Bring Jesus Home With You

(Mother’s Day Sermon)

Mark 9:35-42  (NKJ) While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house who said, Your daughter is dead.  Why trouble the teacher any further?  As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue.  Do not be afraid; only believe.  And He permitted no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James.  Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly.  When He came in He said to them, Why make this commotion and weep?  The child is not dead, but sleeping.  And they ridiculed Him.  But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying.  Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, Talitha, cumi, which is translated, Little girl, I say to you, arise.  Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age.

I Kings 6:12,13 (NKJ) Then the word of the Lord came to Solomon, saying, Concerning this temple which you are building, if you walk in My statutes, execute My judgments, keep all My commandments, and walk in them, then I will perform My word with you, which I spoke to your father David.  And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake My people, Israel.

No reliable contractor would start work on a skyscraper without first consulting the architect’s plans.  The blueprints are so important in the construction of any complex building. Each page has it’s own illustrated design.  Each page contains important data that is necessary in the completion of the building.  Each page is an integral part of all the other pages so that nothing can be left out or modified without affecting the total package.

Yet how many of us try to building something more complex than any high-rise, without bothering to check the plans that God has drawn up for the project?

While Solomon was building the temple, also defined as house, the most significant architectural achievement of his reign, God reminded him of the spiritual foundation that undergirded the project as well as life itself.  Just as plans were developed for the building, so God’s statutes, commandments, and judgments formed the blueprints for Solomon’s life and the lives of his people.

God’s Word also forms the guidelines by which we need to build our lives today.  As we walk in them, God can be relied on to fulfill his promises and purposes in our lives.  God provided the blueprints in which we are to review in order to construct our lives so that our lives will be what the design architect specified in his plans.

Today is Mother’s Day.  Mom.  Mother.  Mamma.  Whatever you call her, it’s precious.  Allow me to take a few minutes to help this certain breed of God’s creation to understand the most important part of the blueprints of your home.

You don’t have an easy job.  (Amen?)

Erma Bombeck, in her book “The Grass is always Greener Over the Septic Tank”, said this about Mothers:   Super Moms were faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a harsh laxative, and able to leap six shopping carts on double stamp day.  She cut the grass, baked her own bread, shoveled the driveway, grew her own herbs, made the children’s clothes, altered her husband’s suits, played the organ at church, planned the vacation, paid the bills, was on three telephone committees, worked on five car pools, was a member of two boards, took her ironing board down every week, stocked the freezer with sides of beef, make her own Christmas cards, voted in every election, saw her Dentist twice a year, assisted in the delivery of her dog’s puppies, melted down old candles, saved the antifreeze, and always had a pencil by the telephone.

Mom, you’ve got a tough job, even if you can’t make your own bread, grow your own herbs, and assist in the delivery of the dog’s puppies.

Mom, you’ve got a tough job regardless of the role you play in society.

Mom, you’ve got a tough job…period.

It’s a tough world…difficult society…and a harsh reality that we face today.  Everything is against the home and motherhood.  Today’s mother does not face the normal situations that Mother’s of previous day’s faced.

Today they face drugs, alcohol, sexual diseases, crime, violence, divorce, and abuse.  Today they have to guard their children from everything harmful and these are things that your grandmother did not have to face.

There are struggles in the home that have never been seen before.  There are disciplines in the home that never have been observed.  There are pressures in the home that have never been placed there before.  So to say a mother’s job is difficult is to say much.

But Mom, you have the blue print.  You can make your home a success.  You have the structure in place to be sure that the home fits properly in a misfit society.

Every Mother must love their children.  Regardless.

Someone said, “There is only one pretty child in the world, and every mother has it”!

A real mother loves her kids and will do everything within her power to protect and guide them.

Allow me an indulgence this morning.  If you will be so kind as to allow me to surmise what could have happened one day, then I’ll be grateful.

I read you the story of the ruler who came to Jesus for help.  His daughter was sick.  What the sickness was, we don’t know, but that is not the issue.  The real issue was that when the father left his home, the little girl was sick enough to die.

