Crumbs of Grace - Faith at the Margins

Text: Mark 7:24-30

INTRODUCTION:

This past week I was listening to a conversation. I was having a problem, understanding everything that was being said in the conversation. Have you ever had a conversation like that? Truth be told it wasn't my conversation at all. I was eavesdropping and it wasn't a conversation that was happening in English. The two people who are speaking in Spanish. And since I have taken Spanish Via the Spanish instructional app I thought I had the right to practice. The problem is I only understood about every third word and I am sure that I did not get the full impact of the conversation. That actually happened a lot around Jesus. Jesus would be teaching, but those around him didn't fully understand what he was saying. He wasn't speaking a different language, but he was speaking of a different kind of kingdom.He often spoke in parables. And time after time, his closest followers—the disciples—missed the point. They walked with Him, watched Him perform miracles, heard His teaching firsthand… and still didn’t always get it.But in today’s passage, we meet someone totally unexpected: a Gentile woman, a complete outsider. By every cultural and religious standard, she doesn’t belong. And yet—she understands Jesus’ parable. Not only that, she responds with a parable of her own.She doesn't come with pride or entitlement. She comes with humility, boldness, and faith. And Jesus honors that. Hers what we need to learn about Jesus and faith today. Faith that moves Jesus is not about where you come from—but how you come to Him. Let’s look together at Mark 7:24–30, and see what this outsider understood that even the insiders sometimes missed. Mark 7:24-26 - And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but he could not be hid. 25 For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet: 26 The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter. This is certainly an unusual encounter, but it is a powerful lesson on faith.

I. An Unusual Encounter – The Request of the Syrophenician Woman

Jesus had withdrawn to the Gentile region of Tyre, seemingly seeking privacy and rest (v. 24), yet “he could not be hidden.”

The woman who approaches him is named explicitly as a Greek, Syro-Phoenician by birth—a cultural, ethnic, and religious outsider.

Her daughter is possessed by an unclean spirit—a condition often associated in Mark with deep spiritual torment and societal exclusion (cf. Mark 1:23–26; 5:2–5).

QUOTE:

“From a Jewish point of view, this woman was the consummate outsider. She was a Gentile and a woman, and an unclean spirit possessed her daughter.” —Ronald J. Kernaghan

QUOTE:

“She hails from a city that the Old Testament deemed to be a wealthy and godless oppressor of Israel.” —David Garland

She boldly crosses boundaries to beg Jesus for healing—not for herself, but for her child.

This is a common theme we see in Mark's Testimony of Jesus.

But what is not as common is the conversation that happens after her request.

Mark 7:27-28 - 27 But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it unto the dogs. 28 And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children’s crumbs.

II. An Awkward Conversation – Jesus’ Dialogue with an Outsider

This is a two part conversation: Jesus remarks, and the Woman'e rebuttal

At first glance, Jesus words seem very harsh, but you need to see his remarks as a parable. And you need to remember that often people did not understand Jesus parables.

So it's probably a reality that we don't fully understand the conversation that's going on.

But the interesting part about the story is that the syro-pheonician woman understood Jesus parable exactly and even responds to him with a parable of her own.

Jesus’ Remark: “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”

QUOTE: “Jesus' parable reflects the condescending view that insiders have of outsiders.” —Ronald J. Kernaghan

QUOTE:

“The tone of voice throughout, though urgent and (on the woman’s part) desperate, is nevertheless that of teasing banter.” —Tom Wright

Jesus seeks to test her faith, it also to show a lesson on faith.

The Woman’s Reply: “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”

The woman understands Jesus' metaphor—better than many of his disciples do in other stories—and responds with her own parable.

And I see where her response is coming from as well. Anyone who has a dog know that they are the greatest vacuum cleaner in the world.

Her response is humble, witty, and full of faith—she does not demand, but pleads for just a crumb of grace.

QUOTE:

“Her witty comeback expresses sincere humility... She is willing to humble herself, to become as a dog, to save her little child with just a crumb.” —David Garland

Notice Jesus' Response:

Mark 7:29-30 - And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter. 30 And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed.

Faith that moves Jesus is not about where you come from—but how you come to Him.

In fact, if you follow the story of Jesus, you will find that the people who show the greatest level of faith are not the religious crowd. It seems almost to be those who are on the outside, looking in. And Jesus elevates their faith so that our faith can be strengthened.

III. Unexpected Lessons on Faith – What We Learn from this Encounter

This story reinforces Jesus’ earlier teaching in Mark 7:1–23 about clean and unclean not being defined by external boundaries.

To a typical Jew, this woman would be “unclean by nature.”

QUOTE:

“Most Jews in the first century... regarded [Gentiles’] uncleanness as something innate.” —David Garland

“Jesus probably uses language that would have been used by those who are hypervigilant—read: the Pharisees—about the issues of cleanliness.”

Yet Jesus listens to her, affirms her insight, and grants her request.

We need to stop living the "us" and "them" lifestyle.

This is a lesson the disciples needed to learn, but it's a lesson we need to learn as well.

We are not better then those who are outside the church. In Fact, if you want to know the truth, we are called to serve those who are on the outside.

Jesus Didn't come for the religious, he actually came to seek and seve those that were on the outside.

Perhaps if we had that mindset, we would have more opportunity to share Jesus with our Family, Friends, neighbors, co-workers, and enemies.

Faith that moves Jesus is not about where you come from—but how you come to Him.

This brings me to another point that I think Jesus is trying to make to his disciples and us.

Jesus’ mission is bigger than expected—it’s not just to Israel, but to the nations.

QUOTE:

“He believed, as any Jew of that period might, that if and when Israel was redeemed, that would be the time for the rest of the world to be brought under the saving rule of Israel’s God.” —Tom Wright

The woman’s humility and faith are held up as a model of true discipleship.

QUOTE:

“This willingness to humble oneself is a key requirement for discipleship—something the disciples of Jesus have difficulty learning.” —David Garland

To be a follower of Jesus we must develop this kind of humility to received Jesus wisdom

But more than that, we will never come to faith without humility

QUOTE:

“The story... expresses in the simplest and clearest terms that the way every human being comes to God through Jesus is still found at the place where we understand our need for God and realize that we have no right to expect anything at all.” —Ronald J. Kernaghan

Conclusion: A Crumb Is Enough

The woman teaches us that faith is not about status, background, or entitlement, but about bold humility.

Jesus honors her request—not because she belonged to the “right” group—but because she came in the right posture: humble, persistent, and believing.

How about You?

Have you come to the place in your life where you realized that you needed Jesus to forgive you. You see, coming to church, knowing about Jesus is not the same and finding forgiveness.

We must humble ourselves like this lady did and Ask Jesus for forgiveness. That is the path to salvation.

What does it mean to be saved?

It means we have trusted in Jesus for forgiveness and life.

That takes humility.

Maybe today for the first time you might say, Pastor Mike, I am not sure I have ever done that. Then why not today.

Here is how that is possible: (The Gospel)

I must Believe:

I must believe that I am a sinner and therefore guilty before God

I must believe that God loved me so much that he died for my sins

I must believe that if I asked him he will will forgive me.

I must Confess

I have to ask God to forgive me.

Confession is when I ask God to forgive my sins and show me how to live.

I Must Repent

Repentance means that I am willing to turn away from my sin

Repentance means that I am willing to turn to God and allow him to lead my life.

If you have never done that, and you are ready to do it today, I invite you to prayer today to find forgiveness and new life in Jesus.

Let's all bow our heads for a time of prayer!

Lead people in prayer of salvation