"Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him crying out. 'Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering...' The disciples urged him, 'Send her away.'" Matthew 15:21f)
This story ends by Jesus saying, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." Faith is measured in two ways: 1) What it accomplishes. 2) What it overcomes. Jesus had the second in mind when speaking of the mustard seed. It is neither beautiful or useful. The wonderful thing about the mustard seed is its gallant adventure into the world of life. Its very presence is a marvel because of its unlikely beginning, in view of its size. It is the second feature that distinguishes the faith of the woman mentioned above. What did the woman overcome?
Her birth was against her. She is Canaanite, the race of people that was to be exterminated by Israel...she is part of a remnant left. She lived in absolute hate for the name Jew. Her people were steeped in bitterness and prejudice. Acquaintances would despise her for making an appeal to Jesus, a Jew, for help.
She worshiped a heathen god and heard Jehovah's name only in tones of contempt. Being a stranger to the Hebrew Bible, she never sang the songs of David.
Her knowledge of Jesus was only hearsay...and, there was not a single rumor of his healing a heathen. Yes, he had healed others but only people among whom he lived.
The disciples were against her...saying, "send her away." They had come northward for a bit of rest. She was a disturbance to their R and R. Of no small matter was, they were men and she was a woman.
Jesus seemed to be against her. At first, he ignores her. When he spoke, he robbed her of hope. Did she retire saying, "I now go away, my case is hopeless." Then came the darkest words of all..."I don't take the bread for children and give to dogs." Watch now! She turns being called a dog into an argument...the household pet does catch the scraps that fall from the table.
Jesus is absolutely charmed and captivated by the woman's refusal to admit defeat. He surrenders to her faith and the daughter is healed.
Her great faith broke every obstacle.
Charles Jackson
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