Good morning.  Today we are celebrating Mother’s Day.  Most of you are familiar with the Calvin and Hobbes comic strip.  Well, on one Mother’s Day, Calvin is pictured standing by his mother’s bed.  “Hey, Mom!  Wake up.  I made you a Mother’s Day card.”  “My, how sweet of you.” she says.  “I did it all by myself.  Go ahead and read it!”

She begins to read: “I was going to buy a card with hearts of pink and red.
But then I thought I’d rather spend the money on me instead.
It’s awfully hard to buy things when one’s allowance is so small.
So I guess you’re pretty lucky I got you anything at all.
Happy Mother’s Day.  There, I’ve said it.  Now I’m done.
So how about getting out of bed and fixing breakfast for your son.”
Signed, “Calvin.”

“I’m deeply moved.” said his mother.  “Oh, did you notice the part about my allowance?”

Well, some of you may feel like Calvin’s mother this morning, wondering if anybody’s going to say, “Thank you for all the good stuff you do.”  Well, being a mother is a tough job and we recognize and honor that today.

Let me share one more comic strip with you this morning.  I love the cartoon that shows a mother in her home.  Her hair is in disarray, kids are everywhere, and the house is an absolute mess.  Then her husband comes home from work all neatly dressed in coat and tie, carrying his briefcase.
She takes one look at him, and he looks at her with a big question mark on his face.  She tells him, “You come home every evening and ask what I do all day.  Today I didn’t do it, and here it is!”

Well, mothers are teachers.  Mothers are disciplinarians.  Mothers are cleaning ladies.  Some mothers are gardeners and mowers of lawns.  Mothers are nurses and doctors and psychologists and counselors and coaches.  Mothers are developers of personalities, molders of vocabularies, and shapers of attitudes.  Mothers are soft voices saying, “I love you.”  And mothers are a link to God, a child’s first impression of God’s love.

I read of a California mother of 10 with the 11th child on the way.  One day her 3 year old son was making even the simplest chores difficult to accomplish as she said, “Len was on my heals no matter where I went.  Whenever I stopped to do something and turned back around, I would trip over him.”  Several times she patiently suggested he find fun things to do until he said, “Oh, that’s alright Mommy, I’d rather be in here with you.”

After several other frustrating incidents she asked him why he was acting this way.  She said, “He looked up at me with green eyes and said, “Well, Mommy, in Primary my teacher told me to walk in Jesus’ footsteps.  But I can’t see Him, so I’m walking in yours.””

Mothers are all of these things and much, much more.

Today, I want us to take a look at a mother from the Bible.  Today, we are looking at Mrs. Zebedee, the mother of James and John.  Turn with me to Matthew 20:20-23.  Here in this passage we are reading about a mother’s request.  Listen to these words: Matthew 20:20-23 says, “1”

Mrs. Zebedee was aware of the teachings of Jesus about His kingdom.  She was also very aware of the fact that her sons, James and John, were close to Him.  They were 2/3 of the inner circle of Peter, James, and John.
So she was certain that when the Lord formed His kingdom that they would have positions of responsibility and authority.  But in the first part of this same chapter, Jesus tells a story that must have disturbed her.

It was a story about a landowner who went out to find laborers early in the morning.  They agreed upon a fair day’s wage and started working.  Then at noon he went out and found some more, and they started working.  Then towards evening he went out and found some more and they started working.  Yet, when the landowner paid them off at the end of the day they all received the same wage.

It must have caused Mrs. Zebedee to wonder, “Will my sons really have positions of authority Jesus’ new kingdom?”  So when the opportunity presented itself she came to Jesus.  Matthew says that she bowed before Him and in a way made this request: “When you establish your kingdom, I would request seats on your right and left hand for my two sons.”
We might very well criticize Mrs. Zebedee for her risky actions.  But since today is Mother’s Day, maybe we ought to think for a few moments concerning some positive things about her.

We need also to recognize that when she came to Jesus, while Jesus did not grant her request, neither did He deny it.  He simply reminded her of the cost of being seated on the right or left and then told her that it is the Father who determines who will be seated there.  Now, this morning I have 3 things that I think we can all take from this passage.  So, what are some of the good things about Mrs. Zebedee?

