Mother’s Day and Ascension Sunday!
Introduction:
A. Where I once pastored in Indiana there was a
bird that would build its nest among the rocks on our parking lot about once a
year.
B. It
was a Killdeer.
Killdeer (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 15th ed., 1980)
1. "American bird that frequents grassy mud
flats, pastures, and fields. . ."
2. "The killdeer is named for its loud
insistent whistle."
3. "The parents take turns
incubating."
4. "Intruders are led away from the nesting
area by a 'broken
wing' distraction behavior, in which a parent
bird limps
or flutters along the ground, appearing to be
injured."
C. When we would drive unto the parking lot and
saw this bird
running across the
lot like it was hurt, we knew to look for
the nest among the
rocks, and we would set a chair over it so
nobody would run
over it.
watch this clip
of the Killdeer’s broken wing act:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qviXH1K5Xpc
D. Also called killdee (Webster's). You will probably notice me calling it this.
Trans.
The killdee's role as mother is one of a sacrificial love! She risks her own life for her babies. Jesus is another type of this sacrificial love.
Prayer
Matthew
23:29-39
(Mat 23:37 NRSV)
"Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones
those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children
together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!
I. Jesus compared
himself to that of a mother.
A. The Jewish man was a loving, caring type of
individual. Thus, the Jews didn't have a problem with giving God the title of
father. To them, giving God the title
father meant one that is loving and caring, much like we many times think of
mothers today.
B. Because of this, Jesus didn't have a problem
here with comparing himself to a mother chicken.
1. He wanted to tenderly gather them under his
wings to care
for them and nurture them.
2. He
would eventually give his life for them and for all the
world.
3. His
was a sacrificial love!
C. But
they would not. This did not stop him
from loving them
sacrificially, eventually giving
his life for them and for us.
D. He still wants to gather us in & love us,
restoring us back to God. Will we let
him?
II. But there is something about mothers that
allowed Jesus to use them for this illustration, and this is Mother's Day, so
let's talk about this. A mother's love
is sacrificial.
A. Mother,
many times, must sacrifice having her own way.
Mother should
sometimes get her way too, but many times she
has to do her
share of giving in.
B. Mother,
many times, must sacrifice getting a good nights sleep.
1. Mother will miss sleep when her children are
sick, and yes, the father should help out here too.
2. If
mother works, it will be a real sacrifice because the
children cannot help being sick,
and they need cared for just the same.
3. If mother doesn't work outside the home, it
is still a
real
sacrifice because she probably will not have time to catch up on that sleep she has lost.
4. Children
are a responsibility, and when children are sick,
parents sacrifice!
5. Mother
sacrifices this time without giving it a second
thought.
C. Mother, many times, will sacrifice getting
the "things" she "wants" in order to have money to buy
things for the children.
1. A
real mother will do this almost automatically.
2. Fathers, watch out for mother so that she
doesn't leave
herself
out to the point that her physical needs are neglected.
D. Mother,
many times, will sacrifice her time.
1. Time
to do the things she would like to do.
2. Because
she realizes that her children would like to do
something else or want her to do
something with them.
E. Mother,
many times, will sacrifice her very life.
1. After
mother has done all the above sacrificing, she will
wake up one day and her life has been spent, not on herself
but on her family.
2. Sometimes
mother may actually give her life in defense of her children: ex. protection from intruders?
III. Is it worth all
of the sacrifice?
A. How
do you want to be remembered?
1. Will
your children remember you in their adult years as a
mother who always wanted her own
way, who resentfully took care of them when they were sick, who never had time
for them, and who always got the things
she wanted at their expense?
2. Or
will your children remember you in their adult years as a mother who taught them to give and take by her
example, who always took
care of them when they were sick without complaint,
who always had time for them, and who gave up things
that she wanted so they could have things they wanted or needed?
B. Relationships are worth the investment; to have friends, one must show himself/herself friendly.
C. It is the same with motherhood; to be
reverenced as a real mother, one must show herself motherly.
Conclusion:
A. Jesus used mothers as an example of how he
wanted to gather his children up and take care of them.
B. Mothers
are special people.
Poem
She could not paint, nor write, nor rhyme
Her footprints on the sands of
time,
As some distinguished women do;
Just simple things of life she knew
-
Like tucking little folks in bed,
Or soothing someone's aching head.
She was no singer, neither blessed
With any special loveliness
To win applause and passing fame;
No headlines ever blazed her name.
But, oh, she was a shining light
To all her loved ones, day and
night!
Her home her kingdom, she its queen;
Her reign was faithful, honest,
clean,
Impartial, loving, just, to each
And every one she sought to teach.
Her name? Of course,
there is no other
In all the world so sweet - just
Mother! May Allread Baker
C. An interesting thing about the Killdee is
that this sacrificial
broken
wing act was shared by the father too. Mother and Father
take
turns protecting the nest and eggs.
1. Sacrificial love isn’t just for the mother.
2. Whether you are a mother, father,
grandmother,
grandfather, son, or daughter, we all need sacrificial
love. We need Christ’s sacrificial
love and we need to
exemplify sacrificial love in our lives.
3. On this day, we also celebrate Christ
ascending back to
Heaven. Christ is there making
intersession for us. As
we encounter this risen and ascended Christ at the table,
ask Christ to help you to grow in this kind of love!
Prayer
of Confession
Service
of Communion
