Monday, May 13, 2024
“Rufus”
Note: This week we will be studying several lesser known Bible characters from a portion of Scripture one Bible teacher calls “a grocery list on names”.
Message summary: Yesterday was Mother’s Day. Many who give little thought to obeying God’s commands and may even live in open rebellion against God will nevertheless practice the Fifth Commandment to “Honor your father and your mother” (Exodus 20:12).
Listen to our message on your audio player.
“Greet Rufus, a choice man in the Lord, also his mother and mine” (Romans 16:13).
On Mothers Day and Fathers Day during my years of pastoring I often taught on the family and gave special focus toward honoring our mothers and fathers. Over twenty-five years of writing these messages, around Mother’s Day, I usually prepare a message about mothers, often using the Fifth Commandment itself, “Honor your father and your mother”.
However today I want to go in a little different direction with a consideration of a Bible verse that is likely overlooked that does have a Mother’s Day message.
At the conclusion of Romans 16, following the theological richness in Romans 1-11 and the practical teaching in chapters 12-15 Paul concludes his letter with a glimpse into the kind of “people person” he was. He mentions many people by name, which Gordon Franz calls a “grocery list of names”.
Today we will study about a man named Rufus and a warmhearted reference he made to Rufus’ mother.
“Greet Rufus…” Do you know anybody named Rufus besides a beloved pet dog? It’s a rather uncommon name but, here in Lancaster County where many people have Biblical names, we have met several men named Rufus. It’s certainly not as common as John, Peter, Paul or even my namesake, Stephen. And actually the only people I ever met named Rufus were older than me. It’s just not popular as a name for boys but who knows many names we identify with older people or now deceased people are coming back such as the following names Cora, Mabel, Hazel, Opal, Oliver.
There are just two references to Rufus in the Bible and it’s possible they may be the same person and if so that would be very interesting. The first reference are the two sons of Simon the Cyrene who was forced to carry Christ’s cross as recorded in Mark 15:21. “A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross”. If this is that Rufus, then he would have been of North African descent. Cyrene is in present day Libya.
“A choice man in the Lord”. Paul uses this interesting description for Rufus. To be described this way is a great commendation from Paul. This conveys that Rufus had some eminence among the Christians in his day. Bible teacher John MacArthur opines, “He was an extraordinary Christian, known for his love and work for the Lord and for the Lord’s people”.
“Also his mother and mine”. It is the last phrase in the text that has a relationship to Mother’s Day. No proper name for Rufus’ mother is provided. Scripture speaks little about Paul’s family background. There is no reference to his family growing up; he never refers to his mother and father nor any siblings. He appears to be single and no children are mentioned. So today’s brief passage in Romans caught my attention. I am not aware of a compelling reason that he would not be speaking literally here. After all Paul, like everyone else, certainly had a mother!
However most commentators feel that Rufus’ mother cared for Paul like a mother; thus he tenderly refers to her as his mother.
Grant C. Richison considers that “Rufus’s mother might have met Paul in his need when his own family [would likely have] rejected him upon his becoming a Christian”.
Herbert Vander Lugt asks, “Could it be that Rufus had brought a weary and tired apostle to his house, where Paul received from the mother of Rufus comforting words, a fresh garment, and a nourishing meal? Did Paul receive from her the empathy and tenderness that only a mother can give? We don’t know this for sure, but it could explain his unusual greeting in today’s text”.
God has given mothers a unique capacity for showing gentleness and compassion, and for influencing the spiritual direction of their own biological children as well as the children whom they may influence in a motherly sort of way over their lifetime. Let’s be thankful for our mothers and for those who have been like a mother to us.
Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, the fifth commandment indicates that we’re to honor our father and mother. When we honor our parents, Lord, we also honor You and show appreciation for Your marvelous workmanship in our lives. We acknowledge that You ordained the family of our origin and we give thanks to You for our mother and father, brothers and sisters, along with special women we connect with; those who take us under their wings in our life’s journey, that become a mother like figure to us, loving and caring for us as though we were blood related. We pray for our mothers and these dear mother-like figures in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Monica Kirsch shared a prayer yesterday at the beginning of our service that really spoke to my heart and surely every mother who was present during our Morning Worship. She has graciously shared the written prayer with us so that we might share it with our readers today:
“God, today we celebrate the women You’ve placed in each of our lives who’ve nurtured and guided us, given their time for us, and loved us, even when it was hard. We know that moms are faced with big and tough decisions each and every day, and we thank You for the wisdom You give as they lead and love us. We also thank You for the many women who have mothered children who are not their own; whether they’ve said “yes” to adoption or fostering, or simply opened their lives and walked with us when we needed guidance. Lord, we are grateful for their sacrifice.
We know from Ecclesiastes that, while there are times to celebrate, there are also times to mourn. And so Lord, I also acknowledge those for whom today is a time of mourning. You tell us that You’re near to the brokenhearted, so God, I ask in Your mercy, kindness, and grace, please be near
- to those grieving broken relationships with their mom, and to moms who desire to be on better terms with their children.
- to those who have lost their mom, and to moms who feel the deep ache of loss themselves.
- to those for whom motherhood is a lonely road, and those whose desire to be a mom has yet to be fulfilled.
You comfort those in times of need, so please comfort these women as they navigate through all of the emotions that this day brings.
God, for the moms who are weary today, I ask that You would renew their spirits. For those of us who struggle to express our gratitude, I ask that today You would give us the words to say to thank the many women who have made an impact on our lives. Thank You for the ways You’ve used these women to help build a foundation for our walks with You. We are so grateful that You are a God who knows our needs before we even ask. And we lift this all to you in the name of Your Son, Jesus. Amen”.
Brooksyne’s note: Paul referring to Rufus’ mother as “his” mother brought to my mind our missions pastor at church. He’s only a few years younger than us and came to the Lord as a young adult. He was raised in a Jehovah’s Witness family, and upon the news that he gave his heart to Christ, they rejected not only his faith but also his relationship as their son. All these years later it remains the same, but one day I was visiting Calvary Homes and began visiting with a resident. When she learned of the church I attended she asked me if I knew David H. When I acknowledged that I knew of him, had talked with him briefly, and really appreciated his ministry she smiled real big and told me he was her son, her “adopted” son. For years she has been as a mother to him and calls him her son since his mother “disowned” him. How sweet is a bond such as these two have and anyone else who steps in as a spiritual surrogate to anyone whose family has rejected them for following Christ.
Today’s Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
“Crowns Down” Watch on YouTube Josh Baldwin A song with lyrics that transports one’s soul to our future home in heaven. We sang in church yesterday and it did just that.
Today we will share some photos from a bike ride we went on Saturday with some friends from our ABF class along the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal (C&D Canal). We began in Chesapeake City and finished in Delaware City, both small towns at each end of the canal and really not cities. After the round trip several of us had lunch together in a waterfront seafood restaurant.
Yesterday after church Ester took a mother/daughter photo to remember the celebration of Mother’s Day 2024.
Daily Encouragement 
