This Sunday’s Mothers Day message in the Fugheddaboudit Series is titled, Don’t Go Against The Family! 

The point of the message is: “Jesus Lived To Pour His FATHER’s Grace into His Mother’s Heart.”

I decided to ask Mrs. Roni Ragan, one of the best Mom’s I know, to write her thoughts about how Jesus treated His Mother.  Roni serves God here on the staff of RiverTown Church as my Executive Assistant and plays an important role in planning all our mission trips.  I call her our “Staff Mom!”  Roni is the Mom of three adult children so I was excited for her to get behind the eyes of the woman chosen to be the mother of the only perfect child ever born.

May God bless your Mothers Day celebrations.  I hope to see you Sunday!   

All for Jesus, 

Pastor David Rathel

Here are Roni’s words.

Have you ever pondered the experiences of Mary the mother of Jesus throughout His life?  She was just as ordinary as you and I, with an extraordinary future!

Mary was perhaps 15 years old when Holy Spirit told her she was pregnant with the Messiah — the promised King.  I can only imagine the gamut of emotions she experienced!  Shock, denial, awe, anticipation and ultimately – worship.  It wasn’t long after she discovered she was pregnant that she went away (as many unwed mothers do) to visit her Aunt Elizabeth.  I can picture these two ladies, one with gray hair the other young and vibrant, walking through the fields contemplating the enormity of what they each were going through.

Fortunately, Mary’s fiance’ also heard from God and embraced Mary.  In her final month of pregnancy, her new little family had a to make a trip!  Most likely Mary rode on the back of a donkey.  Uggggh! …eight months pregnant and on a donkey!  After the long trip, there was absolutely no where to stay.  Finally, out of desperation they were shown to a small cave used for livestock.  The discomfort and fear of delivering a baby on her own must have been incredible.

Soon the baby is in her arms!  YES!  It was worth every moment!  Suddenly, there were Angels rejoicing and Shepherds worshiping.  You know, I felt the same way!  There was absolutely no child ever born like my little boy!  It was so overwhelming to look into his eyes and know this incredible gift was mine!

As all parents experience, Mary’s baby boy didn’t come with an owner’s manual.  I have no doubt they made mistakes, doubted their abilities, and questioned their sanity.  They surely looked back years later and laughed at their fears and concerns when they actually left their 12 year old son behind at the temple!

In the blink of an eye Jesus is a young man of 30.  He now has begun to teach and to travel.  The people in Nazareth mocked and scoffed at the idea of Mary and Joseph’s son being a leader.  After all, he was only the son of a carpenter!  I can hear Mary respond, “Not just any carpenter!”  She knew her boy so much better than they! (as I know mine)

Jesus had only begun His ministry when the family assisted with a wedding in Cana of Galilee.  Mary discovered the wine was running low.  With all the confidence of any Mom in her son, she called Jesus over and asked him to take care of it.  After he objected, I can picture her kissing his cheek and patting his arm with a sweet smile.  She then turns to the servants and instructs them to do exactly as Jesus tells them.  I can see Jesus shaking his head and smiling and then doing just what his Momma asked, just as my boys would!  He would make her not just any wine, but the very best!

It wasn’t always easy being a mother.  Jesus was gone for long periods of time.  She couldn’t get him to pack provisions or even an extra blanket.  No doubt she worried:  “Is he resting?  Is he eating properly?”  I’m sure she spent quite a bit of time on her knees,  just as I have done!

There was even a time when Mary and the boys came asking for Jesus’ help.  It seems as though they wanted him to leave his ministry and come back home.  He responded with, “These here with me are my Mother and my brothers.”  Oh, the hurt!  The disappointment and embarrassment was so painful!  But then she remembers the Angel’s birth announcement.  “Ah, that’s my Jesus!”

The years pass oh so quickly!  The opposition increases and Mary is more and more concerned about her little boy who has become a man.  She finds it necessary to spend more time on her knees with her Father.  She prays for the wisdom and strength to release her son.  She is remembering more and more the end of the message the angel gave her such a short time ago.  “Father!  May another way be made?”

Suddenly, Jesus is arrested.  How my heart constricts at the very thought!  “I need to get to my Son.  If I can only see him!  God!  protect him!”  Her cries of anguish surely broke the heart of God.  They have sentenced Him to death.  He is beaten mercilessly.  “Let me cleanse his wounds!  Let me hold Him one last time!

Jesus is hanging on the cross.  I can picture him as he spots his Momma on the ground at his feet.  with love and compassion, one of his final thoughts is for his Mom.  He looks at his best friend John and says, “Take care of Momma!”

Mary and her friends sit and guard the grave.  They go home for a couple of hours and come back exhausted only to find the grave is empty!  Oh, my God!  Where is He?  An angel appears and says, “Mary, He is not here.”  Again, she recalls that birth announcement and she knows!  She knows everything is OK.  Her son, God’s Son, has fulfilled his purpose.  All is well.  She is at peace.

By Roni Ragan, Roni@RiverTownChurch.com