What Are You Saying to Jesus?
Notes
Transcript
Preliminary:
Preliminary:
Invite to Matthew 15:21.
Thanks
Now this story is also found in Mark’s Gospel Mark 7:24-30 and we may refer to his version some as well if you would like compare them.
Matthew 15:21 I want to talk to you about a very important question - “What are you saying to Jesus?”
Let’s read-
21 Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.
22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.
23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.
24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.
26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs.
27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.
28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.
29 And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there.
30 And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus’ feet; and he healed them:
31 Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.
32 Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.
33 And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude?
34 And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes.
35 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.
36 And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
37 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full.
38 And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children.
39 And he sent away the multitude, and took ship, and came into the coasts of Magdala.
Introduction:
Introduction:
Did you know that Jesus went on vacation?
There are at least four times in the book of Matthew where Jesus attempted to go on vacation.
In this instance he was vacationing in Tyre and Sidon
It was supposed to be a secretive vacation - no one was supposed to know where he was - but somehow this Canaanite woman heard that Jesus was coming by.
Now Mark says this woman was a Greek a Syrophenician by nation.
So what was she?
Matthew uses the Old testament place names (probably to conjure up their evil connotations from the olden days)
What this all means is that she was a Greek or Gentile who lived in an area that was referred to both as Syria or Phoenicia and so ran together as Syrophenician
It was in the land of Tyre and Sidon, Canaanite country
today this would be parts of Lebanon and Syria
In simple terms she would have had “gentile sinner” tattooed on her head so to speak.
But she had a problem - her daughter had an evil spirit
While it would be easy to assume that Jesus is attempting to destroy this woman’s faith I want you to notice in reality he is developing it.
Sometimes we forget that our responses to God can either increase or decrease our faith.
How do you respond to God in these situations?
There are three techniques that Jesus uses in his interaction with this woman.
Lets listen in.
Jesus and the disciples are walking down the road - maybe talking about the fishing, extra sleeping, praying - whatever they did on vacation
As they are walking down the road they hear a commotion behind them -
A woman is yelling
I don’t know about your Mom - but two things my Mama tried to instill in all six of us kids when we were out in public was
Don’t point
Don’t stare
Those were two of her pet peeves I remember hearing her mutter just barely for us to hear - but we got the point - “Don’t stare”
But even as an adult - when I see something different, unique, or causing a commotion - I catch myself staring
I wonder if Jesus had to tell Philip and Thomas - “quit staring - lets keep moving?”
But as the noise grew louder they began to realize the woman was trying to get their attention
I can hear the audible huff and sigh from the group of men - “Here we go again - can’t we go anywhere in peace and quiet?”
as the sound grew nearer they could see it was just a woman - running and screaming at the top of her lungs
“Have mercy on me,” “O Lord, Son of David”
Just over and over she cries out to them - finally catching up to them and running in front of Jesus and running backwards
she is desperate
She is out of breath
her face is tear stained - the dust from the road was sticking to trail of tears on her face
Jesus just keeps walking doesn’t say a word,
Maybe even attempts to step around her - but she doesn’t let him
This is the first technique Jesus uses. Silence
- “Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil” (Matthew 15:22) - The very next verse “But he answered her not a word.”
What do we do when there is no reply from Jesus?
It is easy to simply give up - “Oh He isn’t listening to me - I’m not getting anywhere, I give up”
This woman may have been a Gentile and thought of as a sinner by the disciples - but Jesus seen her heart and knew that she had a great faith - if only he could get her to express it and show his disciples
His silence wasn’t an ignoring of her need - God never ignores your need
Jesus himself tells us “our Father knows what you have need of”
My wife and I had a need sometime ago - we prayed, and prayed, and prayed
It seemed like everyday my request list didn’t change - I would claim the promises I would repeat the promises - everything I preach that one should do when they have a serious need before the Lord
But nothing happened - nothing changed - nothing was working
God was silent - heaven seemed like it wasn’t listening
Jesus seemed to just be walking on down the road
I was screaming, I was desperate, I was needy, I was trying to believe all that the Scriptures said - but I was being tested
We prayed on, we believed on, we held on, we tried to trust on, we tried to keep it before God
And one day - in one of the most dramatic of ways - God answered that need -
In my mind it was way more than four days late - but oh when the answer came - my heart and mind was so filled with praise - that no it was right on time -
God’s silence isn’t delaying the answer - its a test of faith
This poor woman - without concern of her dignity, or what other people are thinking is crying out loudly - the towns people are looking
You can see them pointing and whispering
James and John are getting rather embarrassed -
But she isn’t stopping and the scene is escalating and Jesus just keeps ignoring her - he isn’t saying anything.
Finally one speaks up and says “Master just give her what she wants or send her away - please”
I don’t believe I have ever seen it here, but sometimes those of us who are slow to catch on to faith sometimes wear on the nerves and patience of the church.
That seems to be what is going on here - the church got tired of trying to help her.
