Mother's Day 2022--Great Faith

Introduction

Communion Sunday

With Communion we celebrate the sacrifice of someone willing to great harm to himself for the sake of saving others. He put others first for their sake. He provided salvation, hope and teaching for people who neither recognized that they needed help nor appreciated His sacrifice. Not to be sacrilegious but this isn’t too far off what mothers do.

Matthew 15:21–28 ESV

21 And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 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.” 23 But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” 24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26 And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 27 She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” 28 Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.

Jesus withdraws—v21

C. women cries out for help for daughter—v22

J. doesn’t resp. and d’s beg J. to send her away—v23

The conversation

J. “I was only snt t lst shp f Isrl.”

Jesus has a specific mission

CW “Lrd Hlp m!”

Woman pursues help boldly.

J. “It s nt rght t tk th chldrns brd nd thrw t t th dgs.”

Jesus tests the woman.

CW “Ys Lrd, yt evn th dgs et th crmbs tht fll frm mstr’s tbl”

Woman doesn’t disagree but argues on behalf of her child.

J. “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire”

Jesus gives a rare acknowledgement of the faith of the woman.

Daughter is healed instantly.

The result of the persistant actions of this mother is the healing of her daughter.

Surprisingly this tenacious faith that Jesus commends twice is both times an individual that pushes back on Jesus in faith. The centurion and the mother.

Both are people who have thought about whom they believe in.

Both are bold in what they ask of Jesus.

Both seem to push in faith for what they want Jesus to do.

The centurion stops Jesus from coming to his house believing Jesus can heal by command from afar.

The mother pushes back against Jesus’ argument that He was only sent to the Jews.

Mark 11:22 ESV

22 And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God.

Hebrews 11:1–3 ESV

1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

Conclusion

great faith is bold faith

it is persistant faith

It is trusting faith

It is grounded faith.