First, She Prayed That Her Sons Might Be A Part Of The Kingdom

I can think of no more important task of motherhood than that - to seek to ensure that your children are a part of the Kingdom of God.  I know that many mothers do pray.  Sometimes they pray out of necessity.  Sometimes they pray because motherhood is not easy, but extremely difficult.

James Dobson tells about a time he came home when his son, Ryan, was a small baby.  It had been a terrible day for his wife.  Ryan had been sick, and had cried all day long.  Once, as she was changing his diapers, the telephone rang and she reached over to answer it before fastening up his diaper.  Just then Ryan had an attack of diarrhea.

Wait, it gets better.  Then she cleaned up that mess and put him in clean, sweet-smelling clothes.  Then she took him into the living room and fed him.  As she was burping him he threw up all over himself, her, and the couch, too.

Dobson writes, “When I came home I could smell the aroma of motherhood everywhere.”  My wife cried out to me, “Was all of this in my contract?”

Sometimes mothers pray just out of the frustration of it all.  And sometimes in the frustration of trying to teach your children you realize the difficulties of communication.

A father remembers very clearly the time he gave his 2 year old son his very first responsibility.  He told him to watch Susan, his baby sister, while he stepped out of the room.  He had only been gone a few moments when he heard a thump, and then Susan started crying.  He rushed back in to find that Susan had fallen from the couch and was stretched out on the floor.  Meanwhile, the 2 year old boy sat there, looking so innocent.

The father said, “Steve, I told you to watch her.”  Steve answered, “I did.”  He watched her fall and he watched her cry.  He did exactly what he was told to do.

Being a parent is not easy.  Sometimes it is filled with joy and sometimes with sadness.  Sometimes your children make you so proud you want to pop your buttons. At other times you just want to pop them.

What good is it if our children are successful in making money, and driving fine automobiles, and living in good neighborhoods, but they don’t know God?  What does it matter if they gain the whole world, but lose their souls?

Being a parent is not easy.  It is difficult.  But Mrs. Zebedee gives us a valuable example.  She prayed earnestly that her sons would be a part of His kingdom.  Parents, and with today being Mother’s Day, mothers especially, need that same concern for your children.  I hope that in the heart of every mother and father here this morning there is a burden to go to the throne of God and to pray for your children.  To pray that they will be saved, saved from evil in this world, and saved for eternal life.  That is the place to begin, and that is where Mrs. Zebedee started.  She prayed for her kids to be a part of God’s new kingdom.

Secondly, She Prayed That Her Sons Would Be Involved In The Work Of His Kingdom

So, not only did Mrs. Zebedee pray that her children would be a part of His kingdom, but she also prayed that they would be actively involved in the work of His kingdom.

Maybe it is not enough just to be saved.  Churches are full of people content just to fill a pew on Sunday mornings.  There are plenty of people willing to sit back and receive the blessings, but seldom do they get involved in doing any of the real work of the church.

But where does the spirit of service begin?  It begins at home, with mothers and fathers setting the example and praying that their sons and daughters, might be involved in the work of the kingdom.  As teachers and leaders, discipling others, that they might be the ones to go out into the world and find the lost - to see that the church continues on until Jesus comes again.

I like the story about the little boy who came into where his mom was and announced that he had 2 pieces of candy.  She asked, “What are you going to do with them?”  He answered, “I’m going to eat them.”

Thinking this was a great teaching opportunity, she said to him, “Don’t you think you ought to share the candy with your brother?”  He answered, “I don’t have enough to share.  So I’m going to eat them myself.”

Well, it was obvious that he needed to be taught about generosity.  So she asked, “What do you think Jesus would do if He had 2 pieces of candy?”  The boy looked up and answered, “I think Jesus would make 2 more pieces of candy and give them to His brother.”

We don’t always do the right thing, do we?  But in order for a parent to teach their child to be involved in the work of the kingdom, they need to teach them by example, and really teach them what the Bible has to say.

