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It is interesting sometimes to contrast the way Jesus saw things and the way His disciples saw the same things; for instance on one occasion His disciples rebuked people for bringing children to Him, but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 19.14). On another occasion two of His disciples wanted to call down fire from heaven to destroy certain Samaritans, but Jesus said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.” (Luke 9.55-56). The focus story for today contains just a contrast.

“From there He arose and went to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And He entered a house and wanted no one to know it, but He could not be hidden. For a woman whose young daughter had an unclean spirit heard about Him, and she came and fell at His feet. The woman was a Greek, a Syro-Phoenician by birth, and she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter. But Jesus said to her, ‘Let the children be filled first, for it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.’ And she answered and said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the children’s crumbs.’ Then He said to her, ‘For this saying go your way; the demon has gone out of your daughter.’ And when she had come to her house, she found the demon gone out, and her daughter lying on the bed.” (Mark 7.24-30).

Matthew’s comments highlight the difference between Jesus’ reaction to the woman and the reaction of the disciples. Before looking at that, however, it is worth noticing that the woman in the story was not a Jew and therefore could not be considered on par with Jesus and His Hebrew disciples; she was, according to common thinking, unworthy to company with Jesus and His disciples. She kept on asking for help until she became a nuisance in the disciples’ minds. Consequently, they said, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.” (Matthew 15.23). However, Jesus saw a greater opportunity; He challenged the woman’s wishes only to unveil the tremendous faith and courage which she possessed. Following their brief exchange, Jesus was compelled to say, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” (Matthew 15.28). Mark’s record states that when the woman arrived home, she found that her daughter had been freed from the demon. Matthew states that the woman’s daughter was healed from the very point in time at which Jesus had declared it to be so (see Matthew 15.28-29).

Perhaps nothing should be more obvious to us, but which we overlook frequently, is the fact that nothing is impossible with God (Matthew 19.26). He does what He wills to do, period! Regardless of how we think of a particular matter, out thoughts do not limit God nor in any way restrain Him from His purposes. Just as in each of these cases, there was a great contrast in the thoughts of the disciples and those of Jesus, there can also be a great gulf between our thoughts and those of our Father. Even those who companied each and every day with Messiah while He was here upon this earth found that their thoughts we not His thoughts nor were their ways His ways (see Isaiah 55.8-9). How cautious we ought to be when we seek to characterize how God sees a particular matter!

Having said all the above, we come to the conclusion of this message. While we cannot speak for God in matters about which He has not revealed His will, we MUST speak on matters about which His will has been revealed; His word (Scripture) reveals His will!

Questions:

1. Why were the disciples upset with the woman whose daughter was demon possessed?

2. How did the woman demonstrate her faith and courage?

3. Do you think the woman was surprised when she arrived home to find her daughter completely well? Why or why not?

4. Can anyone know God’s will? If yes, how? If not, how can anyone be saved?

"Today's Little Lift" from Jim Bullington

Mercy and not Sacrifice (Sept. 30, 2010)