Begging Jesus for Others
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Introduction
Introduction
Last week, we returned to our study of the book of Mark. Last week we looked at the choices that we have to make each day, but especially when we begin a new year.
One of the choices that each of us make is how we will love those around us. You know, many of us look at people and all we see are differences. In fact, out world is divided by differences.
From the time of the tower of Babel to today differences have divided people! We are divided by the amount of money we make; by the color of our skin; by our beliefs; by our likes and dislikes; and by anything else you can think of. Division is the mark or our society.
The truth is it is not just our time have been divided by differences. Even in Jesus’ day divisions separated people. For the Jews there were two divisions: There were Jews! And then there were “Gentiles” (or anyone who is NOT a Jew).
Now here’s the thing. EVERYONE has needs. And God created people to care about the needs to of others. Like all of God creation, the Satan desires to accuse and deceive perverts all of God’s creation. That means that in a fallen world, people are now more concerned about their own needs than they are for the needs of others.
Honestly this should not be. In our story today, we are going to see two people who need a touch from Jesus, but they cannot call out to Jesus themselves. So, they have people who intercede for them.
So let’s pick up our story. If you have your Bibles I want to encourage you to turn with me to Mark chapter 7 and we’ll begin reading with verse 24.
The First Story
The First Story
Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret. In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an evil spirit came and fell at his feet. The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.
Jesus leaves the area of Galilee, and He travels north and west towards the Mediterranean Sea. He goes to a reason that is knowing as Tyre—sometimes called Tyre & Sidon. Tyre was a sea port city on the Mediterranean, that was in present day Lebanon—it was a Greek area, and Jesus had not gone there to minister, but rather so they could rest. Remember, Jesus had tried a couple of times to get away from the crowd so His disciples could rest. Look at 6:32-34.
So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
Then look at 6:53-56
When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there. As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed.
So, now we pick up the story in Tyre and Sidon where Jesus meets a woman.
The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.
She was NOT a Jew. She was a Gentile, from Syrian Phoenicia. That is the region where Jesus and His disciples are right now.
She is desperate for help. She needs Jesus because her daughter is possessed by an evil spirit.
She is so desperate that she is willing to beg for the healing of her daughter.
Jesus’ Response
Jesus’ Response
“First let the children eat all they want,” he told her, “for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.”
The Woman’s Counter Argument
The Woman’s Counter Argument
“Yes, Lord,” she replied, “but even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”
Jesus Takes Action
Jesus Takes Action
Then he told her, “For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.”
The Result
The Result
She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.
Jesus leaves this area of Tyre going through Sidon, and heads back toward the Sea of Galilee, but instead of going back to Capernaum, instead He goes to the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee to the region of the Decapolis—or region of the Ten Cities. According to Mark, Jesus had already visited this area back in chapter 5.
This was a predominately inhabited by Gentiles. Keep in mind, this trip would have taken some time to travel. That’s because they walked everywhere they went. So let’s pickup our story in verse 31.
Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis.
The Second Story
The Second Story
So now we are back in the region known as the Decapolis, or the Ten Cities.
And the story continues with a group of people who bring a man to Jesus that is in desperate need.
There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged him to place his hand on the man.
The Man & His Need
The Man & His Need
He was deaf—he could not hear. This is the Greek word, “kōphos” which means unable to hear.
He could not speak—this is the Greek word, “mongilalos” this is a rare word that is only used once, and that is here. It means difficulty speaking, speaking with a speech impediment, or being mute—unable to speak.
His “friends” knows the man needs a touch from Jesus.
Jesus Response
Jesus Response
After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means, “Be opened!”).
The Result
The Result
At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.
Jesus Command to the People Around
Jesus Command to the People Around
Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it.
The People’s Response
The People’s Response
People were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
SO WHAT?
SO WHAT?
These are two great stories of other people bring people to Jesus. Other people taking action, and their actions resulted in another person’s encounter with Jesus—and that encounter led to a need being met in a life.
As we look forward to a new year, I must ask each of us a question. Are we willing to take someone’s need to Jesus? Are we willing to do something on their behalf? On the behalf of someone in need—someone in need of knowing Jesus?
Do you realize that all around us are people in need of someone being willing to go to Jesus on their behalf.
Some need:
Someone to talk to Jesus in their behalf.
Someone to bring them to Jesus.
Someone to hold them up before out God.
Who will you talk to Jesus about?
Who will you bring to Jesus?
Who will you hold up before our God?
Today there are people who have deep needs. Some need a place to live. Some need a job. Some need a sponsor. Some need a Savior. Some need healing. There are all kinds of people—all kinds of needs—all kinds of ways we can help them to come to know Jesus. The question is whether or not you and I will take their need before our Savior.