Marc 7:24-30 (Daily bread of 13/11/17)

Key verse: 29

FOR THIS SAYING, GO YOUR WAY

Jesus appreciates the faith of a Gentile woman and heals this sick woman. What is the faith of this woman ?

1. She threw herself at his feet (24-26)

Jesus came to the country of Tyr. It was a Pagan city. It was perhaps because of the zeal of opposition of the religious leaders against Jesus' work. Jesus came to have a rest. But because of his renown he could'nt remain alone. The people came to him and among them there was a Syro-Phoenician woman whose the daughter was possessed by a demon. Her request was very humble, because she threw herself at his feet. Her desire was very ardent to pray because her only daughter was sick and demonic.

2. For this saying (27-30)

Normally, Jesus should be moved with compassion and listen to the request of this woman, even if she was a Pagan woman, because Jesus healed the Pagans for example the servant of the Centurion. But Jesus works a different way with this woman. His word was very humiliating because he considered her as a bitch. But Jesus considered her as a female dog. Jesus revealed that the main purpose of his coming was to the Israelites. But Jesus had another intention which was to want to test the faith of this woman. She was already very humiliated by the disease of her daughter. But her strong ego was still in her. It's very difficult for a person to humiliate oneself in spite of an urgent need. But this woman was humble. But when Jesus considered her as a female dog deprived of salvation she could be offended and gave bitterness in her heart. But she replicated that the bitch may receive crumbs under the table. Jesus wasn't kind with her. But in this proof Jesus saw what was her heart. Jesus is all-knowing, he knew her heart. But often God taxes us to see our heart and our motivation. If we are humble to succeed this test, God will bless us even more. Jesus healed her daughter. Jesus also healed the disease of the mother which was the problem of pride. Without this test, she would have been ungrateful after this miracle, forgetting the grace that Jesus gave to her. But this test purifies her soul and she truly appreciated the healing of her daughter and truly thanked Jesus.