Sunday, June 23, 2013

Have Faith and Believe

DEVOTION
THE GOSPEL OF MARK
HAVE FAITH AND BELIEVE
Mark 7:24-30
24 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. 25 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. 26 The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter. 27 "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."  28 "Yes, Lord," she replied, "but even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs." 29 Then he told her, "For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter." 30 She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.
NIV



This seems to be somewhat of a difficult exchange to understand. If Jesus responded in this way because he was sent to the Jews and not to the gentiles why was he there in the first place? Why didn’t he want anyone to know he was there? When he did respond to her, why did he tell her he was not sent to for the gentiles and calling her a dog was just a way of saying she did a pagan, a gentile, not part of the family. That is sort of harsh and it would seem Jesus was being mean, which we know he cannot be, so why this response? We might gather from Matthews account that he and his disciples already had left the home as she pursued after them, begging, pleading for Jesus to do something about her daughter. Why did he put her off with this response? We know he had sent his disciples into the gentile world two by two to tell the story. We also know that Jesus is God in the flesh and thus he has all knowledge and already knows what he is going to do, and thus we must assume this is a teaching moment for his disciples as well as for us. It may well be Jesus was teaching that faith is what is needed for him to act on our behalf. In fact, we know that salvation, justification comes to us because we believe, in faith, on the forgiveness of our sin due in whole to the blood of Jesus. We accept him as our Lord and Savior in faith. We have no hard facts, we have no real hard evidence except a book which we also believe in faith, without any evidence, that it is God breathed. This woman, although called a dog by Jesus, responded that even the dogs eat crumbs of the children. As a gentile, a non-Jew she still had faith that Jesus could heal her daughter and this is that teaching moment. Jesus responded in the form we know him to be, filled with compassion and love for all of his creation. He was showing all, even his disciples that true faith in him is needed for everything. He was also demonstrating that he did come for all, that none are turned around, but that all must pursue after him, seeking his power in their lives, it does not come to them freely without their seeking. True faith in him is all that is needed and he will heal us, spiritually, emotionally and yes, even physically. Have faith and believe. 

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