Poor Sister Vaughn a dear lady in North Missouri, as far as I know no relation to the Vaughns out here, but she would come to church and request prayer for herself - she didn’t know if she was still saved or not
I’m not talking about a new Christian I’m talking about someone who had gone to church nearly all their life,
was extremely concientious, tried their best to please God in everything they did
I can still see her raising her hand and asking people to pray for her - or at times she would do it in testimony - she would stand and say I just don’t know if I’m still saved please pray for me
and you could just feel the embarrassment in the room as the Saints would look away, some even smile, some shake their heads out of frustration -
Many many times before the service was over - I remember hearing Sister Vaughn shouting - the tears flowing down her face as once again the Holy Spirit reached around nerves, anxiety and depression and reassured her heart that her name was still on the Roll.
When I get to heaven I want to look up Sis. Vaughn and ask her what was the first thing Jesus said to her when she walked through the gate?
I have a feeling it’s going to be something like - the church may have tired of you - but I never did - I was developing your faith welcome home - you didn’t let their frustration keep you from following me
This woman wasn’t going to be turned away because of a few discontented disciples
What is interesting though is Jesus still hasn’t responded to the woman - but he does talk to the disciples
26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs.
Instead of causing this woman who obviously heard what Jesus said stopped on the road and fell at his feet and worshipped him.
and prayed, “Lord, help me”
You ever been in that kind of situation - when you are hurting when you are in need, when you are in need of help
Can I just encourage you to worship
I am often so inspired, yet challenged and convicted by the story of Job
Job is living the dream has a large family, lots of money, it just seems perfect
Then one day everything falls apart.
In a matter of hours everything he owns and loves is taken from him
His oxen - livelihood was taken
Fire fell from heaven and killed his sheep
All his camels were taken by the Chaldeans
All his children were killed in a storm
and then you read right after that Job 1:20
20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
Oh that wasn’t a worship because he felt warm and fuzzy about the goodness of God - it was because He trusted God - he was not going to charge God foolishly - he was going to worship
This woman falls at Jesus’ feet and worships him
and prays “Lord, help me” this is a good prayer
one I have prayed many times myself - sometimes you don’t have time to construct a prayer, or think of what to say
just “Lord, help me” and that is sufficient
I love her response - Just because Jesus was sent for Israel wasn’t going to stop her - she believed in Jesus and knew He could help her and by the Grace of God he was going to help her or she was going to follow him asking from that moment on
What is our response when Jesus tells us its not time yet, or that its not convenient, or that he came to help someone else?
She says what Jacob says - I will not let you go until you bless me
I won’t be denied
Did you know Jesus teaches us to pray like that -
One of my favorite passages on prayer by Jesus is found in Luke 11:5-13 its the story of a friend who had an unexpected need arise
5 And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;
6 For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?
7 And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.
8 I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.
9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
How undeniable are your prayers?
Or do we give up as soon as we think the answer is no?
Or if we think the church is getting tired of us and our need?
don’t give up - hang on - keep on knocking on that door of heaven
HE will answer the prayer of faith!!!
lastly what is our response When Jesus says hard things
Jesus finally looks the woman in the eyes and says one of the hardest sounding things in the New Testament
26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs.
Now I want us to notice three things about what Jesus says
Jesus does not call this woman a dog - it sounds like it - it sounds like Jesus is being cruel - can i just interject that sometimes what Jesus has to say to us does sound cruel - but it yields the fruit of faith
Jesus is using the idea of how the children and dogs to convey the same idea of what he told the disciples - that He has come for Israel
The word for dog used in this passage isn’t some strange mangy, flea ridden, wild and woolly stray dog - the Greek word for dog in this verse is for the family pet
The woman agrees with Jesus - she isn’t calling herself a dog - but she is willing to use the metaphor of a dog - and she humbles herself to the part of just taking the crumbs that falls from the table.
What this woman said to Jesus was a remarkable oration of faith - one of the greatest
Jesus is so impressed with her developed faith that
she could have at any moment accepted Jesus’ words at face value - but she didn’t
Opening Up Matthew (The King and the Canaanite Woman (15:21–28))
Jesus has subjected her to a threefold test: the first, a test of the sincerity of her desire; the second, a test of its intensity; the third, a test of her own integrity. Her faith triumphs at last, and her daughter is healed.
Faith is so much more than just believing
Faith is tenacious - daring - won’t let go of God - or be denied
Her faith wasn’t great because she really really really really believed -
it was great because she refused to give up -
even when Jesus was silent,
others wanted to send her away,
or what Jesus said was hard to accept -
her need was greater than enduring being ignored -
it was greater than allowing others criticism to deter or hinder her, when Jesus says something hard to accept -
she was willing to agree and counter with faith
At any point this dear woman could have turned around and gone back home - but this was too important.
I love a little clause in Hebrews 11 the great faith chapter
it says in verse two the elders obtained a good report by faith
but again let me ask - What are we saying to Jesus?
Revival is canceled are we going to give up?
We were broken into - are we going to give up and go back home defeated?
It seems that things are going far more backward than forward - what do we say to Jesus
Here is what I’m going to do - i’m going to keep on worshipping
Here is what i’m going to say - “Lord, help me”