Bulletin Articles: Full Article for Record Number 1020
"His Mother And Mine"
by Larry Ray Hafley
There are several intriguing passages in the last chapter of the book of Romans. They tease us. We would like more information about the characters mentioned. How, in what way, was Urbane Paul’s "helper in the Lord" (v. 9)? What made Apelles, "approved in Christ" (v.10)? Specifically, what did Persis do that caused Paul to say he "labored much in the Lord" (v. 12)? To Paul, some were "well beloved," "my beloved in the Lord," but Persis was not just "Persis." He was "the beloved Persis" (vv. 5, 8, 12). Why? We are not told.
One text especially strikes me, "Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine" (v. 13). (As much as we might like to believe that Rufus is the son of Simon of Cyrene, the man who was forced to bear the cross of Jesus, we cannot know it for a fact (Mk. 15:21). Rufus was a common name among slaves.)
At any rate, do you not wonder what ties, or what events, caused Paul to say of Rufus’ mother that he considered her as his mother, too? I do. Whatever it was, the bond was strong and true. I have no doubt that it was a very personal, precious, tender and affectionate relationship in the Lord. What a godly, wonderful woman she must have been for the great apostle to refer to her as his mother, also! Oh, the influence and impact of such wives and mothers! As sorry and unfortunate as were the evil affects of a woman like Jezebel, just so much greater is the glory of women like Rufus’ dear mother.
Lincoln said, "All I am, or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel mother." Consider the power and pathos of that statement, coming from a man whose virtue and character is honored by the world!
Roy Cogdill was a great twentieth century preacher of the first century gospel. No one could listen to him twice without hearing of the wisdom of her counsel and of the example she had been of divine principles which she had engraved on his heart and instilled in his life. I have seen that great and powerful man weep as he spoke of her love and faith in the Lord. I often thought how much like my own mother she must have been. (I wish I had told my mother I thought that. She and Dad were great admirers of brother Cogdill. I could see that he saw the uncommon strength of faith in my mother’s heart, and I wondered if she did not remind him of his own mother’s devout determination to serve the Lord and go to heaven.)
We cannot part the veil and see them now, but when the last great day dawns into the heavenly light of eternity, I doubt not that many mothers in Israel will greet their dear children and welcome them home forever. At last, again, Rufus and Paul will see "his mother and mine."
