The First Mother's Day

by Rev. Howard Rosen,Jr
(Dillwyn, VA)

Pleasant Grove Baptist

John 19:25-27

On May 9, 1914 President Woodrow Wilson realized the need for the Mothers of America to have a day of honor so he proclaimed the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day.
He asked Americans on that day to give a public “thank you” to their mothers.
Mother’s Day is now celebrated with gifts, visits, and flowers.

In other countries around the world they celebrate Mother’s Day two days a year, of course if you ask, most women will tell you that everyday is Mother’s Day.

We will take a look at a few verses this morning that will show us that actually the first Mother’s Day was celebrated… By the Cross of Jesus…

By the Cross of Jesus…
This small group of women and the Beloved Disciple are standing watching Jesus die.
They stand supporting Jesus in his final hours and mourning the loss of this one they loved so dearly.

They watched as Jesus was occupied with the greatest work ever performed – in heaven, in earth, or in all creation.
He was bearing in His own body the sins of the entire world for all time and eternity.

It is impossible for mortal man to conceive the burden Jesus carried, or to understand the pain and humiliation He was suffering…
The Pain of the Nails in His hands and feet.
The Pain of His Open back pushing against the rugged cross.

The Pain of the Hours of pushing and fighting to breathe.
The Pain of God Turning His back on Him, because of our sin.
The Pain of a Broken Heart for a lost world.

By the Cross of Jesus…
There is His mother, watching her child die.
Sure he is a grown man, but do parents really ever stop seeing their children as children?
Not just a child, but her first born child, the one that was born in amazing circumstances.
Oh the scorn and ridicule she and Joseph had endured, and endure they did.

They knew this was the Son of God, God’s will as they were told by the angel of the Lord.
Standing there watching Jesus hanging on the cross, so many things must be going through her mind: holding the new-born baby in her arms, as they shared the household with the animals of the stable, wishing the conditions were better.

We know she was one to think on things for the Bible tells us in Luke 2:19 after the birth of Jesus, “Mary kept all theses things, and pondered them in her heart”.
Remembering the time they search for the pre-teen, and found Him sharing scriptures with the leaders of the synagogue.
Those memories that would linger long after this horrible day was over.

Those images that would remind her of her love for her son and the joy that he had brought her.
Those images that would also make her heart ache because of the loss of such a love.
Those images that were before her how unjust it seemed. No parent is supposed to bury their child. The child is meant to grow old and take of their parents.

By the Cross of Jesus…
There is Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene, and John.
Watching the man Jesus that they had known and loved for many years.
The man that had taught them the love of God.
The man that they had watched heal and help many.
The man that had spoke the words of truth and everlasting life.

Yes this was Mary’s son, the carpenter from Nazareth, but that was his mother’s side.
From His Father’s side He was the Son of God, the Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace, The Alpha and the Omega, The Redeemer, The Rose of Sharon, and The Saviour of the World.

By the Cross of Jesus…
Stood this small group of people lost in their thoughts and caught up in the horror of what was taking place before their eyes.
And suddenly something shook them, that something was the voice from the cross.
Jesus said, Woman, behold thy son! Behold thy mother!

Can you imagine the reaction of this group; each person had been deep in thought and reflection and mourning, and then hearing these words the third of only seven that Jesus would say that day.
I would think it took them a moment to realize that the words were directed to Mary and John.

What an unbelievable honor! The Redeemer in spite of his pain and suffering takes the time to remember his earthly ties and human responsibility to be sure that his mother was taken care of.
To the very end Jesus was thinking of others, showing the love of God and that God’s love will provide for every need.

To the very end Jesus was the example of the loving heart of God.
We know it was the finger of God that wrote the fifth commandment Honor your Father and Mother.
What an honor to recognize his mother, in the last moments of his earthly life.
What a lesson we can gain from this example.

By the Cross of Jesus…
We can stand today, whatever pain and fear you may have Jesus looks down from the cross and says I know your suffering, I know your pain and I am here to take care of you. I will see that your every need is met.
We can, because of the Cross of Jesus teach others his love and show compassion.
When you see your children suffer because of sin, you know Jesus is watching too.

When we hear them cuss and fuss at you because they think you are old fashion or being too hard.
Remember Jesus was wronged for being right too.
When we as children all having mother’s how can we show them anything but the highest honor.
When we have been given such a wonderful example, of love honor and respect.

By the Cross of Jesus, we see the beauty of the first Mother’s Day