Mrs. Zebedee prayed that her children would be actively involved in the work of His kingdom.  And we need to walk in her footsteps, too.  Pray that God will use your kids in whatever way He needs them.  Then on top of that, you need to set the example for your children and allow God to use you as well.  Teach your kids how to be involved in the work that God has for them.

And Finally This Morning, She Had Big Expectations For Her Sons

She had big expectations, and I like that.  She didn’t just pray that her children would be doorkeepers.  She didn’t just pray that her children would make it into Heaven.  She wanted them on the right hand and the left hand of Jesus.  When you’re working in a kingdom, there are no higher positions than those on the right and left of the King himself, and that’s what she wanted for her sons.

We may consider Mrs. Zebedee as brash or presumptuous.  But I admire her boldness in seeking the best for her kids.  Too often we settle for mediocrity.  For too long we have been content with just barely making it through the door.  For too long we have been content to sit back and just let things happen.

How many of you hope to see your kids be just average kids and barely scrape by in life?  The answer to that question is that none of you hope to see your kids just make it by.  You all want to see your kids be the best that they can be in all that they do.

When it comes to their spiritual lives, the same should be true.  Have big expectations for them.  It is time to strive for excellence, to reach for the very best there is.  The Lord calls us to be His disciples, and to be effective laborers in His kingdom.

As I begin to wrap things up this morning, let me share another story with you.  The story is told out of World War 2 and the holocaust that took the lives of millions of people.  The story is about of Solomon Rosenberg and his family, and it is a true story.

Solomon Rosenberg and his wife and their 2 sons and his mother and father were arrested and placed in a Nazi concentration camp.  It was a labor camp, and the rules were simple.  “As long as you can do your work, you are permitted to live.  When you become too weak to do your work, then you are exterminated.”

Rosenberg watched his mother and his father marched off to their deaths, and he knew that next would be his youngest son, David, because David had always been a frail child.  Every evening Rosenberg came back into the barracks after his hours of labor and searched for the faces of his family.  When he found them they would huddle together, embrace one another, and thank God for another day of life.

One day Rosenberg came back and he didn’t see those familiar faces.  He finally discovered his oldest son, Joshua, in a corner, huddled, weeping, and praying.  He said, “Josh, tell me it’s not true.”  Joshua turned and said, “It is true, poppa.  Today David was not strong enough to do his work.  So they came for him.”
“But where is your mother?” asked Mr. Rosenberg.  “Oh poppa,” he said, “When they came for David, he was afraid and he cried.  Momma said, “There is nothing to be afraid of, David,” and she took his hand and went with him.”

That is a mother’s love.  That truly is motherhood.  Mothers, this is your day.  May God bless you in it.  And I pray that if there is someone here who has never experienced the love of God that today will be your day to make a decision to follow Him.

I pray that if you have felt that you have had to walk through that valley alone so many times, that you will recognize that there is a hand reaching out to you, saying, “There is nothing to be afraid of.  I’ll go with you.”

Mother’s, realize that you have a major impact on the children in your lives.  The Statue of Liberty was unveiled in New York Harbor in 1886.  It was 151 feet to the top of her head.  That is 15 stories high, and in the middle of the harbor.  It wouldn’t be until the early 1900’s, at least after 1908, that the first plane would fly overhead.  That would be nearly 36 years.  Yet the man that designed Lady Liberty went all out in his design.  On the top of Lady Liberty’s head you will find that he put a part in her hair.  By the way, the model for the Statue of Liberty was his own mother.

Now, if he was willing to put so much work into a statue that at the time would not even be seen from the top, don’t you think it is important that we put a lot of work and prayers into the spiritual well being of our children.

This morning, I would encourage you to take these points from today, and apply them to your lives.  Mothers and fathers alike, it would be a blessing to your children if you would pray about them being a part of the kingdom, pray that they would be involved in the work of the kingdom, and have high expectations for your children.

Even though today is Mother’s Day, and the gifts should be directed to the mothers, this is the best gift that you could ever give to your children.

Let’s Pray!