Faith and Broken Things

Faith and Miracles

Good morning. So today we are going to finish up chapter 7 with some miracles, a lot of faith, and some witty dialogue between Jesus and a Gentile woman. Have you ever walked in on a conversation between 2 people and you catch some stuff they say and your like if that was me i’d be so mad that they said that but they just seem like best friends. It’s called witty banter. Sometimes two people can have a conversation that if it were with anyone else like someone that didn’t get it or understand what was going on they would be offended.

That will give you a small insight into what is going to be going on here shortly between Jesus and a Gentile woman. And that is where we are going to start and really spend most of our time because honestly there is a lot of stuff to dig out of that.

Beginning in Mark Chapter 7 we will start with verses 24 and go through verse 30

New Living Translation Chapter 7

24 Then Jesus left Galilee and went north to the region of Tyre. He didn’t want anyone to know which house he was staying in, but he couldn’t keep it a secret. 25 Right away a woman who had heard about him came and fell at his feet. Her little girl was possessed by an evil spirit, 26 and she begged him to cast out the demon from her daughter.

Since she was a Gentile, born in Syrian Phoenicia, 27 Jesus told her, “First I should feed the children—my own family, the Jews. It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.”

28 She replied, “That’s true, Lord, but even the dogs under the table are allowed to eat the scraps from the children’s plates.”

29 “Good answer!” he said. “Now go home, for the demon has left your daughter.” 30 And when she arrived home, she found her little girl lying quietly in bed, and the demon was gone.

So the first thing we notice is that after the meeting and scolding of the Pharisees by Jesus He ventures into Gentile lands and is trying to keep where He is staying a secret. I will say this when Jesus shows up and people recognize that He is here you can’t keep it a secret. You can’t keep quiet when the Savior shows up. You can’t be silent when the King arrives. You can’t keep it secret when God is in your midst. Just can’t do it.

So Jesus is staying at a house that was supposed to be a secret and it’s obvious that it didn’t stay that way. Verse 25 says that Right away a woman heard about him came and fell at His feet asking to heal her daughter who was possessed by an evil spirit.

Now it’s interesting to point out that as far as status goes this woman was on the very low end of the totem pole. First off she was a Gentile born in a gentile land. And hear me out in that culture you add that to the fact that she was a woman and culturally she was not viewed as important at all. She was not a Jew she was not one of God’s chosen people and she wasn’t a man. 3 strikes against her right.

Yall ever feel like you’ve hit your 3 strikes. You ever feel like I can’t approach God look at all this baggage I’m carrying. Look at all this stuff i’ve done. Look at all these strikes. I got more than 3. And then you sit there in your head and you run that checklist you always run. That checklist that the enemy convince you keeps God from loving you. You can bring all that baggage and all those strikes and bring them to Jesus feet.

My first point is that no matter what you’ve done or how unworthy you think you are Jesus will always listen to a heartfelt plea. He is here to listen.

Now here is the part where the witty banter begins. It says she was a Gentile so Jesus tells her that He has to feed the children first and it isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.

Man that is harsh right. I mean at first reading this sounds so mean. But if you really read into this it’s not. Jesus is honestly speaking the language that this pagan Gentile woman will definitely understand. She’s probably heard the term all her life. It was popular wording from Jewish rabbi’s referring to Gentiles and pagans. It’s meaning would be close to “the most despicable, insolent, and miserable of creatures. And for the Jews it’s an apt description for Gentiles and pagans.

Now we have to look at was Jesus calling her a dog. Right after scolding the Pharisees for holding to traditions of defiled things are we to believe that Jesus views this woman as a defiled person? Of course not but then why would He use that word

This is where I have to break out my inner nerd for just a minute so bear with me. You see the word Jesus used for dog in this instance is not the one that is typically used when Jews refer to Gentiles. That typically used word basically means street mongrel. The word Jesus used for dog denotes more of a house pet type of dog. One that you would take care of with food shelter and love.

In the woman’s reply to Jesus to refers to herself and her daughter using the same terminology and word signifying she took no offense to Jesus using that analogy. But it goes farther than just terminology and word use here.

The woman understands that there is a traditional distinction between Jew and Gentile. She makes a small change to her terminology to show that instead of Jesus being sent to just the children her change includes both children and servants of the household.

