Mother Part 5

May 29, 2019 by Cee Maria in Word for Wednesday

Mark 3:35 NLT

"Anyone who does God's will is my brother and sister and mother.”

Let’s look at the context of this verse. In verse 21, Jesus’ family heard about what was happening in His ministry. What was He doing? Verse 22 showed that the teachers of religious law verified that Jesus was casting out demons! Because of overwhelming evidence, there could be no dispute on the matter. In order to defame Jesus, they misrepresented His character. In total agreement, they decided that His miraculous power was given to Him by Satan.

Hearing the malicious rumor, Jesus came face to face with the teachers of the law and publicly tore apart their logic.

Mark 3:23-26 NLT,

Jesus called them over and responded with an illustration. “How can Satan cast out Satan?” he asked. “A kingdom divided by civil war will collapse. Similarly, a family splintered by feuding will fall apart. And if Satan is divided and fights against himself, how can he stand? He would never survive.”

This is the report that reached the ears of Jesus’ mother and brothers. In order to avoid discord with the religious community, the family decided to take matters into their own hands and stop this nonsense. Someone in the crowd spotted them and brought it to Jesus’ attention.

Operating in the Word of knowledge, He knew what they were going to say. Operating in the Word of Wisdom, He avoided speaking to them. That’s when Jesus made this profound statement,

“Anyone who does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

Allow me to paraphrase. The blood of God’s covenant is thicker than the water of the womb. Jesus avoided His family because they were not united in purpose concerning His Father’s will for Him. He had to unite Himself with others who were in alignment with God’s will. The relationship with a spiritual mother can be stronger and more binding than one with a biological mother.

That’s what mother means in this verse.

Mother Part 4

May 22, 2019 by Cee Maria in Word for Wednesday

Matthew 1:18 NLT

This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Let's take a look at the context of this verse. In those days, marriage was a three part ritual. The first part was the signed contract made between the man and woman and her parents. From that point on, the couple were considered legally married. The second part was the consummation of the marriage. The final part was the feast where family and friends welcomed them as a couple into their community.

Mary and Joseph had just concluded the first part of the ritual. But, before the consummation took place, Mary became pregnant. Mary, a virgin, was not impregnated by a man but conceived the Son of God by the power of the Holy Spirit!

Mary was a wonderful mother, but her journey was not without pain. As Simon had prophesied to her when she and Joseph dedicated Jesus at the Temple, her own heart would be pierced with a sword. Her baby polarized a nation from the start. After his birth, Mary, Joseph, and Jesus narrowly escaped certain death by King Herod and were forced to live in hiding for a time in Egypt. When Jesus entered ministry, Mary must have been in awe as He performed amazing miracles. In contrast, she was also keenly aware of the deplorable contempt the pharisees and teachers of the law had towards her Son. Mary witnessed Jesus cruelly crucified and His scarred dead body buried in a tomb. But, three days later she also rejoiced at Jesus’ glorious resurrection!

Did Mary understand all the joys and trials that motherhood would bring? Did Mary understand that the salvation of the world depended upon her submission to God? Certainly not! She just trusted and believed God’s words concerning His plan for her life. By selflessly allowing God to fulfill her destiny, our destiny became fulfilled. But the rewards were great! All Mary’s life, she never forgot how God took notice of His lowly servant girl. Every generation calls her blessed and highly favored of the Lord!

That's what mother means in this verse.

Mother Part 3

May 16, 2019 by Cee Maria in Word for Wednesday

Genesis 37:10

This time he told the dream to his father as well as to his brothers, but his father scolded him. “What kind of dream is that?” he asked. “Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow to the ground before you?”

The context of this verse is Joseph telling his father he had a dream of the sun, moon, and stars bowing down to him. His father is outraged that this son of his would be so superior that he would have to bow down to him. And his older brothers? And his mother as well?

Let’s park right there for a moment. Joseph was seventeen years old when he has this dream. Rachel, his mother, died when he was approximately seven years old in Genesis 35 (1). It is very probable that Leah, his aunt, became his stepmother and raised him as her own. That would mean that both his mother in heaven, and his step mother on earth will bow to him some day. Unheard of! Absurd!

Leah was the despised wife and Rachel, her sister, was her husband's true love. Leah raised Rachel's and Jacob's sons, her husband’s favorite boys. Jacob did not love the sons she bore him as much as he loved Joseph and Benjamin.

Yet, Leah honored God, forgave her sister and her husband, and loved on her stepsons! Her life was the shining example of forgiveness that Joseph witnessed on a daily basis.

In fact, it appears that Leah had passed away before Joseph became second in command over Egypt. I am sure both of his mothers were proud of the man he had become. Because of Leah, Joseph was able to save his entire family. I would say that Leah had passed on the lesson of forgiveness to her son, Joseph, and he learned it well.

That is what mother means in this verse.

References:

1) http://jesusalive.cc/ques367.htm

Mother Part 2

May 09, 2019 by Cee Maria in Word for Wednesday

Genesis 17:16 NLT

And I will bless her and give you a son from her! Yes, I will bless her richly, and she will become the mother of many nations. Kings of nations will be among her descendants.

Let's look at the context of this verse. God is talking to Abraham about Sarah. He tells Abraham that in their old age, he will impregnate Sarah and she will give birth to their very own biological son. God is letting Abraham know that His blessing is on her life and on their descendants.

The phrase ‘mother of many nations’ actually refers to nations outside of what would become Israel (1) as well as direct descendants. She will be known as the mother of those who believe in God’s Son, Jesus Christ. Even royalty will be a part of her lineage.

People of all statuses, even those of great power and influence, direct biological descendants, and people who believe and worship Jesus as the Son of God, will acknowledge, recognize, and honor her as ‘mother’.

And that is what mother means in this verse.

References:

https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H1471&t=KJV

Mother Part 1

May 02, 2019 by Cee Maria in Word for Wednesday

Genesis 3:20 NLT

Then the man—Adam—named his wife Eve, because she would be the mother of all who live.

Mother here means biological mother, a female parent (1).

Did you realize that Eve’s first name was Adam?

Genesis 5:2 KJV

Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called ‘their’ name Adam, in the day when they were created.

Why do you suppose that is? It is because both men and women were created equal in God’s eyes. They were built differently and had different functions, but complemented each other perfectly. God named our first parents by their status. Adam named his wife by her function.

Mother in this verse refers to Eve, the original mother, the first who co-created with Adam and birthed humankind into existence.

References:

1) https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H517&t=KJV