In Mark 7 there is an interesting miracle that is recorded. \u00a0It is interesting, not because Jesus cast out a demon, but rather because of the exchange between Jesus and the woman. \u00a0The text is found in Mark 7:24-30.<\/p>\n
Jesus has just taught on what defiles a person (Mark 7:1-23). \u00a0In doing so he has denounced the Pharisees. \u00a0After teaching on true defilement, Jesus again goes against the tradition of the elders. \u00a0This time he goes outside of Palestine to the region of Tyre and Sidon. \u00a0Jesus and His disciples are clearly seeking some rest. \u00a0He tries to hide in a house, but there was no such luck. \u00a0A Gentile woman comes to Him and asks that He cast out a demon that has possessed her daughter. \u00a0It is here that we see the interesting exchange. \u00a0After having asked Jesus to deliver her daughter, Jesus seemingly responds in a callous way by saying, “Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it unto the dogs.” \u00a0The woman, undeterred, responds, “Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children’s crumbs.”<\/p>\n
It is important to know here that Jesus is not specifically calling this woman or her daughter a dog, even though it was a common Jewish title for Gentiles. \u00a0Jesus here is testing the woman’s faith. \u00a0This woman had two very big cultural strikes against her at this time. \u00a0First, she as a Gentile. \u00a0Jesus clearly says that He has come to the Jews. \u00a0This is of course in fulfilling Scripture that “salvation is of the Jews.” \u00a0The second thing against her was the fact she was a woman. \u00a0Women in that society were looked down upon. \u00a0Yet we see in Jesus’ actions that the Gospel is for Jews and Gentiles, and that all people have the same sin problem, and need the same Savior. \u00a0This is why Paul would later right that there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile, male or female. \u00a0Paul was saying that God sees us all the same, that we all have the same problem, and that the solution is the same for everyone. \u00a0Jesus’ first response to this woman wasn’t callous. \u00a0Rather it was Jesus stating who He came to (the Jews-children) as an acknowledgment of Israel’s special relationship with God. \u00a0What we see from the woman is incredible humility and faith.<\/p>\n
She demonstrates faith by coming to Jesus in the first place. \u00a0Even though she was a Gentile, she still believed that Jesus could heal her daughter. \u00a0Her faith was strong enough to ignore the cultural stigmas that were against her, and still come seeking Jesus for help. \u00a0Are we that desperate for Jesus? \u00a0Are we willing to risk ridicule and maybe even rejection from people to see Jesus do something in our life? \u00a0The woman displays great humility because she doesn’t argue with Jesus about Israel’s relationship with God. \u00a0She says, “Yes, Lord.” \u00a0She didn’t put the Jews down simply so she could have her daughter healed. \u00a0She wasn’t presumptuous about who she was. \u00a0She knew she was a Gentile woman, but she still had the faith to trust that God could heal her daughter. \u00a0Again, what about us? \u00a0Do we want what we want so bad that we will do whatever it takes, including put others down to get what we want? \u00a0Do we have a sense of entitlement?<\/p>\n
Faith and humility go hand in hand. \u00a0Humility acknowledges who we are and our own weaknesses. \u00a0While faith says, “I can’t, but God can.” \u00a0That is why in James 4 it says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” \u00a0We must first see clearly who we are, before we will ever look in faith to God to help us. \u00a0Because of the woman’s humility and faith, Jesus healed her daughter. \u00a0What do you need God to do in your life? \u00a0Are you humble enough to admit that you can’t fix whatever the problem is? \u00a0Do you have faith that God can?<\/p>\n
Pastor Justin<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In Mark 7 there is an interesting miracle that is recorded. \u00a0It is interesting, not because Jesus cast out a demon, but rather because of the exchange between Jesus and the woman. \u00a0The text is found in Mark 7:24-30. Jesus … Read More