Good News for the Gentiles Mark 7:24-30

Abeedah was a foreign exchange student at an American university, and one of her professors invited her to church. Though raised Muslim, she was curious about Christianity and accepted the invitation. When all the students cleared out of campus in the middle of December, Abeedah was left alone in her quiet dorm. But then her professor and his wife asked her to join their family for a Christmas celebration. When each of their children presented her with a gift, Abeedah was surprised and touched at being included in their family’s celebration.

-Salvation is available to all people who receive it by grace through faith

I. Jesus Goes to Distant Places v. 24

When we pick up the story from Mark, Jesus has departed from Galilee and gone on to Phoenicia, to the cities of Tyre and Sidon

This is a region that is dominated by Gentiles and the Jewish population has a more Hellenistic orientation

It is clearly away from the base of His greatest fame and accomplishments in Galilee

Why is Jesus interested in going to Phoenicia?

There is a chance to engage with Jews who are far from His ministry

There is an opportunity for rest away from the crushing pressures of the crowd

Interestingly, Jesus enters secretly. It seems that He wants a bit of a break from the hustle of His Galilean ministry

However, He cannot be hidden; His identity is made known and He is given an opportunity for further ministry

This is an opportunity to share His message with the Gentiles

Isaiah 42:6–7

[6] “I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness;

I will take you by the hand and keep you;

I will give you as a covenant for the people,

a light for the nations,

[7] to open the eyes that are blind,

to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,

from the prison those who sit in darkness. (ESV)

II. Jesus Engages Desperate People vv. 25-26

An unknown woman bursts onto the scene and gives us a beautiful example of how we ought to respond to the news of the Kingdom

First, we are honest about the problem: Her daughter is possessed by a demon

Second, we hear good news: There is someone here who can resolve the problem

Third, we respond: She goes to Him, moving from where she was to the path of Christ

Fourth, we humble ourselves: She falls down before Him, demonstrating the seriousness of her need

Fifth, we as: She is honest with the Lord about her circumstances and asks for help

I don’t know that we could find a more poignant picture of faith and how we ought to respond ourselves than the example of this woman. However, she does have a slight problem

She is a Gentile, not a Jew

Strictly speaking, she is cut off from the people of God

How will Jesus respond when someone who is not one of God’s people comes to Him?

During his days as president, Thomas Jefferson and a group of companions were traveling across the country on horseback. They came to a river which had left its banks because of a recent downpour. The swollen river had washed the bridge away. Each rider was forced to ford the river on horseback, fighting for his life against the rapid currents. The very real possibility of death threatened each rider, which caused a traveler who was not part of their group to step aside and watch.

After several had plunged in and made it to the other side, the stranger asked President Jefferson if he would ferry him across the river. The president agreed without hesitation. The man climbed on, and shortly thereafter the two of them made it safely to the other side.

As the stranger slid off the back of the saddle onto dry ground, one in the group asked him, “Tell me, why did you select the president to ask this favor of?” The man was shocked, admitting he had no idea it was the president who had helped him. “All I know,” he said, “Is that on some of your faces was written the answer ‘No,’ and on some of them was the answer ‘yes.’ His was a ‘Yes’ face.”

III. Jesus Makes Difficult Statements v. 27

Jesus responds with a statement that is a little tough to swallow:

It is true: His primary mission is/has been to the house of Israel

It is offensive: In spite of her humility and her pursuit, Jesus comes across as harsh and demeaning

What do we do with this? How do we interpret what is taking place?

Is this a side of Jesus that we are unfamiliar with? Does He not care about the Gentiles?

Is He ignorant of God’s working amongst the Gentiles? Does He need her example to change His mind?

I don’t think that either of these are true. I believe that His words elicit a response from her that reveals two things to the disciples:

Her genuinely gracious and humble spirit

She does not get angry at Jesus

She does not deny her position

His mercy and the expansive love that He has for people

There is a powerful contrast between the Syrophoenician and the Pharisees that we saw last week:

They were near to the Kingdom and will miss it completely

She is far from the Kingdom and is certain to receive it

Matthew 21:31–32

[31] ...Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you. [32] For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him. (ESV)

IV. Jesus Offers Dramatic Grace vv. 28-30

We see the heart of Jesus revealed in His response to her faith:

He honors it: He makes it clear that He is action will be a result of her faithful response. There is no harshness in His words here

He acts on it: The demon must flee at the command of Jesus. He sets her free from this attack of the Enemy

Grace and mercy are available to us, but we must be prepared to receive it

It neither earned nor deserved

It is withheld from the proud, but given to the humble

Is mine the life of a recipient of grace?

Among the many corrections that I’ve received in my life, there are a few that ring true. But the one that I’ve probably struggled with the most was simple: “Stand up straight. Your posture is terrible!” I can remember being corrected on my posture and I’ve heard my wife correct my children on it. Posture shouldn’t matter, except it does. It gives an outward picture of our internal reality. What is the posture of your heart towards Jesus?