Love Of A Mother

When it comes to anything good for a child, every mother knows best. In Matthew 20:20-23, “Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. ‘Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.’ ‘You don’t know what you are asking,’ Jesus said to them. ‘Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?’ ‘We can,’ they answered. Jesus said to them, ‘You will indeed drink from my cup.’”

The mother of James and John asked the Lord to bestow honor on her sons but was told instead they would drink from the same cup as the Lord’s. No one knows if she realized that Jesus was describing His cruel death. We don’t know if she understood that this meant martyrdom for her sons.

Every parent wants to see his child promoted and honored. This dear mother is not all that unusual. But God may have a different plan for that child, perhaps one not as glamorous or as full of accolades. Always, a parent’s desire for a child’s advancement must be held in check as the mother and father pray that God’s will be done in his life.

I believe the mother of James and John ended up understanding this. When you flip over to Matthew 27 you will read a startling fact about this same woman. “Many women were there (at the cross). They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. Among them were Mary Magdalene…and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.”

The mother of James and John was one of the few who remained by the cross of Jesus. She saw firsthand the terrible cup that her Lord had talked about weeks earlier. She may have realized then the hardships her sons were destined to face. Oh, the tenderness and the compassion that must have filled her heart.

Almost every mother is a praying mother. No doubt, all mothers are natural intercessors. They can be called heroes of today when it comes to Intercession. Somehow Jesus modeled it to the mothers during those days. I must confess that I don’t get up every morning of the year eager to do the will of God in prayer whatever the cost. I sometimes have to struggle on my knees with the Word I prayer and confession. But Jesus provides me with an inspiring model when it comes to prayer and intercession. Jesus is the ultimate model, but He also gave me my mother. That was a bonus for me. God used my own mother to let me, my father, and my siblings know that God loves us and has wonderful plans for each of us.

To all mothers, God is not blind, nor deaf not to hear your prayers. He can see you, He can hear you. He knows your situation, your hardships, your burden, your needs and wants. He feels how you feel today. He knows your deepest cries and fears. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Mathew 11:28-30). Will you respond to Him by saying, “Yes, to Jesus? Will you lay down your burden to Him, trust Him to be your Lord and Savior and follow Him?