The Perfect Son

Real life stories are an incredible way to pass on lessons to your children. For one thing they are way more interesting than lectures! So I wanted to find a real life story of a child who lived exemplary obedience and honor to his mother. I found lots of bad examples and some good ones, but that exemplary one eluded me. Then I had that “eureka” moment and felt instantly foolish because it was so obvious. The perfect example was Jesus and his relationship with Mary.

Three episodes give us insight into their relationship and how we should relate to our mothers.

The first one shows us about relating to our mothers when we are children. It happened when Jesus was a child, perhaps around 12 years old; Joseph and Mary took him to the temple in Jerusalem. After the Passover they left to return to Nazareth and he stayed in the Temple talking with the teachers there. That is where they eventually found him. The concluding verse of this episode is a summary of his childhood relationship with his parents. “Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. …” {Luke 2:51a}

This is the preteen age when problems between parents and children seem to escalate. Jesus’ comment, “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:49} could be taken that way. However, the verse telling us that he was obedient to his parents leads me to think otherwise. It leads me to see Jesus as a respectful and obedient son who honored his mother and his step father.

The second incident shows us an adult son relating to his mother. It is the famous first miracle at the wedding feast in Cana where Jesus turned the water into wine. He probably was around 30 at this time. Mary became concerned because the wine ran out and of course, this would be quite embarrassing to the host. Since Mary was such a loving woman, she said to Jesus, “They have no more wine.” {John 2:3} Why she said this when he has never done a miracle we do not know. But mothers have a way of asking and expecting the incredible of their sons and she is doing it here.

Jesus knows she is asking for the impossible or miraculous depending on your point of view. Also her sense of timing was not good for him. “Dear woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.” {John 2:4} Notice the “dear woman”, how polite and respectful that is.

In the manner of mothers throughout the world and throughout time, she continues with her concern, saying to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” (John 2:5} This, on the one hand, is an incredible statement of faith, and on the other, is totally ignoring his comment.

Now he could have gotten upset with her in many ways at this intrusion into the divine timing of things. But his respect for his mother shines through. He simply says to the servants “Fill the jars with water” {John 2:7} As you probably remember, the water turned into excellent wine, his glory was revealed, and the disciples put their faith in him.

That is all wonderful and impressive. The often overlooked part is that Mary came in with an incredible and untimely request, yet he treated her gently and respectfully. He gives those of us who are adult children a high standard to live up to.

The third incident shows an adult providing for his mother’s care in her old age. It happens during the crucifixion. It commonly fell to the eldest son to make sure his elderly parents were cared for. Obviously Jesus would not be able to do that. I find it very telling that from the cross while he was suffering Jesus did this, “When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, ‘Dear woman, here is your son,’ and to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.” {John 19:26-27}

Even as he was dying on the cross he took the time and effort to fulfill his duty for his mother. In this way he even honored her in the last hour before his death on the cross.

Titling this “A perfect son” would have been an exaggeration with anyone else. However, Jesus gives us all a challenge, wherever we are in our life, with our mother, as a child, adult, or looking toward her older years. This Mother’s day think about Jesus and his mother as your example for how to relate to your own mother.

Written by Rev. Daniel B. Baker May 2008



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