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How Are We Christ's Mother?


Hi L____,

Thank you for your question.

It does seem impossible to be able to agree with Christ that I am His "mother." Brother or sister, yes. But mother? How can that possibly be? If I were to tell you that I have a brother whose name is Lonnie, you would have no trouble understanding that. But if I were to turn right around and tell you that I am Lonnie's mother, you would tell me that I am contradicting myself. And yet Christ, who really is the brother of us all, tells us that as His disciples, we are His mother. Is Christ contradicting Himself? Personally I am not willing to agree with any who make such an assertion.

I will agree with Christ that His disciples are not just His brothers and sisters, but they are also His mother. It is characteristic of the things of the spirit to appear contradictory to natural things.

Where else can it be said that if you can see that you are blind, then you can see? Where else can it be said that if you die, you are made alive? Where else can one say, "Israel is not cast away... but if the casting away of them be the riches of the Gentiles, what shall the receiving of them be but life from the dead."

Here is one other apparent contradiction in the word of God:

Rom 11:11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid : but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
Rom 11:12 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?

How can Paul tell us "God forbid that Israel has fallen" and in the very same breath tell us that "through their fall salvation is come to the Gentiles?" Paul can do this because he knows that Israel will not always be 'fallen,' "All Israel will be saved" eventually. That is how Paul can do that. But for this present time physical "outward" Israel is "cast away... cut off... broken off... and fallen."

The fact that God's Word appears to contradict itself is one of the very reasons the natural man cannot receive the things of the spirit:

1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

"Spiritually discerned" does not mean 'illogically discerned.' There is nothing that makes as much sense as the things of the spirit. But this is only true of one who has the mind of the spirit. "Love thine enemies" makes perfect spiritual sense. But it is illogical and stupid and "foolishness" to the natural man. So too is the idea of being both a brother and a mother to Christ. The natural man does not know who is 'Christ.'

To the natural man Christ came in the flesh 2000 years ago. He lived a good life and was crucified for His beliefs. He was then believed to have been resurrected with a body of flesh and taken to heaven. That is who is Christ to the natural man.

If we still see Christ in the flesh, as all of "historical orthodox Christianity" does, then this verse about which you inquire cannot be understood. We must develop a more spiritual concept of 'Christ.'

2Co 5:16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.

In the flesh it is impossible to be both brother and mother. But if God gives you the eyes to see just how closely Christ identifies with His marred creation, which He himself created in this marred condition, then you can understand how you can be called Christ's 'mother.'

What is a 'mother?' A mother loves. A mother gives birth. A mother nourishes. A mother is patient in giving discipline, direction and instruction to her immature children. And a mother loves and is submissive to her husband thus teaching her children to love and respect their father. These are the things that make for a Godly 'mother.'

Now if we can see the depth of the Truth in this next verse of scripture, then we will have no trouble seeing how we can be Christ's 'mother:'

1Jn 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
1Jn 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

For some "blessed and holy...few" that "day of judgment" is now:

1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God : and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

Time and again we are told that God has brought all things into existence through Christ. Contrary to the spiritually homosexual doctrine of the trinity, the scriptures plainly teach that just as the husband was first and Eve came out of Adam, we are also told that Christ came out of the Father and "the head of Christ is God." This is in Corinthians, which was written many years after Christ had returned to be with His Father. "The head of Christ is God."

1Co 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
How is God the head of Christ?
Rev 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God

Christ is "the beginning of the creation of God." Here is how the Concordant literal phrases this verse:

Rev 3:14 And to the messenger of the ecclesia in Laodicea write: 'Now this is saying the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, and God's Creative Original:"

God first created Christ. And then, through Christ, He has "made heaven and the earth and all that in them is:"

Exo 20:11 For in six days the LORD [Christ] made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

All who disagree with this verse of scripture are simply lacking faith in the Word of God.

Col 1:15 Who [Christ] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

Christ is "before all things," because He is "the firstborn of every creature," "the beginning of the creation of God."

But we are also informed "by Him all things consist." Now if all things consist by Him and "the head of Christ is God," does this not also make Christ God's submissive life-producing wife? Yes, it does. And that is the message of 1 Corinthians 11. As the man is the head of the woman, so God is the head of Christ. And as all men come through the woman, so all things are "of God [but] by Christ." Again, that is the message of 1 Corinthians 11. So Christ, in spirit, is both a son and a wife, just as we, in spirit, are brothers, sons, sisters, a bride and yes, even a mother to Christ.

Since God created Christ first, Christ "is God," "a life giving spirit."

1Co 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening [life giving] spirit.

Is this verse of God's Word concerned only with Christ? No, as we will see, it is not. Life is to be given to all men through Christ's christ. We will be sons of a God who is a life-giving spirit:

Joh 10:33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
Joh 10:34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?
Joh 10:35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
Joh 10:36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?
Are we not also called "sons of God?"
Joh 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

1Jn 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

Php 2:15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

Are we not also "sanctified and sent into the world?"

1Co 1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

Mat 10:40 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.

Luk 9:48 And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.

Luk 10:16 He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.

Joh 17:18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

Joh 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

As Christ is to God, "even so" are we to Christ. Christ is both God's son and God's wife.

As God's sons we, too, are to bring forth fruit not only in our own lives, but also in the lives of those who are in the "church which is His body:" As Christ's wife are we not also to be "life giving spirits" (mothers)? Yes we are. And that is the very context of 1 Corinthians 15:

1Co 15:42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
1Co 15:43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
1Co 15:44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
1Co 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening [life giving] spirit.
1Co 15:46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
1Co 15:47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
1Co 15:48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
1Co 15:49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

As sons of God, we also are to be "quickening spirits." We are "now sons of God." But as Christ's 'wife', we are to be producing children for God.

Rev 21:9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.

Paul calls Timothy, his "son." We are forbidden to call any man our spiritual Father, yet Paul calls Timothy his "son."

1Ti 1:2 Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

2Ti 1:2 To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

2Ti 2:1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

Why does Paul do this? Is Paul ever called 'Father' in scripture? Most definitely not. It is of great significance that Christ did not include the title 'father' in those who make up His disciples. Paul is not claiming to be Timothy's spiritual Father, contrary to Christ's words. What Paul is doing is taking the verse you are referring to seriously and calling Timothy his "son in the faith". Inasmuch as Timothy is Paul's son, Paul considers himself to be part of "Jerusalem above which is the mother of us all".

Gal 4:26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

Rev 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

If Paul is part of "Jerusalem above" and Paul has a son named Timothy, then Paul must be Timothy's spiritual 'mother', the channel through which God had brought Timothy to life. And since Paul is "in Christ", Christ can truly hold out His arms to His disciples and say:

Mat 12:48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
Mat 12:49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
Mat 12:50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

I hope this has helped you to see how Christ can call his disciples His 'Brother, sister and mother.' Christ does not think of Himself apart from us His body:

1Jn 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
1Jn 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
Mike