Grace for Even You!

Introduction

Thursday evening, Kristine and I went to the Children’s Museum to complete a class project for one of her education classes. It is amazing how tall you feel when you go there!

In the Power of Children area, there were displays about three children that brought change to the world.

Anne Frank, the Jewish girl who lived through the Holocaust and who’s writings have given so many hope;

Ruby Bridges, a little black girl who grew up during the years of in-battlement over school segregation and was the first black girl to attend an all white school in New Orleans; and

Ryan White, a teen-age Hoosier who contracted AIDS from medication used to treat his Hemophilia and was expelled from school for fear his disease would spread to the other students.

Like the Syrophoenician woman in our story this morning, these children were treated as outcast; because of fear and prejudges were treated worse than second class citizens. But, like the Syrophoenician woman, because of their persistence and faith, brought about a change in the way people think.

The Problem of Jesus?

This passage has always posed a difficulty for its readers, especially in our country today. We are so concerned in being tolerant, accepting, and politically correct that Jesus’ words to this poor woman are extremely offensive and unfair.

Jesus had gone to the region of Tyre, a Gentile region shunned by the Jews for their Pagan beliefs and practices, to get away from the crowds. By this time, Luke said people were gathering around Jesus by the thousands () But even though he entered this Gentile area, Mark said he couldn’t escape being notice. And this woman, evidently a resident of the area, came to him seeking that he would cast a demon out of her daughter.

But instead of being kind to her, said, “First let the children eat all they want, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.” (vs.27) Did he just say what I think he said? Did he just call her a dog!? Now that wasn’t very nice. We need to get one of those “Just be Kind” signs I am seeing everywhere and give it to Jesus!

Many scholars defend Jesus, pointing out that the word he used wasn’t the word used for a wild, ravenous dog, but the word used to describe a small dog, a puppy. That is true, but calling this woman a dog, even a small dog, would have still be offensive to her. Maybe Jesus just got up on the wrong side of the bed this day. Or, maybe Jesus was making a point.

We might want to defend Jesus, saying what he was calling her wasn’t all that offensive, but the great number of disciples who were following him would have agreed with him. This woman was a Gentile, a pagan, a dog! Which was what the Jews thought about the Gentiles. She had no business approaching Jesus. Jesus was a Jew! And even though they had entered a Gentile land, they weren’t worthy of Jesus’ favor.

Humble, Persistent Faith

But even though Jesus’ words were harsh, this woman wasn’t going to give up. She dared to reason with Jesus, and in doing so showed that even an outcast, even one unworthy of God’s grace, could through humility and faith, receive a blessing.

And here is the truth. No matter how privileged you might think you are, no matter how pleasing you might think you are to God, because of the good works you do, or your kindness, or generosity; we are all outcasts. Because of our sin and unrighteousness, none of us are worthy of the grace of God. We are all dogs!

But Jesus, because of his wonderful mercy and love has granted his pardon and forgiveness of sin for all those who in humble, persistent faith come to him.

This woman, in the eyes of the Jews, was the most unlikely to be accepted by Jesus. She was a Gentile. She was a Pagan. And She was a woman. The Bread of Life belongs to the children of God!

But over and over again, the word of God teaches us that God is not concerned in who we are or what we have done. God is concerned about our attitude before him and our faith. He respects an attitude of humility and Jesus displayed that in becoming a man.

Paul described Jesus’ humility when he wrote to the church in Philippi writing, “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!” ()

It was because of Jesus’ humble faith that his heavenly Father exalted him. And God will exalt us if we come to him in humble faith; if we will bow our knee before God and put our trust in him, he will forgive us of our sin and will clothe us with Christ righteousness. And we will receive eternal life through his grace and mercy. We will never live as outcasts in God’s kingdom.