The Motherliness of Jesus, Part 2

Our last article looked at the motherliness of Jesus as seen in four different aspects. Today I want to share several more thoughts on this theme. As we prepare to celebrate our moms this weekend, let’s not forget the One that has demonstrated perfect love for us all.

5. Mothers bind up the wounds of their children.

I remember a warm, breezy afternoon, not unlike the one I am experiencing today. My children were not yet in their teens, and they were outside enjoying the wonderment of early spring and their young imaginations. I was working in the kitchen, but I had the windows open so I could hear them play. Suddenly their laughter turned to shrieks and screams of pain and terror. The littlest of them had fallen out of a tree, and they needed my attention immediately!

You’ve likely experienced something similar. Maybe your child has fallen and scraped their knees. Maybe she’s lost her balance on the bicycle and crashed into the rose bushes. Maybe he’s jumped a little too high and bounced off the trampoline. Whatever the injury, mother immediately becomes a nurse. She clean their scrapes, soothes their tears, and use a heaping dose of antibiotic ointment coupled with a funny band-aid. As much as the child hates all the other parts, the funny band-aid always does the trick, and the child ends up laughing and smiling after all.

Jesus does the same for His children. But the wounds He heals are not mere scrapes and bruises on our bodies; they are the wounds of sin and its death sentence.

“He health the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.”Psalm 147:3

“Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; Who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; Who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies.” Psalm 103:1-4

6. Mothers carry their babies and gently lead their little ones.

Remember the days of pregnancy? Remember how it felt to have your baby move within you? Although it can be uncomfortable, it is a beautiful feeling. Most women report that they feel more alive, peaceful, and satisfied when their child is so close to their heart. And even after delivery, we want all the cuddles and snuggles we can get from our little ones. It’s a pleasure that cannot be matched in any other way.

Now think back to the toddler and pre-school days. Perhaps you took your child to the library or some other outing. I remember the first time I let one of the children walk into a building instead of using a stroller. It took us a thousand times longer than usual! Not just because her legs were little and her steps were tiny, but because she was distracted easily - by everything - and because she grew tired quickly. Isn’t it funny how a little one will just sit down wherever they are when they get tired? Funny, that is, unless you are in a hurry, or their sitting spot is in the way of everyone around them.

But Jesus understands the frailty of His children. He carries us, holds us, and gently leads us, too. He is never in a hurry, and He is never impatient. And He is always gentle with those who are seeking Him.

“He shall feed His flock like a shepherd: He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.” Isaiah 40:11

“A bruised reed shall He not break, and the smoking flax shall He not quench: He shall bring forth judgment unto truth.” (Is. 42:3)

7. Mothers nurse their babies.

Another beautiful thing about motherhood is the bond that is developed through nursing the baby. I understand that not every situation works this way. Two of my five were unable to breastfeed. Yet still, I was the primary bottle-giver in those early days. The babies and I spent hours gazing at each other and learning to recognize even the smallest details in the other’s face. And for the ones that I could nurse, my body physically reacted to their cries. God created mothers to have that intimacy with their babies so that trust and love develop right from the beginning.

It seems ludicrous to think that a mother would forget about her nursing child. And Jesus uses that example to illustrate His own tenderness toward His children. He has promised to never forget us!

“Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.” (Is. 49:15)

“Let your conversation be without covetousness, and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

8. Mothers ensure their children receive good nutrition.

One of the biggest challenges of motherhood is feeding our children healthy, nutritious meals. Whether it’s meat, vegetables, fruits, or grains, children can be oddly picky about these things. One may love broccoli, while another declares it a poison. Some may despise strawberries, yet most kids wholeheartedly approve of them. But one thing is true: mothers feed nutritious food to their children because they love them.

Mamas want to see their children grow and become strong and healthy. Jesus has the same desires for His children. He knows just what we need, when we need it, and He trains us to desire the nourishment of His Word.

“Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (Ps. 103:5)

“And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.” (I Cor. 3:1-2)

“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby. If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.” (I Pet. 2:2-3)

9. Mothers clothe their children.

Not only do mothers feed their children well, they also clothe them appropriately. What mother would send her small one out to play in the snow in a pair of shorts and flip-flops? Likewise, she would not take her family to the beach in heavy coats and snow boots. No, she lovingly and carefully shops for (or sews) clothes that are the right size and weight, and she keeps them clean and mended. Remember how Hannah lovingly crafted a special garment for Samuel?

“But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod. Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.” I Sam 2:18-19

Beyond the little years, we still help clothe our children. Choosing modest, age-appropriate garments is a big chore, especially in this day and age. But one of my happiest memories to date is of helping my two married daughters choose their wedding gowns. I wanted them to find something beautiful, modest, and fitting for this once-in-a-lifetime occasion, and they were so happy with those dresses!

Jesus prepares the wedding garments for His bride, the Church, too. But His clothing is not temporal, in need of constant care and replacement. His is the garb of righteousness and eternal life - even better than the most expensive, fanciest wedding gown imaginable!

“I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.” (Is. 61:10)

“…even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it; That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word, that He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” (Eph. 5:25-27)

10. Mothers train and discipline their children.

Not all of motherhood is the tender, romantic, gentle picture that is often painted. There are also the tough days of training and discipline which are necessary to raise children who know, fear, and serve the Lord. We want to instill character into them so that they will be productive citizens and even more useful Christians. So they will know appropriate boundaries. So they will function successfully in life. From beginning to end, we see that God disciplines - chastens - those whom He loves.

“Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee.” (Deut. 8:5)

“For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?” (Heb. 12:6-7)

And don’t let these verses make you think that discipline is just for the fathers. Remember Proverbs 31? It was the king’s mother who gave him the excellent advice of what to look for in a wife! And in Ephesians, children are admonished to obey both of their parents. Mothers are involved in the day-to-day training of their children, just as God daily teaches us to grow up in Him.

11. Mothers are selfless.

Probably the most notable, universal quality of earthly mothers is their selflessness. They do anything and everything to make their children safe, secure, and happy in life, often at their own sacrifice. They give up sleep, food, quiet, careers, and so much more for their children. When King Solomon was faced with two women claiming to be the mother of one baby, he knew how to find the truth. Only the real mother would be willing to relinquish her hold on the child in order to preserve his life.

“Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it. Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof.” (I Kin. 3:26-27)

And it ought to be so. As moms make these sacrifices, they are only mimicking their Savior, Jesus, Who gave His own life for them.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.” (Jn. 3:16-17)

12. God is more faithful than any human parent.

Most human parents love their children and would do anything for them. But I understand that is not always the case. Humans are, even at their very best, human. And sometimes that means they do wrong and wicked things, like abandoning or abusing their children.

But rest assured, God is not like that. He will always - only - do what is best for His children. He is faithful, even when the parents in our lives are not. So if no other point on this list resonates with you, if it all seems vain and empty because your mother was not like this, and if you are hurt and bitter at the lot you have been given, please remember this:

God is always faithful. He wants you to come to Him, rest in Him, and find joy and peace in believing Him. Let Him be your mother and your father.

“When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.” (Ps. 27:10)

“A father of the fatherless, and a judge [protector] of the widows, is God in His holy habitation. God setteth the solitary in families…” (Ps. 68:5-6a)