A Feast for the Starving
February 1, 2012 (Wednesday)
Tonight at prayer meeting I will present a devotional thought from Mark 7:24-30. The passage begins by stating that Jesus left Galilee and went to the region of Tyre and Sidon. This was Gentile territory. As Dr. A.T Robertson wrote, “There was too much excitement among the people, too much bitterness among the Pharisees, too much suspicion on the part of Herod Antipas, too much dulness on the part of the disciples for Jesus to remain in Galilee.” (Word Pictures in the New Testament).Jesus was seeking quietness and rest. He entered a house, hoping to find solitude, but soon word spread that he was there. A woman from that region came to him, begging him to drive a demon from her daughter. The language of the gospel is tender here, calling attention to the loving relationship between this woman and her little girl. This woman was in pain because her loved one was suffering.
She is described as “a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia.” She was a Greek in religion, a Syrian in language, and a Phoenician in race. From Jesus’ point of view as a Jew, she was as Gentile as a person can be, but from his point of view as Savior, she was a precious soul in need of help.
I view their conversation as banter between two instant friends. Jesus says, “It’s not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs (the Jews’ name for Gentiles).” This sounds harsh, but I believe Jesus says it with a slight smile, or an expression that says, “You know that’s what my people call you, don’t you?” But this woman sees through Jesus’ words into his heart, and, almost smiling, replies, “Even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” (Kids always secretly feed their pets this way, so I’m sure there was almost a smile as she spoke the words).
“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” (Mark 7:29-30 NIV).
Such is the love of Jesus, and it’s still the same today. His heart goes out to the lost and suffering people of the whole world. Every person is precious in his sight.
MARK 7 (NIV):
24 Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre.[g] 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 impure 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 the dogs.”
28 “Lord,” she replied, “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.