at this woman what they saw was a “worthless piece of trash” who was deserving of death. And they were intent on giving her what she deserved.
But then Jesus spoke those penetrating words: “Let him who is WITHOUT SIN cast the first stone at her.” One by one they walked away until the only ones left were Jesus and the condemned woman.
Jesus looked beneath the surface of this woman who had been caught in a very sinful act and He said, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, LORD” she replied.
And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”
Jesus validated this woman's worth to God
Jesus looks beyond all your sins……and all your failures…….and all your foolish choices……and all the unwise decisions of your youth and He sees a soul that is so precious and so valuable to His Heavenly Father that He was willing to lay down His own life to save you.
Your life matters to God! Your life is worth everything to God.
Consider the following five truths Jesus wants women to know:
1. Society doesn’t determine your worth. God sees you as His beautiful creation. You matter, regardless of your position in life. The Samaritan woman at the well must have thought Jesus was out of His mind when He started talking to her. He was Jewish. She wasn’t. Jewish people didn’t associate with Samaritans. But He did. And He took it one step further by revealing to her that He was the Son of God. That changed her life, and her testimony impacted the lives of Samaritans around her.
John 4:27-30, 39 ESV Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, "What do you seek?" or, "Why are you talking with her?" So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, "Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?" They went out of the town and were coming to him. Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me all that I ever did."
2. You were created for a purpose. No matter your job or what you do, you are here for a reason. God has something for you that can have far-reaching implications if you have guts enough to join Him and pursue it. Consider teenage Mary who put aside her fears and chose to trust God when she learned she would give birth to our Savior. Or Mary Magdalene who was healed of demon possession and spent her life praising Jesus with her life. She may even be the woman we read about who came into Simon’s house with the perfume. She stayed by His side through His crucifixion and death, and returned to anoint His body that Sunday morning when He had risen. It was to her that Jesus first appeared and shared the message of His resurrection.
Mark 16:1-5, 9-11 (ESV)1 When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him.2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb.3 And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?”4 And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large.5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. 9 [[Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons.10 She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept.11 But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.
3. Grace was meant for you, too. So you messed up, we all do, you’re human. Remember the woman caught in adultery?
John 8:10-11 ESV Jesus stood up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more." ]]
4. Don’t be afraid to be persistent in prayer. You can’t wear Jesus out, so ask away. Reach for Him with relentless abandon.
Jesus Himself said;
Matthew 7:7-11 (ESV)7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent?11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
Despite the crowds pressing in on His way through Capernaum one day, He took the time to notice and free a woman who desperately reached out for a healing touch.
Mark 5:25-34 (ESV) 25 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years,26 and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse.27 She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment.28 For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.”29 And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease.30 And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?”31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’”32 And he looked around to see who had done it.33 But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth.34 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”
5. You aren’t called to juggle and do everything. As a daughter of the Most High, you are invited to leave the world in His hands where it belongs.
Luke 10:38-42 (ESV)38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house.39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching.40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.”41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things,42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
In other words, calm down Martha and adjust. Setting the table is important, but spending time with Jesus has to come first.
That’s five truths, and here’s one more: Jesus loves you.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, let me just say this: It is no wonder that it was a woman who was the first at the cradle and the last at the cross.
Perhaps the most amazing display of Jesus honoring women happened after Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. Jesus was severely beaten, wrists and feet nailed to a cross until he died. He was buried in a tomb. And on the third day, Jesus left the tomb and came back to life, physically, just as he said he would. The first people Jesus talked to after his resurrection were women.
Matthew 28:5-10 (ESV)5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.”8 So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.9 And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him.10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”
John 20:11-18 (ESV)11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb.12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet.13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.”14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus.15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.”16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.
You can search every verse in the Gospels, every miracle and every parable, and you will never find Jesus cracking jokes or making disparaging remarks about a woman. He treated women with dignity and respect and honor, even those who were shunned by society.
He thought so much of His mother that He made provisions for
John 19:25-27 ESV 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.
And were it NOT for JESUS, I dare say there would be NO Mother’s Day Celebration.
And so ladies, as we honor you and express our gratitude to you today for all you have done to enrich our lives, let’s not forget to HONOR JESUS ON THIS MOTHER’S DAY
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