HELP FOR AN OUTSIDER
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INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
The quarterly theme: The measure of Faith
Helping a Friend in Need Luke 5:17-26 Paralyzed man reached Jesus with the Help of his 4 friends. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” Not only was his sins forgiven but he got his legs back. and he took what he had been lying on and went home.
Faith of a Centurion Luke 7:1-10 This certain centurion’s servant was sick and about to die. He ask Jesus to come and heal him, but before Jesus could get to the house he sent word to Jesus not to trouble himself. He the centurion did consider himself worthy to be in the same air space as Jesus. But he believed Jesus could just say the word ---- he recognized Jesus’s authority.
How much do you love me? Luke 7:36-39, 44-50 Jesus was invited to have dinner with one of Pharisees, we find a certain woman inserting herself at the table. Crying at the feet of Jesus, wiping his feet with her hair, anointing his feet with an expensive Jar of perfume. I don’t know what kind of work she did but the pharisee called this woman a sinner. She came him worshipping Jesus. She gave her best. It was a sign of what Jesus meant to her. (When you know who Jesus is and what he has done for you— You worship differently— You give him the best the you got
Purpose Of Matthew Gospel
Purpose Of Matthew Gospel
was written to a Christian community with a strong Jewish heritage
Matthew had at least two reasons for writing. First, he wanted to show unbelieving Jews that Jesus is the Messiah.
Second, Matthew wrote to encourage Jewish believers. If indeed Jesus is the Messiah, a horrible thing had occurred. The Jews had crucified their Messiah and King. What would now become of them? Was God through with them?
God was not through with His people. His promised kingdom would yet be instituted with His people at a future time
Matthew’s narrative functions as an apologetic biography, as it tells the story of Jesus in order to defend who He was and why He died.
The Gospel of Matthew contains more than 60 quotations of the Jewish Scriptures, the Old Testament).
Christology-study of Jesus, his persona,activity and especially his role in salvation
Matthew’s narrative centers on the identity of Jesus.
Matthew emphasizes that Jesus is the long-awaited Jewish Messiah and King, who fulfills God’s promises in the Old Testament
Jesus is not just a wise teacher; He is the one God has chosen to usher in the kingdom of heaven. He has come to save and to restore humanity into right relationship with God
starting first with Israel and then moving to the wider world
Contains more teachings of Jesus than any other Gospel
Matthew uses Mark’s Gospel as a major source of material
The Pretext
The Pretext
It was after he fed the 5000 with the 5 Loaves and 2 Fish, he made the disciples get into a boat and go on ahead to the other side.
And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. They thought he was a ghost. Peter said, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” Jesus said “come”. Peter began to sink because he got distracted by the strong wind and he began to sink.
That is good spot to camp cause like Peter we too can find ourselves taking our eyes off Jesus and being distracted by the strong winds of life. But aren’t you glad that Jesus will Immediately reach out his hand and catch us. Just like he did Peter.
Now Jesus has made to the other side and Healing the sick in Gennesaret
The Pharisees have a problem with Jesus’s disciples. They not washing their hands before they eat disrespecting what the elders taught. But Jesus is quick with wit. He says “and why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?
He calls them hypocrites: Isaiah prophesied rightly about you when he said:
“This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me
in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines.
This led to Jesus explaining to them and us and reminding us. That it is not what goes in the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles.
What comes out the mouth proceeds from the heart.
The Audacity of Faith
The Audacity of Faith
Matthew 15:21–23 (NRSV)
Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.” But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, “Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.”
From there he set out and went away to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know he was there. Yet he could not escape notice,
Jesus has Left Gennesaret amongst his people and traveled to a place full of Gentiles. That is non-Jews.
Here comes the Audacity; This Canaanite woman as Matthew describes comes out shouting “Have Mercy on me, Lord, Son of David.
Why would Matthew describe this women as a Canaanite women. We must remember who he is writing too-the Jewish community. And to educate them on who Jesus Is.
What is the significance of the Canaanite women. They and Israel as the young folk say, were opps.
The Canaanites were enemies with Israel. One major reason was a territorial dispute of the land of Canaan. God had given that land to his people and Not the Canaanites, who worshipped different gods.
Recap- Jesus was in a place of folk who practice what he practice. Believe in what he believe in but they get along. They don’t accept him totally. And so he goes to a place where for sure he would me with opposition. He wanted no one to know, Yet he was not able to escape notice.
Jesus healed the blind, opened up deaf ears, he gave the paralyzed movement again. But here is a women that is not physically blind but she is spiritually blind and she recognizes who Jesus is.
She says Have Mercy on me, Lord Son of David. She calls in by his Messianic Title. How is it that she knows who he is and those who are said to be knowledgeable in the Law of God don’t know who he is.
Let me park it right there. There is a Difference in knowing the word and knowing who the word is.
