Jesus' Mother Must Let Him Go

Thinking of Jesus' mother Mary on this Mothers Day, recall that she was greatly favored by God to bear the Messiah, the Savior of the world!

Her Son was promised an eternal reign on the throne of David.

And yet, Simeon warned her that a sword would pierce through her soul, because of the rejection of Jesus by His people.

Mary never got to see her Son reign as she had been promised He would.

The Scripture's mentions of Mary display the way in which, little by little, she had to let go of her Son, as He plunged into His ministry, and headed to Calvary as our sacrifice.

Three instances where Jesus and Mary exchanged words are recorded in Scripture, and all three are somehow sad to us.

When Jesus was 12 years old, his parents left Him behind at the temple, where they found Him days later discussing the law and the prophets with the learned men. Mary rebuked her Son, but He replied that she shouldn't be surprised, because He must be about His Father's business!

This was no doubt to prepare His mother Mary for that day when she would have to let Him go, to obey only His Father in Heaven's will, and to set His face like flint to go to the cross.

He would soon no longer be just her Son, but would belong to all the world as its Redeemer. He had a great public purpose that required that He be His Own Man.

At the end, when Mary had to surrender Her Son up to a cruel death on the cross, He appointed John to be her son to take care of her as Jesus Himself died for our sins.

At the wedding feast at Cana, Christ told Mary that she could no longer interfere with or give Him directions as a Son anymore, for His Father's work was now His exclusive purpose.