So he came and risked everything he had to see Jesus.  I am appreciative of the Father’s position.  Jesus was a controversial rabbi.  Some Jews followed him, but many others took great offense at His teaching.  So when Jarius fell at Jesus’ feet, he must have known that some in his synagogue would sharply criticize him.  I appreciate his initiative and candor.

But look at the Mother.  She plays an important part in this story even though we are spared the details.  And I believe we are spared the details for a reason.  Here is a mother.  A happy mother to say the least.  Motherhood and womanhood in this day was much more difficult than it probably is today.

Women had a submissive and subjective role in the Biblical days.  Women many times were servants and nothing more.  But Jarius’ wife was one of the “lucky” ones.  Her husband was a ruler of the synagogue.  This meant she had friends and servants and respect and honor.

She had everything going well until her daughter took on a sickness that was quickly leading to death.  The solution was not the doctor nor the rabbi of their temple.  Medicine and cures of that day had no affect on her daughter.  They were helpless in their quest to find a cure and solution.

I firmly believe that this Mother was the influence behind the Father’s journey to find Jesus.  This father was risking everything…position, power, finances, reputation.  All was about to be lost if he consulted with this man from Nazareth.

I can imagine the discussion in the bedroom.

Honey, I think we have to take drastic measures.

Honey, I don’t care what the neighbor’s think.

Honey, it does not matter that you may lose your job.

Go find him.  I heard he was a healer.  He loves kids.  He cares for people.  Bring him here.

Yes, our friends may laugh at us.  Yes, our family may ostracize us.  But when you leave today, don’t forget to go find Him.  Bring him home.

He’s the only solution we have for our daughter.  He’s the only help we can find.

He’s the only answer for us in this situation.

Bring him home.

That mother stayed with their daughter when her husband went to find Jesus so that Jesus could come to their house.

I admonish you mother’s this morning to bring Jesus home with you.

You may take a toy home for that little one.  You may pick up some candy and take it home.  You may  have a bike delivered to your home, but in all your activity, don’t forget to take JESUS home.

He’s the answer to the crisis.  He’s the solution to the problems.  He’s the calmness to the storm.  He’s the peace in the trouble.  He’s the power to your weakness.  He’s the source of your strength.  Take Him home with you.

Whatever you do don’t forget to take him home.

Renee Jordan, in her book, Parents, Love your Children, said, “we are responsible to God because our children are gifts from Him.  There is no person alive – in or out of the womb – who is not a gift to his parents from God.  It is impossible to comprehend the immense value of our lives and souls when we realize this one simple truth.  We are all gifts from God.”

And since we are gifts from God, we can’t forget to include the one who made us so that he can help us take care of this precious gift.

James Dobson said:  “It is not uncommon for a mother, particularly, to feel overwhelmed by the complexity of her parental assignment. For each child she raises, she is the primary protector of his health, education, intellect, personality, character, and emotional stability.  She must serve as physician, nurse, psychologist, teacher, minister, cook, and policeman.”

That’s why you need Him in your home.  More than you need a computer or stove or washer, you need Jesus.

Lord, not for a single moment

Could I make it down here,

If you did not intercede for me

Up there!

Not only is a mother’s work never done, but the definition keeps changing.

That’s why you need Him at home.  When things aren’t going well, ask Jesus home.

When the battle rages with that teen, ask Jesus to come home with you.

When there are financial struggles, take Jesus home.

When you don’t know what to do next, take Him home with you.

Guiding your children into responsible, godly adulthood is the most important work of your life.  Pray for wisdom as you seek to train your children.

Raising children is part joy and part guerilla warfare.

Babies come into the world with no instructions, and you pretty much have to assemble them on your own.  They are maddeningly complex, and there are no guaranteed formulas that work in every instance.

But the best parenting skills come most naturally when the parents are on their knees.  Take Jesus into your house.

Jacquelyn Kennedy said:  “If you bungle raising your children, I don’t think whatever else you do well matters much.”

Take Jesus home with you today.