Comfort for a Burdened Mother
10 May 2020 AM – Luke 7:11-15 – Mother’s Day – Scott Childs
Welcome: Welcome to our Sunday morning online church service.
Prayer
Introduction: Today is Mother’s Day. It is a day to thank, praise, comfort and encourage our mothers. In our message this morning, we are going to learn how Jesus brought comfort to a burdened mother.
Every mother daily carries motherhood burdens on her shoulders of sleepless nights, crying children, and exhaustion, but the burdens of some mothers are even greater. Some mothers are widows or all alone because of divorce, carrying the load by themselves. Some Christian mothers are grieving over a wayward child who has turned away from the Lord. Some have unbelieving children who reject the Lord. Some mothers are even unloved by their children. Some have children that have passed away. These are great burdens for a mother.
This morning we are going to look at the account of a greatly burdened mother who received comfort from the Lord Jesus.
Transition: As we look at the account of this amazing miracle, I want to point out to you three comforting thoughts that the Lord wants every mother to claim today. (Actually, each of us may claim them)
The first comforting thought that the Lord wants you to claim is that…
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The Lord sees your burdens.
a. Jesus saw this mother’s burdens.
1) He saw the funeral procession of her son. The grieving procession was just coming out of the city gates. Most cities had graveyards outside the city walls.
2) He saw the mother weeping over her son. Fred Wight in his book “Manners and Customs in Bible Lands” states, “From the time the death wail is heard, until the burial takes place, relatives and friends continue their lamentation… The burial of the dead in the East takes place soon after death, usually the same day.”
3) Jesus understood this mother’s burdens.
a) Though she was a stranger to him, Jesus understood her. He knew her thoughts and feelings.
b) He understood that she was a widow who had already lost her husband. That was a huge burden.
c) He understood that her heart was now broken over the death of her only son.
d) He understood that with this adult son’s death, she lost her sole source of livelihood.
e) He understood that many in her city loved and respected her as they joined the procession.
4) Jesus truly saw and understood this mother’s burdens.
b. Jesus also sees your burdens
1) Whether your burdens are the daily cares of motherhood or one of the greater burdens already mentioned, Jesus sees every mother’s burdens.
2) No burden escapes the eyes of our caring Lord. (Job 34:21) “For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.“
3) The Lord is looking for opportunities to ease burdens. (2 Chronicles 16:9) “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. …“
4) If you are a burdened mother today, here is God’s instruction to you, (Psalms 55:22) “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” (Philippians 4:6-7) “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.“
The second comforting thought that the Lord wants you to claim is that…
2. The Lord empathises with your weeping.
a. Jesus had compassion on the weeping mother.
1) He felt her sorrow and loss. The word “compassion” indicates that this deeply touched His heart.
2) He felt her emotional heartache. Being God, Jesus knew the grief and emotional heartache that was throbbing in this widow’s soul. The death of a loved one always brings grief and emotional heartache. It greatly burdened Jesus that this widow grieved and was left with alone.
3) He spoke to comfort her. When Jesus said to her, “Weep not”, He was not just saying, “Don’t cry”. God made our bodies to cry to release emotions. Jesus’ words were genuine comfort as He empathised with her.
b. Jesus also empathises with your weeping.
1) To empathise is to understand and enter into your feelings. That is what Jesus does for you.
2) Do you remember the account of the Israelites when they were slaves in Egypt? That account gives us a peak at God’s empathy. (Exodus 3:7) “And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;“
3) Whether you shed a tear over your sick child, cry over a rebellious child, sob over a wayward child, or weep over a child who has died, the Lord truly feels your sorrows. Jesus cares!
4) He cares about you. (1 Peter 5:7) “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.“
5) (Psalms 34:15) “The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.“
The third comforting thought that the Lord wants you to claim is that…
3. The Lord wants to remove your heartaches.
a. Jesus removed the widow’s heartache
1) Jesus did more than just empathise; He removed the heartache of this agonizing mother.
a) He stopped the funeral procession (v.14).
b) He touched the bier or coffin.
c) He spoke to the dead man telling him to “Arise”.
d) He that was dead sat up and began to speak. I wonder if those carrying the coffin dropped it right then.
2) Jesus removed the widow’s heartache by delivering her son alive.
b. Jesus can also remove your heartaches.
1) Jesus said, (Matthew 11:28) “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.“
2) If you know the Lord Jesus as your Saviour, He has already removed the greatest heartache known to humans by forgiving your sin, rescuing you from hell, and giving you a home in heaven. Jesus died on the cross to pay for your sins’ eternal punishment. If you have not yet repented of your sins and placed your trust in Jesus’ payment, that is what you need most.
3) One day in heaven, the Lord will permanently remove every Christian’s heartaches. He will gloriously wipe away all tears from every mother’s eyes. (Revelation 21:4) “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.“
4) Until that glorious day, the Lord wants to comfort the broken hearted.
a) He will give you peace as you give Him your burdens (Php 4:6-8).
b) He can give you grace to press on for His glory during trials (2Co 12:9).
c) He can give you joy as you rejoice in the Lord (Php 4:4).
5) As you faithfully fulfil your motherhood, God can cause your family to bless and praise you. (Proverbs 31:28) “Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.“
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Ponder the words of the hymn “Does Jesus Care?” Does Jesus care when my heart is pained Too deeply for mirth or song; As the burdens press, and the cares distress, And the way grows weary and long? O, yes, He cares – I know He cares! His heart is touched with my grief; When the days are weary, the long nights dreary, I know my Savior cares, He cares.