Another Day

(Disclaimer: This is not an article written for the public, but is my notes used for preaching. It has been posted here for a particular personal reason. Thank you)

Mark 7:24-30

Purpose in Dealing with the Human Heart

Previously, we have considered the principle lesson on defilement and impurity of the heart because of sin. In the midst of all the healings and all the glamour which people were heaping upon Jesus Christ, this was the main interlude which the gospel writer wants us to take note of; Jesus Christ came to deal with the sinful heart of man (v.1-23). It is for that reason that He went to the region of Tyre and Sidon (these are Gentile cities – most likely He went to one of the cities at the border of the region) and wanted no one to know of it. Too many people are looking for the salvation of their own physical desires and pleasures rather than the spiritual condition that they are locked in (chained to). The Jewish people would not have looked for Him in the Gentile regions as to be in the cities were to be ‘defiled’ by them (according to their own thinking). This would be sufficient of a respite for Jesus and His disciples to be away from the accusative eyes of the Pharisees and Scribes.

True Seeking

He was found out by a Greek, Cyro-Phoenician, woman (Gentile), who had a daughter who was demon possessed. This was remarkable because she was a Canaanite woman who is born a Gentile (pagan worship), and yet she was desperately seeking Him in spite of the ‘disappearing act’. He persisted to search Jesus Christ out, especially when she heard about possible sightings of Him in the place.

Her action was drastic, yet uncommon and showed much of her belief;

• Here was a woman who had a different background who believed in pagan idolatry. Tyre and Sidon were Gentile cities that were prosperous (Tyre means ‘Rock’… built on the foundation of solid mass) with their harbour and ports. This woman believed in the miracles and stories told by the common person. Somehow, she was affected differently than the people in her area in general. Reason? She could see the chains of imprisonment that marks the life of her daughter. She did what none of her fellow countrymen did; sought after the Jewish ‘Saviour’. Just as much as the Jews would not mix with the Gentiles, the Gentiles were averse to meeting with the Jews. She humbled herself because she believed in the power which Jesus Christ wielded.
• Upon finding Jesus Christ, she fell at His feet; this was a sign of deep humility, of putting herself down before another person (a group of people whom they had low opinion of). Her request was for Jesus Christ to cast the demon out of her daughter (v.26). She did not bring her daughter to Him, most likely because of the fit and violence of the daughter’s condition. But notice that she was not pleading with Christ to ‘come’. She merely pleaded for His grace to be shown by delivering her daughter by His own power (she did not presume to limit Him in using His hands, or mouth, etc.). Here was a submission to Jesus’ authority (similar to the Centurion).
• She had persistence. She kept asking Him (true begging) until He would help or throw her away (in her mind).

We need to admire the woman’s action. There is much to be commended. Yet, what we must take note is Jesus Christ’ own response to her: He was silent at first, and later He made that statement in verse 27. Why such a seemingly cruel statement made?

The Test of the Heart & Faith

It was a test on the woman’s profession of faith in Christ. How far or what will your faith enable you to do before God? What type of faith you actually would have? The woman proved that her faith was grounded in a Sovereign God who is merciful to His creatures according to His good pleasure. He took the ‘insult’ knowing that there is still blessing that Christ can give if He chooses to.

A common Jew would have left Him outright because of the severity of the statement. We would expect that our faith is ‘rewarded’ with something that is proportionate to our faith ‘shown’ or ‘exercised’. But saving faith is more than that. It is a trusting in Christ regardless of circumstances; rather it is a coming to senses (a realisation of the spiritual need that transcends any physical need), thereby rendering our worldly status nothing before God’s demands. There is a dying of the old self that sought other comforts (people would have turned to other ‘Messiahs’).

This woman’s faith was IN Christ, not in seeking a transaction (of doing something for something). Christ saw that (true faith – as proven in Matthew 15:28 though not mentioned explicitly here) and rewarded her with what she asked for: breaking of sin’s power in the life of the daughter – which is also what is in the woman. The woman was not chained to her reputation, culture, status and etc. She was fixated only on the spiritual condition of her daughter and herself (though she might not have realised this last one at that time).

Application:

• Christ was being generous to the Jews and yet they were petty and not responsive although they should have, since they had knowledge of God that is embedded in their culture and lifestyle. The Law truly served to point to the necessity of saving Grace that comes only from God through the Messiah. Yet, they wrongly saw it (the Law) as a means of salvation. It could not save sinners who were incapable of obeying it.
• Our conversations and attitude really show how we perceive this lesson. Do we see this as the reality of what is happening around us? Or are we so much like the Jewish people who have everything but are blinded by the abundance? The result is a constant mixing or association with people whom we are comfortable and the never-ending cycle of foolish talk that does not help the other person to realise the condition that we are in; of spiritual need. Are we wasting our pearls (time & opportunity) with pigs (Matthew 7:6)? The Word flourished in the Gentile nations after Pentecost. If we do not do differently, would that not enforce our misperception and usefulness?  “It is easy to do the big things for God, but what about the small things?”
• What faith do you have? Will it stop at persistence to merely get what ‘you’ want? Is the thing that you seek from God truly important or is it something that is ‘worldly’? Name same of the worldly things that common people may find ‘good’ but is a cover for ‘worldliness’?
• We lose our ‘worldly identity and reputation’ when we submit and die with Christ on the cross; we gain His glory and image. Why then do we give people too much honour for achievements of this world? Is that not idolising in another more indirect manner?

Related posts:

1. Mark 4:1-34