Faith that Overcomes Offense

I. Structure of Mark: Mark’s Gospel appears to be arranged in two clean sections

a. Jesus Ministry through which He acts out the what is ultimately realized at the Cross- He is Servant of all

Mark’s thesis statement comes in the middle of two sections

Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.””

b. Passion Week Ramps up quickly culminating in Christ’s Death, Burial and Resurrection

c. The Ministry of Jesus throughout Mark demonstrates that He is a King with a Kingdom. In Mark especially, Christ’s Kingdom is portrayed in contrast to the powers of darkness.

II. Read the text of the Syrophoenician Woman’s Faith in Mark

III. Distinctions in Matthew’s Account

a . In Both accounts, the story comes after the teaching about what is clean and unclean. This is important because the force of the offense (Gentile Woman is called a dog- verse 27) is set up by the teaching about what is clean.

i. Matthew 8:11 “I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven,”

b. In Matthew’s Account the woman is not just introduced as a Gentile but as a Canaanite Matthew 15:22“And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.””

i. The woman is also shown to be of a small segment of gentiles in the region north of Galilee with a Messianic theology about Jesus

c. The major offenses or hurdles to faith

Matthew 15:24“He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.””

Matthew 15:25–26“But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.””

Jesus commends the woman’s faith Matthew 15:27–28“She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.”

The primary offense of the gospel to the human heart (and to the Canaanite Woman) is the humility that it requires.

The offense to the Canaanite Woman is actually the same offense given to the religious Jew- there is nothing about me that qualifies me before God.

There is the offense of the repentance the gospel asks me to walk out

There is the offense of being different than what the religious culture thinks I should be! Don’t let that keep you from resting your faith in Jesus! Don’t be the one who puts that stumbling block in front of someone else!