Jesus Christ and His Mother

If we know the Savior, nothing is more important to us than loving him and therefore obeying him. His submission to his mother is worthy of our consideration – and our repentance.

                Thinking they had lost Jesus during the temple visit, Mary and Joseph were frantic. They had not seen him for three days, four if you include the day each thought he was with the other. Then, when they found him, he was doing fine without them. How unsettling this must have been! We were looking for him, but he was not looking for us?

                He returned home with them. He placed himself under them (Luke 2:51). Dear Christian youth, when you see submission practiced by your Lord, ask him to work his obedience in you. Do not excuse yourself by any pretense – a hard parent, a restrictive upbringing. Rejoice that you are being tested and prepared! Would you reject his submission, by which he saved you, and treat your mother with contempt? Christian boys, notice that your Lord submitted himself to his mother as a boy. He did not think it beneath him to yield to her and to be strong not for himself but to obey and honor his mother.

                And yet, our hearts are filled with evil when we are young. Other young people may curse and despise their parents, but we have the way shown to us in our Savior. We are too sinful to follow him, and this is one reason the Father sent his Son to obey in our place, as a young person. Jesus Christ alone gives us his righteousness by his full obedience in the years of his youth and young adulthood.

                Satan deceives many into thinking that they suddenly receive a clean bill of health when they turn 18 or 21. We need saving from all those years of rebellion, the “no’s” we screamed at our parents, and our silent, secret, hypocritical rebellion. We need saving and cleansing from our verbal and facial expressions of disrespect and disdain for our parents. If you came to be a Christian after these years, never stop praising the Father for sending his Son to atone for your youthful rebellion. Go back to your parents, humble yourself, and confess your youthful sin – better late than never. This will encourage believing parents. It will witness to unbelieving parents of the true gospel of God’s delivering grace.

                Although our Lord had other recorded interactions with his mother, I will mention only the last – at the cross. She, too, was a believer in her son, as the Son of God and Savior of sinners. Yet, she was haunted by this day, for she knew the Scriptures. Many years before she heard Simeon’s warning about a piercing sword. Her grief when the hour finally arrived was severe, and our Lord knew it. He made provision for her while on the cross. Had he no siblings to care for her? Yes, half-brothers and sisters, but there is no evidence that Jesus’ siblings yet believed in him. John among the 11 was particularly conscious of the love of Christ, and therefore he would be able to encourage Mary.

                Our Lord was also showing us that no matter how old and busy we are, there is always time to keep the fifth commandment. Our Lord obeyed his Father’s law to his last breath. “But if any provide not for his own, and especially those of his own house, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel” (1 Tim. 5:8). Our Lord was providing his obedience for our later in life rebellion and dishonor of our parents – all the ways we ignore or forget about them, sometimes do not provide for them, including emotional provision; unwillingness to seek their counsel, mockery at their little foibles, dismissive of their older age concerns and struggles. Jesus Christ was thus saving his mother and saving us by making provision for her – saving her by his to the death obedience to his Father’s commandment.

                Our nation has chosen a different path than obedience to God’s law. Last year we spent $34.1 billion on Mother’s Day. Flowers and gifts do not atone for our rebellion. The Lord hates it. There is one hope for us: to turn to Jesus Christ and ask him to work obedience and submission to authority in us. Our rebellion cries out for judgment. Only He can cleanse our rebellion by his blood and give us his obedience as our righteousness before God. Then, in union with him by his Spirit, we can walk humbly as he walked. May God give this!