There a difference in knowing the plan of salvation and program of salvation. Then knowing the person of Salvation.
Thank God for Grace- Salvation is by Grace alone through Faith Alone in Christ Jesus
She knew, Have Mercy on me, Lord Son David
Another thing I noticed is her disposition--- Have mercy on me— Humility— She comes in Humility
No pride- No our people don’t get along, I’ve heard stories on why I should bless you real good with some colorful words but forget all that- “Have mercy on Me, Lord
Wait a minute she called him Lord- She gave him a designation of where he stood in her life.
The Audacity of Faith.
Faith is only as valid as its object. You could have tremendous faith in very thin ice and drown.… You could have very little faith in very thick ice and be perfectly secure.
—Stuart Briscoe
Stuart Briscoe
The Challenges of Faith
The Challenges of Faith
But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, “Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.”
But he did not answer her at all. Don’t you find that weird. There is a woman crying out to Jesus, Have Mercy on me and Jesus did not answer her.
And this is the boldness we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have obtained the requests made of him.
“Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
The Lord is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
He fulfills the desire of all who fear him;
he also hears their cry, and saves them.
Its strange because Jeuse heals a Leper
and there was a leper who came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean.”
A centurion has a request
When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, appealing to him
Paralyzed Man and his 4 friends
And just then some people were carrying a paralyzed man lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” Then some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.”
The two Blind Men
As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, crying loudly, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.” Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you.”
Here is what I want tell you. Keep praying Even when you don’t hear an answer immediately. He may not come when you want him but he is always on time.
Those that wait upon the Lord will shall renew their strength. Trust him when you can’t trace him.
That prayer you been praying. Rather it is for yourself or somebody else. Dont let the naysayers stop you from getting to Jesus. You might have some people, People who look like, People who worship with discourage your faith walk. Dont stop asking, Don’t stop seeking, Dont Knocking.
We see in our text, Jesus did not answer her and his disciples urged him saying “send her away she is bothering us.
You can’t let the challenges of Life stop you.
And Jesus answer her and tells her I was sent only to the Lost sheep of Israel.
And what she did next shook even Jesus, He is in Gentile territory, he just left his own people and had bible debate with those of his religious family.
And he tells this Canaanite women that “I was sent only to the Lost sheep of Israel.
Here is what you do, when you have a “Lord Help me Spirit”
You get down on your knees.
You get down on your knees, Physically, or Mentally, in your heart and you take a position that describes your condition- A Lord Help position.
Summary
So we see the Audacity of Faith. This Woman hears Jesus is in the neighborhood. She doesn’t care about protocol and family history. Because when you have tried everything else. You tried every remedy in the family book of remedies. You listened to those whom you thought to be of the wisest.
She heard of Jesus, the ministry of Jesus- So she tried Jesus. She did wait to get converted. She just came shouting.
Even through the challenges, through silence, through the obstacles and when she got to him. She did not have long dissertation of prayer, She simply got down on her knees and said “Lord Help Me”
The Reward of Faith
The Reward of Faith
He answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed instantly.
Kynarion- means Little Dog
Dogs --were considered in Israel to be unclean animals. As such one’s enemies were often considered as dogs.
“Dog” is often used as an insult (1 Sam 17:43;
Outsiders, such as Gentiles, are called dogs by those referred to as the Jews
That why it is important to understand the cultural context of this encounter.
The Jews viewed the Canaanites as pagans and were often hostile toward them.
They worshipped many Gods.
Jesus was not demeaning the woman, but rather he was testing her Faith and Perseverance.
I'm not saying God can’t just make it so when you ask.
Here what I know from my short time on earth. Those that are constantly given, without doing, dont appreciate the gift
An so often times there is a waiting period, other trials of life happening to you while you are waiting.
To see if you really want and believe in what you are asking for. And you for you to have gratitude for the Gift.
She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed instantly.
She said Lord, I agree, I accept what you have said. Just give the Crumbs. Give me what is left over.
She wanted the overflow
She just hoped to catch the overflow of the blessing
Illustration: When you come to Church: Hope to catch the overflow of the Holy Spirit
I want to be where God is.
The Principles and Application
The Principles and Application
Humility, Persistence, Faith, receptiveness, and Grace and compassion
The lessons we learn from this passage is
the Power of Persistent Prayer ( this passage encourages us to approach God with same level of Persistence-Knowing he hears us and will answer in His perfect timing
God Love and Grace extends to all who come to him in Faith- This Canaanite women is a model for us on how to approach Jesus with Humility and trust—know he is able to handle any all circumstances in your life
Lastly it challenges us to examine our attitudes to those who don’t look like us. Because just like Jesus compassion to this syrophonecian women. We to are called to imitate Jesus and show compassion, Love, and Grace to all people, regardless of their background or ethnicity.