Praise God for Crumbs!

In the past three Sundays, we have been looking at Mark 7 and Jesus’ interaction with the first century Pharisees and scribes.  Jesus shook up their culture.  He ruffled some feathers.  He orchestrated change. 

 

We’ve seen in the recent weeks that He disregarded the traditions of men compared to the commandments of God.  He declared all food clean.  Today, we are going to see Him dialogue with a Gentile woman.  Please do your best to understand the significance of what I just said.  We are going to see Jesus, a Jewish Rabbi, have a conversation with a Gentile female. 

 

In today’s text, let’s make three observations as we “Praise the Lord for Crumbs:” first, Jesus’ Retreat; second, a Foreigner’s request; and third, a Predictable Result.

 

 

1. Jesus’ Retreat, Mark 7:24

24 From there He arose and went to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And He entered a house and wanted no one to know it, but He could not be hidden.

 

Jesus had left Capernaum and went into a more Gentile area.  Verse 24 also tells us that he had entered a house and wanted no one to know it.

 

We are sure whose house this was, but we assume He didn’t want to be bothered in order to rest and to give His disciples some personal and uninterrupted instruction. 

 

However, the end of verse 24, tells us that Jesus couldn’t be left alone.  More than likely, word had spread of His healing ministry and where He was.  Therefore, He couldn’t be hidden.

 

 

2. A Foreigner’s Request, 7:25-28

25 For a woman whose young daughter had an unclean spirit heard about Him, and she came and fell at His feet. 26 The woman was a Greek, a Syro-Phoenician by birth, and she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 But Jesus said to her, “Let the children be filled first, for it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.”  28 And she answered and said to Him, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the children’s crumbs.”

 

There was a certain woman who had heard of His healing ministry and sought Him out because her daughter was in desperate need.  She had an unclean spirt or was demon possessed.

 

She came to Jesus, and she fell at His feet.  This was a sign of the respect she had for Him.  This also lets us know how she viewed herself.  She was a woman of humility.

 

Verse 26 says this woman was a Greek speaking, Syrian from Phoenicia.  To say that she was a Greek Speaker was also to say she was a Gentile.  This entire story is more about who she was than what was going on with her daughter. 

 

Matthew 15:22 even says she was a Canaanite.  That means she was a pagan or at least had been a pagan prior to meeting Jesus. 

 

Matthew 15:22, 22 And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.”

 

She came and fell at Jesus’ feet and “kept asking” or begging Him to cast the demon out of her daughter, and verse 27 responded to her request.

 

More than likely while in this house, Jesus and His disciples were at a table eating a meal.  This time was specifically for them.  Discipleship often took place over a meal and around a table, but then this pagan woman interrupted.

 

Jesus told her to let the children be filled first.  For it was not good or right or polite to feed the little dogs before the children. 

 

The children were at least Jesus Twelve Disciples if not the entire nation of Israel.  Their filling or food was the gospel ministry and discipleship.  I believe Jesus had in mind His coming crucifixion, and said until then, His primary ministry was going to be to His Twelve Disciples and the nation of Israel.

 

The little dogs were small, domesticated dogs or puppies that stayed in the house.  Perhaps there were some in this house and visible during this experience.  The little dogs were Gentiles. 

 

Jesus said His primary ministry was first to His disciples and the nation of Israel while He was on earth.  After His crucifixion and resurrection, we see in the Book of Acts the exponential growth of the Gentile Church and echoed by Paul in Romans 1:16. 

 

Romans 1:16, 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

 

However, this Gentile woman had a witty reply.  She addressed Jesus as Lord.  By the way, this is the only time in Mark’s Gospel that ever happens. 

 

She acknowledged that even the little dogs benefitted from the children’s crumbs that accidently or inadvertently fell to the ground.  In other words, even Gentiles could receive blessings from Jesus’ ministry to Israel. 

 

 

3. A Predictable Result, 7:29-30

29 Then He said to her, “For this saying go your way; the demon has gone out of your daughter.”  30 And when she had come to her house, she found the demon gone out, and her daughter lying on the bed.

 

Jesus’ final words to this woman began in verse 29.  This saying demonstrated her faith and hope in Jesus.  We already saw her actions of humility and respect when she came and fell at Jesus’ feet and begged Him to intervene in her daughter’s life. 

 

Because of this woman’s faith, Jesus healed her daughter from a distance.  This too is the only instance of healing from a distance in Mark’s Gospel and foreshadows spiritual healing that is found only in Jesus. 

 

In verse 30, this woman’s faith was followed by her actions.  She believed Jesus, went back to her house and found her daughter healed exactly when Jesus spoke.  That is implied in the language of the New Testament.  Faith in Christ honors Him and as a result, He honored this woman’s faith.

 

So what do we take away from this story?  Hopefully, the answers are obvious, but just in case they aren’t.

 

Applications

First, Jesus will save anyone, anytime, anywhere regardless of race, social class, political party, marital status, education, or gender who has faith to call on Him as Lord and Savior.  See John 3:16 and Romans 10:12-13.

 

John 3:16, 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

 

Romans 10:12-13, 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

 

Second, as a follower of Christ, it is our obligation and privilege to share the good news that Jesus saves with anyone and everyone that God puts in our path and to even go to all the nations.

 

Matthew 28:19-20, 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

 

Finally, for all of our parents this morning, when your child is in need, run to Jesus and beg Him to intervene.

 

Matthew 7:7-11, 7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

 

James 5:16, 16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

 

Our invitation this morning is for you to call on Jesus to save you, for you to commit to sharing the gospel with whomever Jesus puts in your path, and for parents to pray to Jesus for Him to intervene in the life of your physically or spiritually sick child.