May 31, 2013

“Yes Lord, But…”

Blessings Folk!

Today’s reading:

Matthew 15:21-28
Mark 7:24-30

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A Canaanite woman - Gentile, non-Jew, not-of-the-children-of-God - comes before Jesus crying out...apparently repeatedly without ceasing based on the disciples reaction.

She wanted mercy from Jesus.
She acknowledged that Jesus is Lord, Son of David.
She knew the problem with her daughter - demon-possession.
She knew that Jesus was the answer.
She would not take “no” as an answer.

Jesus did not answer her a word.
Not from rudeness.
Not from anger.
Not from resentment.

Why?
Jesus states before Father that He only did those things and said those things that Father told Him to say.

Father was silent - for the moment.

Jesus then responded to the woman.
He had come for the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

She begged me more.

Jesus then tells her that He could not give the “children’s bread” to the “dogs.”

The woman knew her “status” in the society of the day.
The woman knew where healing for her daughter was - Jesus.

She agreed with Jesus...she was a dog...He had come for the house of Israel.

Yet, even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the master’s table.

What can I say?
What can we think?

Lord, may we have such faith.

Jesus declared her faith to be great.
Then, this great statement - “let what you want be done for you”!
Her daughter was healed from that hour.

The demons were gone.

Again, may we have such faith.
May we call upon the Lord rather than upon the strategies of man.