Mark 7: A Gentile Woman's Request

And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden. But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. And he said to her, "Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."  But she answered him, "Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs." And he said to her, "For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter."  And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone. - Mark 7:24‭-‬30 ESV

Rev. Travis Drake

The background

Jesus is in need of rest. He's been healing, interacting with the authorities, dealing with crowds and fame. So he leaves Israel to a region among gentiles. The religious officials of the day considered any contact with gentiles made people unclean. But Jesus goes there for an extended time, commonly considered unclean, to find rest. Jesus did not consider them subhuman, second class, or unworthy of notice. He did not consider it unsafe or a place where one had to be on guard. 

The nature of the conversation

Jesus had this conversation in the spirit of challenge. A challenge to enliven and build up, but still a challenge. He responds to this woman's request for healing with a challenge. He demands a response. Jesus is a good friend, but He is also God. So not only with Jesus be a comfort, but also a challenge to grow faith and confronting of sins.

How does Jesus do this? He says that children's bread should not go to dogs. Not big dogs, but little pet dogs. This conversation likely happened in a household. A family with children, pets, and relationships. So we need to look at this from the perspective of the family of God, Israel is the covenant family. "Let the children be fed first" is what Jesus said. Not that there was nothing for those outside of Israel. But that there was a process and a timing to Jesus and God's plan. The woman was being challenged to submit to God's plan. Would she do it even if it felt like being a pet dog at someone's table? The core question is this: is Jesus God or not?

The posture of faith

This woman's response is great humility and great faith. Her first words contain the word Lord. It is submitting to Jesus. It meant that even being a pet in the household of God was sufficient. This is the only place to eat there is no other bread, no other table. Even if it meant being treated like a pet, there were no alternatives. Jesus is the singular hope. He alone is the salvation and grace that we need. He knows that we are dust, we are broken, but he takes on our sins. He takes them up to the cross. He knows that the guilt of sin must be paid. The cross is where justice and mercy meet. 

For this woman's response, Jesus provides healing for her daughter. The simple response gets healing. But Jesus paid for salvation and restoration with a shameful public execution. She does not demand elevation from Him. She would rather be in Jesus' house than anywhere else. She trusts that Jesus can and will heal. The end of our efforts and power is the beginning of faith. The end is not too be perfect but to come to the perfect one. 

Application

1. Crumble into Jesus' arms. Bring your inability and weaknesses to Him. He is the only path to salvation.

2. Let Jesus challenge you in the areas where you are absolutely certain that you are right. Allow him to change your political parties, your friends, your finances, your habits with spending, phone, time...