What Jesus isn’t saying here is No I’m not worried about Gentiles I only came for the Jews. That’s not it at all. He is laying out a priority of mission. The Jews who are God’s chosen people are the primary mission for Jesus right now. He is trying to restore them and minister to them. Teach them and disciple them. So He isn’t saying no to her. He’s actually using a parable here.

And her reply was even more astounding. Even the dogs get the scraps. She understands something special is going on here and responds inside the parable. She gets it. Mark gives clues to this in the greek because the wording he used was only used two other times in his Gospel account. The word he used meant eat all they want. He used it as a bridge between the children and the throwing food to the dogs. The only other places mark uses this word is in the feeding of the 5000 and 4000. They ate all they wanted and had leftovers in both occasions

The woman knows this and knows that any scraps or crumbs would not be taking from the children but would be surplus and still enough to take care of the Gentiles.

So why did Jesus say to her Good answer. Here’s something I noticed. Jesus disciples had this common theme of we don’t get it we don’t understand. Jesus uses a small parable with this woman and she is the first person to understand one of Jesus parables without further explanation. She gets it. She understands what He is saying to her.

So not only does Jesus give here a gold star here for a great answer. He demonstrates His love, compassion, and divine power by healing her daughter without even being near her. But there’s one other thing to really notice here and that leads me to my next point.

Point 2

When we come to Jesus in need we have to have faith that He will answer.

This woman’s faith is amazing. She knows all the things she has going against her. Jesus even points them out to her. She still has the faith enough to know that Jesus can heal my daughter. No matter the situation Jesus can provide the answer. No matter my circumstances Jesus cares.

Now let’s look real quick at another healing that Jesus performs in that region. We will start in verse 31 and go to the end of the chapter.

31 Jesus left Tyre and went up to Sidon before going back to the Sea of Galilee and the region of the Ten Towns. 32 A deaf man with a speech impediment was brought to him, and the people begged Jesus to lay his hands on the man to heal him.

33 Jesus led him away from the crowd so they could be alone. He put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then, spitting on his own fingers, he touched the man’s tongue. 34 Looking up to heaven, he sighed and said, “Ephphatha,” which means, “Be opened!” 35 Instantly the man could hear perfectly, and his tongue was freed so he could speak plainly!

36 Jesus told the crowd not to tell anyone, but the more he told them not to, the more they spread the news. 37 They were completely amazed and said again and again, “Everything he does is wonderful. He even makes the deaf to hear and gives speech to those who cannot speak.”

Now hear Jesus does some interesting stuff. They bring a deaf man with a speech impediment to Him to heal. They beg Jesus to heal Him. Now here it’s interesting that Jesus goes away from the crowd to heal him. I think the reason Jesus liked to do this is because it’s a relationship thing. Here is the savior, creator of all things getting to fix something that He created. He is getting to make the broken things whole again. And because of His great love for us He wants to do this one on one.

The other interesting thing He does is the actions He takes to do the healing. Do you think Jesus had to do all that to heal this guy. No he didn’t even have to say. Even His thoughts come to pass. He could have just thought this guy is healed and it would have been done. Everything in creation bows to the Creator. But I think He does this for the man’s benefit.

He puts His fingers in the man’s ears and touches His tongue. Some of the one’s in the crowd and even some of us would probably say oh man that’s kinda gross right. But let me say this. For the one who has been told they are broken their whole life, the one who has been told they are no good, the one who is considered unclean, unworthy, and unlovable, a physical touch from Jesus will make all that go away. Jesus loves this man so much that He knew just how much His physical touch would mean. Just how far that act would go.

And as for the crowd. They couldn’t keep quiet even though Jesus told them to. Listen to verse 37 again....37 They were completely amazed and said again and again, “Everything he does is wonderful. He even makes the deaf to hear and gives speech to those who cannot speak.”

That brings me to my last point....

When Jesus does something wonderful for you or someone you know don’t keep quiet about it.. Share that good news with everyone you meet.

He even makes the deaf to hear and gives speech to those who can not speak. He opens blind eyes, makes the lame walk, heals the sick, casts out demons, and even raises the dead. I didn’t say He might do those things....or some people say He has done those things…It’s fact He did it.

And even now He’s doing it. He’s healing and making a way for us. He’s fixing the broken and making them whole. He’s pouring out blessings and loving us even when we are unloveable. The Bible says that while we were yet sinners He loved us. While we were His enemies He loved us. While we were caught up in addiction He loves us. While we are as far as we can be from Him He loves us. And He’s ready to make all things new and heal broken hearts, warped minds, and scarred souls.