Having persistence, resolve, and tenacity are often good qualities to have. Giving up too quickly can mean losing out on something we really want or need. Perhaps you know someone who just won’t give up on achieving what they need, even when it becomes annoying. In our Gospel reading for this week, we are introduced to a woman who was very persistent, a woman who was not going to give up trying to get what she needed, despite any roadblocks that came up, or any people who tried to stop her.
As our Scripture passage opens, Jesus and His disciples sought to escape the huge crowds that had been following them, seeking healing and other miracles to help their lives. They traveled to the area of the cities of Tyre and Sidon (vs. 21). These two cities were along the coast of the Mediterranean in what is today southern Lebanon. These two cities, a few miles apart from each other, were Gentile cities, heavily influenced by Greek culture.
While there a Gentile woman came up to the Lord Jesus, requesting that He cast out a demon from her daughter (vs. 22). We don’t know exactly what was happening with her daughter, but since this was a demon possession, it undoubtedly was something severe and frightening. What loving and caring parent wouldn’t be quite concerned about their child, especially if they knew demons were afflicting them? When this woman heard that Jesus was in town, she wanted Him to cast these demons out, bringing the child relief and deliverance. Undoubtedly she had heard of Jesus, and had faith that He would be her only hope.
The problem, though, was that she was a Gentile, and the disciples wanted her to leave (vs. 23). Most devout Jews had nothing to do with Gentiles, or non-Jews, and held them in deep contempt. The disciples had no compassion for this woman or her needs. They wanted Jesus to tell her to leave them, but she was very persistent. This was her beloved daughter. Without Jesus’ help and healing, there was no hope, and she wasn’t going to leave. He had healed countless others, including casting out demons, and she wanted, she needed, His attention for her child.
What did Jesus do, though? As our Scripture says, Jesus did not answer her at first. And then when He did answer, He said that He had come for the lost sheep of Israel (vs. 24). However, this didn’t deter this Canaanite woman. She knew that Jesus had ministered to Gentiles before. He had healed the Roman centurion’s servant when he came to Jesus (Matthew 8:5-13). He healed a Samaritan man of leprosy (Luke 17:12-19), and ministered to another Samaritan woman (John 4:1-42). And the man with a legion of demons in the area of the Gadarenes was quite possibly a Gentile, as that area was mainly populated by Gentiles (Mark 5:1-20). She pleaded with Jesus for His help (vs. 25). This was her daughter, and her mother’s-heart was breaking!
What was Jesus doing? Why would He seemingly ignore her? Jesus was telling the woman that Jews were to have the first opportunity to accept Him as Messiah because God wanted them to present the Gospel to the rest of the world. Then He seemingly called her a dog! (vs. 26). The Jews frequently called Gentiles dogs as a derogatory term. Jesus used the word “kuhariois” which meant “little dog”, a household lap dog pet, not another word which would mean a wild, scavenging, mean dog. Rather than being offended, which too many people are today, she replied that if she was a dog, she was Jesus’ lap dog pet! (vs. 27) She knew what could be hers, even as a Gentile. This woman knew that there is an abundance at God’s table. Even though her need was great, she knew that for Jesus and His power, her need was but a crumb from that table. This woman opened her needy soul very wide, expecting great things of Jesus, and He filled it with His love.
The Canaanite woman’s prayers were not answered right away, and she did not receive her blessing right away. Yet she had great faith. Her prayers were good. She certainly was needy, and she was sincere. Sometimes one’s faith is tested rather than instantly rewarded. Jesus wanted to test her faith, and to teach that faith is available to all. God’s message is for all people (Psalm 22:27; Romans 15:9-12).
Do you have faith like this woman, faith that will hang on to Jesus until you receive what you need? Sometimes that is what we need, a persistence that will not take no for an answer. There were only two people that Jesus spoke of as having “great faith” (vs. 28). One was the Roman centurion mentioned above, and now this woman. Both were Gentiles. This woman didn’t lose heart. She didn’t let others discourage her, nor did she get all offended and walk away in a proud huff. She hung on to Jesus, crying out to Him to have mercy on her and her little girl, and she received her request.
No comments:
Post a Comment