Word@Work 087 - Mark 7:27-30
Published: Thu, 03/20/08
Word@Work from BeaconLight
Read Mark 7:27-30 "First let the children eat all they want," he told her, "for it is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs." "Yes, Lord," she replied, "but even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs." Then he told her, "For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter." She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone. (NIV)
At first sight, Jesus did not appear sympathetic to the Syro-Phoenician woman. He said that his time and ministry was first to be given to the Jews; indeed it would have been inappropriate for others to take that place. He was testing her. But she did not resent his use of 'dogs' to include her; and she did not argue with that description - she was indeed a dog, begging! Because even dogs were not denied the left-overs!
What a stunningly insightful comment. She may not have been an Old Testament theologian, but there was no doubt that she understood the purpose of God's mission to the world: His grace and mercy were for the Jews first, but also for the Gentiles. The power of God in Jesus was for all, and it included her! In simple terms, she was a believer in the Jesus who could send Satan away. And that was enough. The woman's daughter was found quietly lying on her bed, and the demon had gone.
Desperate but disciplined, unworthy but undeterred: that kind of prayer always reached God's heart. It was no tepid plea, it pursued the loving Jesus to act in accordance with His character. It offered no 'old school tie' or other cultural bargaining tool - but accepted utter unworthiness. The prayer simply begged that Jesus fulfil His role ... to dispossess Satan of his right to terrorise the little girl. Time we started praying like that? If you are in desperate circumstances - remember that desperation and unworthiness are a good starting point for prayer, when mixed with the confidence that the Lord has the power to deliver us from evil!
Prayer (from Matthew 6:12-13): Heavenly Father. Please, lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from evil, for Yours is the Kingdom, and the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
At first sight, Jesus did not appear sympathetic to the Syro-Phoenician woman. He said that his time and ministry was first to be given to the Jews; indeed it would have been inappropriate for others to take that place. He was testing her. But she did not resent his use of 'dogs' to include her; and she did not argue with that description - she was indeed a dog, begging! Because even dogs were not denied the left-overs!
What a stunningly insightful comment. She may not have been an Old Testament theologian, but there was no doubt that she understood the purpose of God's mission to the world: His grace and mercy were for the Jews first, but also for the Gentiles. The power of God in Jesus was for all, and it included her! In simple terms, she was a believer in the Jesus who could send Satan away. And that was enough. The woman's daughter was found quietly lying on her bed, and the demon had gone.
Desperate but disciplined, unworthy but undeterred: that kind of prayer always reached God's heart. It was no tepid plea, it pursued the loving Jesus to act in accordance with His character. It offered no 'old school tie' or other cultural bargaining tool - but accepted utter unworthiness. The prayer simply begged that Jesus fulfil His role ... to dispossess Satan of his right to terrorise the little girl. Time we started praying like that? If you are in desperate circumstances - remember that desperation and unworthiness are a good starting point for prayer, when mixed with the confidence that the Lord has the power to deliver us from evil!
Prayer (from Matthew 6:12-13): Heavenly Father. Please, lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from evil, for Yours is the Kingdom, and the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
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