Mark 7:24-30

Mark 7:24-30 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. “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.” “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “but even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” Then he told her, “For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.” She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.

Jesus was sent to the children of Israel, to the house of David. Therefore, He said to the Greek woman, it was not right for her to interfere with his mission. However, Jesus did minister to Gentiles on occasion: the Centurion and the woman at the well. In the above passage, we have a Gentile woman wanting Jesus to deliver her child from a demon. But Jesus said that He first must let the children eat all they want. This implies that there will be a second feeding. Paul fulfills that implication, for his commission was to deliver the gospel to the Gentiles. Yet, the Jews considered the Gentiles as unclean. The Jews were monotheistic; they worshipped the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They were people of the covenant, a chosen people by the one and only God. Jesus addresses this woman with that concept in mind. However, He knew faith in him fulfilled God's covenant with Abraham, for God promised to bless the whole world through Abraham's seed. Jesus was that Seed. We know that Jesus Christ came to redeem all people. He came for the world. He said, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16) This is the promise He eventually fulfilled.

God will also bless his people today if they place their trust in Jesus Christ, have faith in his redeeming power. Jesus rewarded this woman and the Centurion because of their faith. They believed that Jesus was the Lord. Otherwise, they believed that He had power to proclaim healing, to set people free, to give them a new and better life. We also need to have that same faith. Yes, Jesus is our Lord. We will follow him regardless, but we also need to know him as LORD, changer of circumstances. He is still the great healer. He is still the great provider. We should never lose sight of that fact. This woman went away satisfied. She was a stranger, a Gentile. She had interrupted Jesus' plans to rest. Jesus was literally out of place, not wanted, and to some degree insulted, but she persisted. She asked Jesus for a miracle. He knew what she wanted. Yet, He acts as if He is not going to satisfy her desire. But she persists. Jesus said that we should ask and keep on asking, knock and keep on knocking. True faith is a knocking faith, one that will not give up. True faith says, "Lord, but even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs." It is not that Jesus is not gracious, kind, merciful; it is that He wants to hear our hearts of faith. We are God's children. We are those that say, Abba Father, we have needs. We will pray let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven, but we will also readily proclaim our needs, believing that Jesus Christ is LORD and that He changes circumstances. For He surely does. Keep on knocking, keep on asking. In every thing we do, let us live by faith, for He is the Great Provider, the Beginning and the End, the Great I AM!