Today's lesson is from Matthew 15 : 21 -39. Jesus at this time was going into Tyre and Sidon. A woman from Canaan came out and asked him to heal her daughter who was possessed by a devil. Jesus didn't answer her and his disciples said send her away! She's bothering us! (Paraphrasing) Jesus said he was sent for the house of Israel. This woman did not give up. She came and worshiped, still asking for help.
26. But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.
27. And she said, Truth Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.
28. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith; be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.
During this time, their customs placed women on a different level than men. Men didn't normally speak to women during this time, particularly women who weren't Jewish. Women usually were not really educated. Yet this woman was persistent and she had great faith. She knew who Jesus was.
Jesus was teaching his disciples here. He was showing them that although the main focus at that time was the Jews, they were to eventually reach out to the rest of the world as well. Also, he was showing them her faith. They had seen how some of his own people scorned his message, yet here was this gentile woman who was willing to take what little scraps of compassion he would give to her. She was unwavering in her faith. He rewarded her faith by healing her daughter.
She did not give up. And she didn't sit at home waiting for a miracle. She had faith that her daughter would be healed by Jesus and she acted on her faith.
No comments:
Post a Comment