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He answered her not a word.[1] What a huge disappointment for this mother. Was she discouraged? Then Jesus’ disciples started “imploring” or begging Him to send her away. They wanted her
to leave because she was loud and irritating. There was no thought about her pain in heart or of the suffering child. It was their comfort that was important. This Gentile woman
was an embarrassment to them. They wanted Jesus to get rid of her. What cold, cold hearts the disciples had. This Gentile mother was not wanted. When she heard these words,
she must have felt like the little bird having its feathers plucked off one by one by an eagle - totally helpless!
More Disappointments. Then Jesus increased her sense of helplessness and anxiety.
But He answered and said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Matt 15:24 (NAS95S) She heard, “I was sent only to the lost of Israel - not to you Gentiles.” She had travelled from her home to find Him in order to get some help. She had probably
been asking one person after another, “Where is He?” She had been on a mission. I wonder how she felt? It had taken “guts” to come to Him. She came crying
and shouting and was ignored at first. Then she was told, “You are not one of our kind. You are not like us.” How would you have felt? Would you have felt like the
little bird when the eagle flew away clutching it in its talons?
Then she responded,
But she came and began to bow down before Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” Matt 15:25 (NAS95S) The Greek word for “bow down” reveals that she was repeatedly bowing down while pleading for help, “Help me!” “Help me!” What an emotional
scene! Her heart must have been tearing and her eyes swelling with tears.
More Heartache. One would have thought that surely Jesus would respond now with grace and compassion to help her. But He didn’t,
And He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” Matt 15:26 (NAS95S) Jesus’ words must have seemed especially cruel. “It is not good” or “It is not fit” to give the children’s food to dogs. Jesus compared
her to a “dog.” The word “children” was symbolic for the nation of Israel. This is a first class rejection of the woman and her daughter. Jesus implied
she was not worthy of any help. She and her daughter did not measure up. They were not deserving of help. She was a Gentile and a woman and so was her daughter. They were just
two dogs - something to kick and to reject.
Most of us would have walked away at this point. Some of us might have walked away crying, some in anger, and others cursing God or Jesus Himself. Many would have
been so hurt that they might have considered lawsuits or contemplated some means of revenge. Today we might have contacted a local newspaper or posted something on the internet.
This woman was emotionally hurt.
Have you ever asked God for something only to end up feeling like God has ignored you? Some might have “given up” on God because they thought that
they heard nothing and were ignored. In fact, some of us have thought that God was not going to help, or we have concluded that God will not help. Some of us have felt like
this woman or like the little bird being prepared to be eaten. Why did Jesus do this? Why does God do this to us on occasions?
The Turning Point. Then the woman responded.
But she said, “Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” Matt 15:27 (NAS95S) She responded, “Yes, Lord, the children eat, but at least the dogs get something - scraps that fall from the table! At least they get scraps! They get something, Lord!” She
admitted she was a “dog.” The Jews hated dogs! They considered dogs to be unclean animals. She would have known that. This woman really humbled herself. Jesus was
not attempting to help her have a great sense of self-worth. You see God was not trying to increase her self-worth. Self-worth is a worldly concept - not a divine one. In fact
our problem is that some of us have too much “self-worth.”
This woman humbled herself incredibly. She told our Lord, “I am willing to get whatever is left. I am a ‘dog!’” She was willing to be content
with the smallest of crumbs. She was not asking for bread, steak, cookies, pizza, chocolate, or anything that we might consider to be good enough. She was now willing to accept
crumbs. Someone once said,
Surrender isn’t giving up something you do not want. It’s giving up something you want. And she was willing to sacrifice everything. Jesus had waited for this moment. Then Jesus responded with grace and compassion,
Then Jesus said to her, “O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed at once. Matt 15:28 (NAS95S) Jesus declared that she had great faith and then granted her request. The mother’s daughter was healed.
Why? Why did Jesus say “Your faith is great?” It is obvious that she already believed that Jesus could heal her daughter. That is more
than some have believed or do believe about Jesus. Jesus was not talking about believing more facts about Himself or that He could cast out the demon. By the way, Jesus cast
out the demon from a long distance - while the daughter was at home. Jesus said she had great faith because she had finally submitted herself. It is all about submission to
Him. Jesus was waiting for her submission. Faith includes trusting a loving, caring God and she did! Jesus was waiting for the woman to stop shouting, stop yelling, stop insisting,
stop demanding, stop pleading, stop fighting and to be willing to accept whatever Jesus was willing to give her - maybe nothing! Jesus waited until she was willing to accept
whatever He wanted to offer. She finally surrendered and then Jesus responded.
Faith is more than believing some facts about Jesus or “having enough” in order to get what you believe you are entitled to - “the will of God.” If
we are supposed to have “enough faith” in order to get “what we ask for,” then why did Jesus wait for her to finally yield to His will? Why did Jesus
drag her though an emotional turmoil and wait for her to admit that she was a dog? The answer is simple. Real faith yields to God and trusts Him to give us what is best and
not necessarily what we think we need or want. Psalm 51:17 captures the attitude well,
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; God looks for a broken and contrite heart.
Conclusion. There is a song that God has used to touch my heart. It captures the heart of this situation,. It is called “Follow Me.”
I traveled on a lonely road and no one seemed to care.
References:
 1. Martin Luther. Complete Sermons of Martin Luther. Baker Books. 2000., vol. 5, p.323. |
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| Life & Heart of Jesus | ||||||
