“THE PRAYER OF AN AMBITIOUS MOTHER” Matt. 20:20,21.

Introduction:  Many have tended to join with the other ten apostles in an attitude of hostility toward the mother of James and John, because of her prayer of preferential consideration for her sons. It is significant to note that while Christ corrected her He did not criticize or condemn her

Let us look at this Remarkable mother…

·         REMEMBER THAT SHE WAS NOT DIVINE

·         REMEMBER THAT SHE WAS IMPERFECT LIKE OTHER MOTHERS

·         REMEMBER THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING DIFFERENT ABOUT HER: Her two sons were among the first who were selected and responded to our Lord’s invitation to discipleship (Matthew 4:21-22)

I.                   SHE WAS A MOTHER OF GREAT FAITH

A-She had great faith in Jesus Christ or else she would not have made her request for preferential treatment of her sons.

B-She had faith in the ability and faithfulness of her sons. She had high expectations for them. She believed that they were capable and could be trusted. Modern day mothers need to have a great faith in the potentiality of their children.

Illustrate-Dr. M.E. Dodd said concerning his mother, “My mother had a kingdom in her heart and empires in her imagination when she thought of her children and their potential.”

II.                SHE WAS A  WOMAN OF WARM DEVOTION

A-She had a warm love for Jesus Christ which indicated itself in the critical and dangerous time when he was going to the cross. (Matthew 27:55-56) Her Genuine faith and warm love were manifested by her presence at the tomb as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week. (Mark 16:1)

B-She had a great and exalting love for her sons. We cannot criticize her for this. Instead she deserves to be commended.

Illustrate-How do you spell the word “Mother?” It has been suggested that the best way to spell Mother is with the letters

L-O-V-E.  How do you spell the word Love? It has been suggested that the best way to spell love is with the letters M-O-T-H-E-R.

III.             SHE WAS  A WOMAN OF WARM SPIRITUAL AMBITION

A-She came to Jesus worshipping him.

B-She came to Jesus with a prayer

C-She listened and learned as much as it was capable for her to grasp at that particular time.

D-She accepted correction from the Christ (Matthew 20:22a)

·         Is ambition for our children sinful? In some instances the answer would be yes. In other instances the answer would be no.

·         If she was thinking only of position, power, and prestige then her ambition was selfish.

·         On the other hand, perhaps she wanted her sons to always be near Jesus Christ.

·         Possibly she wanted them to be of assistance to him.

·         Perhaps she wanted them to be totally involved in his work in the world.

E-Jesus proceeded to explain what one must be and what must be done if he would be great in the kingdom of God. (Matt.  20:26-28)

It is highly possible that this Mother was of great assistance in helping her sons to become the servants of Jesus Christ that they did become.

            1-James became the first of the apostles to experience

             martyrdom. (Acts 12:1,2) He learned the lesson of

             humility and self-sacrifice well to have followed his Lord to 

             the point of death.

            2-John became the apostle of Love. He was the apostle to 

             whom our Lord committed the care of his mother while 

             impaled on the cross. (John 19:25-27) According to the 

             best traditions John served lovingly, faithfully, and

             significantly until the last decade of the first century of the

             Christian era. He spent his last years in the city of

              Ephesus. From here he was exiled to the Isle of Patmos

              where the living Lord gave to him the Book of Revelation.

Conclusion: Behind these two significant sons we need to remember a mother who was ambitious for her sons. MOTHERS OF TODAY….

·         Need to be ambitious for the conversion of their children.

·         Should be ambitious for the development of Christian character for the lives of their children.

·         Should be ambitious for their children to enter into a Christian marriage with one who can help them honor and serve the Lord.

·         Should be ambitious for their children to enter into a Christian vocation that will not compromise their faith and that will provide them with an opportunity to render a significant service for the Lord.