Mothers face unique conflicts every day. Mary, the mother of Jesus, faced conflicts she had never experienced before. She became pregnant before marriage without a physical relationship with any man. Mary, raised God’s perfect Son. She raised other children that were not sinless. She must have fought back comparing her other children with Jesus. Mary saw and heard the hatred people had towards her son. She saw her grown child receive a brutal beating and crucified on a cross.
Jesus told people that following Him creates conflict.
Matthew 10:32-39
“Whoever acknowledges Me before others, I will also acknowledge before My Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns Me before others, I will disown before My Father in heaven.
34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn
“‘a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law--
36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’
37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than Me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of Me. 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow Me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for My sake will find it.
This sounds like contradiction to Isaiah 9:6, which describes Jesus as the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. Jesus brings peace between the believer and God. He brings peace among humankind, but He creates conflict between light and darkness.
Jesus values families, but He makes it clear that conflict can happen between members of the same family if some follow Him and others do not; following Jesus matters more than the approval of families. This is the first mention of the cross. Those listening to Jesus’ words knew the cross was an instrument of death and symbolized total commitment.
Mary did not give up or give in to the conflicts around her. Mothers, do not give up, but by the power of the LORD, keep on praying, loving, and hoping.
Jesus told people that following Him creates conflict.
Matthew 10:32-39
“Whoever acknowledges Me before others, I will also acknowledge before My Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns Me before others, I will disown before My Father in heaven.
34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn
“‘a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law--
36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’
37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than Me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of Me. 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow Me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for My sake will find it.
This sounds like contradiction to Isaiah 9:6, which describes Jesus as the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. Jesus brings peace between the believer and God. He brings peace among humankind, but He creates conflict between light and darkness.
Jesus values families, but He makes it clear that conflict can happen between members of the same family if some follow Him and others do not; following Jesus matters more than the approval of families. This is the first mention of the cross. Those listening to Jesus’ words knew the cross was an instrument of death and symbolized total commitment.
Mary did not give up or give in to the conflicts around her. Mothers, do not give up, but by the power of the LORD, keep on praying, loving, and hoping.
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