Matthew 15:21-28 NIV
21 Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”
23 Jesus did not answer a word. So his
disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out
after us.”
24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost
sheep of Israel.”
25 The woman came and knelt before
him. “Lord, help me!” she said.
26 He replied, “It is not right to take the
children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”
27 “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the
dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”
28 Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great
faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at
that moment.
Life Giving Crumbs
Jesus
was in the area of Galilee teaching crowds and speaking to the Pharisees. Now
He was moving on to Tyre and Sidon, cities in the Gentile area that were
wealthy and prosperous. This area was outside of the typical Jewish areas of
ministry. Tyre and Sidon were known for pagan practices. Also, Tyre and Sidon
were areas, typically in conflict with Israel.
A
non-Jewish woman approached Jesus. The non-Jewish woman, in herself, was not
something that would be customary with a Jew, like Jesus, to give her any
recognition. But this woman has a need. She recognizes Jesus’ power and
authority to heal. She recognizes Jesus’ divinity.
Anyhow,
the woman sees Jesus as someone that can help her demon possessed daughter.
Why? Because she has been gifted with a faith from God that jumps outside of
religious norms and the societal norms of the day. This is expressed in her
sure confidence in Jesus’ power, as she cries out to Him, for compassion,
comfort and healing for her daughter.
When in
need, we reach out. As this woman reached out, she sees the power of Jesus over
demonic forces. Sometimes those outside of the “normal” see the power of Jesus
much better than those inside the group. Perhaps like the disciples, or even
Christians of today. People outside of the typical group, see Jesus more for
what He is, than those “inside” the group.
It’s
funny how Jesus must have heard the woman cry, but refused to say anything. Was
this a test? Was Jesus teasing a response out of the woman or even, perhaps,
the disciples?
This
makes me recall other times in Scripture when God is silent. Like Elijah on the
mountain, as he worries about his future and his past. The silence is broken by
the “still small voice.” Or even with Job in his cries to God of why? How about
the so called “silent night” of Jesus’ birth. Sometimes in life, God speaks in
the silence.
But the
disciples, in this case, just wanted the woman to go away. Why? Were they
exhibiting a cultural disgust of this woman being a Gentile? I don’t know, and
I really am in no place to judge this, but for me, my sinfulness may have done
just that. I may have been in judgment of this woman, if I were in the place of
the disciples. And I don’t think my judgment would have been right at all. I
may have seen this woman as a distraction to the accomplishment of, what I
think, the mission of Jesus to be. Wow! Who do I think I am?!
But I
think if we are honest, we may fall to this same prejudice as well. And maybe
there is something to learn here in just this prejudice.
Maybe I
think that faith, surely can’t be granted beyond the boundaries of my own
Christian thinking. But here is the thing, this woman does not see the
boundaries that I, or perhaps you, or maybe even the disciples see, as this
woman, “Outside of our Group,” cries to Jesus for help. A woman with a deep
prayer to Jesus to heal her daughter.
Oh, how
easy it is to exclude people in need, rather than to even, at least pray for
their need, let alone, assist them in that need they bring forth. It happens
all the time. It happens every day, as we count people, out of our norms and
our groups, to cast them aside in their need.
And
then, to pile it on, listen to Jesus’ response to this woman, “I was sent only
to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
Whoa!
Now I feel confident in my judgment to exclude this woman and her daughter as
well. They ain’t part of us! They aren’t like us! They are outside of our
privileged religion, or even our nation.
But here
is the funny part. Sure, Jesus’ mission was with Israel to begin with, BUT, and
this is a big BUT, or maybe better a great HOWEVER. Jesus’ mission WAS NOT
exclusive to the Jews or even the Israelites. Sure, Jesus began with the Jews
and the Israelites, HOWEVER, He does not end at that!
This
woman was bold enough to break the traditions of the day, and cry out to Jesus.
Why? Because God gave her the faith she needed, to be BOLD, in the face of God
Himself, in Jesus.
This
woman surely knows just who Jesus is. Isn’t that great?! Someone from the
outside, knows Jesus better than we do ourselves. So, she kneels in the
presence of God and prays the deep prayer of “Lord, help me!”
Now this
outsider to the group, has become the example of how we should be in the
presence of God. This woman is now teaching the disciples, and us as well, how
to pray to God, and how to reach out, knowing that only God can save. Hmmm….
This
woman is showing us FAITH! So, we need to LOOK, SEE, LISTEN and join in prayer
with her, and those like her.
And then
see, what Jesus does?
Jesus
continues to teach, saying, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and
toss it to the dogs.”
Yea!
Take that lady! See! I knew my judgment of this filthy Gentile in need was spot
on!
But
that’s not the end of the story. Jesus teased out of this woman a passion for
the gift of her faith in Him, as her God and her Savior. The woman is even
ready to just get a “crumb” of faith and healing from the One she recognizes as
her Lord and Savior.
Talk
about an example of “Faith” beyond borders or boundaries! Talk about humility
in the presence of God! This woman exhibits her reliance of Jesus as her
Savior.
And in
all of this, Jesus, knows and recognizes the confidence this woman has placed
in her God given gift of faith. Jesus heals the woman’s daughter then and
there!
May I do
what is “right.” Even and most importantly to the foreigners.
Yes,
Lord, even I, can hear Your voice in the assembly…
“May God
be gracious to us and bless us and make Your face shine on us – SO THAT Your
ways may be known on earth, Your salvation among ALL nations.” --- Psalm 67:1
--- my emphasis added in caps…
How
beautiful it is to see, in this woman, how You never reject Your people. You
have “Come” to save all people.
As God
gives each of us faith, may we be bold to show that faith, loud and proud. For
faith is a “Gift from God.”
Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV
8 For it is by grace you have been
saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of
God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
As we
hear the cries of those in need, from the outside, or from the inside, may we
acknowledge that God not only came to the few, but He came to the ALL, to grant
life in His Kingdom forever. This is NOT an exclusive club that we can grant
access to, for only those who meet our traditions or our requirements. God’s
people are for ALL the people.
Likewise,
may I see the needs of those from the “outside,” and invite them into the love
of Christ, in what I say and in what I do. That’s some love that started before
creation. That’s the love of God, in and through, Christ Jesus. That’s the
“Love you neighbor” stuff.
Galatians 5:14 NIV
For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one
command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Thank
you, Lord for the gift of some crumbs from Your table of love… today… tomorrow…
and forever!
Here’s a
different one --- A country song that spoke to me on this passage of Scripture…
“The Crumbs
From The Table”
No comments:
Post a Comment