June 27, 2021
Mark 7:24-30
Crumbs from the Table
Introduction:
In this passage, Jesus’ interaction with this woman comes across as off-putting for a couple of reasons.
First, here is a woman who is in a desperate situation. Her daughter is sick. Perhaps dying. She musters the courage to come and ask Jesus for help and Jesus initially rebuffs her request. How many people throughout history have desperately cried out to God for help—only to have their requests denied? This is enough of a reason for many to leave the faith.
But second, and more disturbing is the way Jesus denies this woman her request. She says, “my daughter needs help.” He replies, “It’s not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” This comes across as not only harsh and offense, but it seems to be a racial slur. Jews referred to Gentiles as dogs. It’s intentionally insulting.
Which leads to the broader question: Doesn’t this entire episode show that the Bible is a book based on ancient, chauvinistic, racist morality? How could any modern person with any sense of decency ascribe to such an outdated religion?
Reddit post: I don't think the bible is a good moral guide in today's world. It might have been decent compared to other religions in the ancient world, but it seems like we can do so much better today.
How do I as a Christian respond to that? Part of me wants to answer this objection by quoting CS Lewis: “If you can’t understand books written for grown-ups, then you shouldn’t talk about them.”
But there’s much more to say than that. I want to show that this story is the opposite of what you think it is. It’s a story about crossing boarders that divide us, loving your enemies, having indomitable faith, and being transformed by the unstoppable grace of God.
This is a short passage, only 7 verses, so we’ll just walk through it one verse at a time.
v.24 Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret.
So far in the Gospel of Mark, Jesus and the disciples have been going non-stop, 24/7, with hardly a chance to eat or rest. They’ve been trying to get away for some R&R, but they continually get interrupted. Crowds follow them. Storms deter them. Pharisees launch smear campaigns against them.
Now, finally, Jesus and his disciples leave the region of Galilee altogether. They go to the non-Jewish city of Tyre. They go incognito. Like movie stars with their sunglasses and baseball caps on trying to avoid the press. They enter a house secretly.
Finally, a chance to rest!
You can picture the scene. Jesus enters the house. Maybe makes himself a sandwich, takes his sandals off, puts his feet up, puts his phone on do-not-disturb, turns on the game, and just as he gets ready to take a bite...there’s a knock at the door.
This woman he’s never met arrives. And this is where the story begins.
v.25-26 In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an impure spirit came and fell at his feet. 26 The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.
These two short verses tell you everything you need to know about this woman. She is not a neutral figure.
Imagine if Ben Shapiro were to show up at the democratic national convention. This is 100xs worse!
Right away, we notice several things about her that would make any ancient, orthodox Jew squirm uncomfortably. She’s the exact opposite of Jesus in every respect.
Different genders.
Different races. She is