Mark 7:24-30 (NASB)
²⁴Jesus got up and went away from there to the region of Tyre. And when He had entered a house, He wanted no one to know of it; yet He could not escape notice.
²⁵But after hearing of Him, a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately came and fell at His feet.
²⁶Now the woman was a Gentile, of the Syrophoenician race. And she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter.
²⁷And He was saying to her, “Let the children be satisfied first, for it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”
²⁸But she answered and said to Him, “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs under the table feed on the children’s crumbs.”
²⁹And He said to her, “Because of this answer go; the demon has gone out of your daughter.”
³⁰And going back to her home, she found the child lying on the bed, the demon having left.
Sometimes someone walks angry away from a meeting. He can no longer bear what is happening there.
What we just read about Jesus is reminiscent of that: He got up and left (Mark 7:24). That sounds grim.
Jesus even goes abroad. Does He Turn His Back on Israel?
Is He fed up with the opposition He experienced there?
The Pharisees and scribes gathered against Him there (Mark 7:1).
Even his disciples proved incomprehensible to his words (Mark 7:18,19).
Is Jesus fed up with it? Does He want to know nothing and no one anymore (Mark 7:24)?
Even if it was like that, He will not succeed in it.
Even across the border an appeal is made to Him (Mark 7:25-27).
The nationality of the woman who calls on Jesus’ help is emphasized. New perspectives are opening up for Jesus. There appears to be a new field to work on. He can let Israel go and work abroad if He would.
From the answer that Jesus gives to the Greek woman, it appears that He rejects the temptation to leave Israel to its own devices from now on. He remains loyal to the averse people. He sticks to his commission to first make Israel share in salvation (Compare Matthew 10:5,6; Acts 3:26). The bread is and remains intended for the children. It’s not for the dogs (Mark 7:27).
The Greek woman does not protest.
She accepts the place that is shown to her: under the table.
But then she catches Jesus in His own words: sometimes a crumb falls to the ground (Mark 7:28).
Jesus remains faithful to the children of Israel, but that crumb is still heartily granted to this woman – her daughter is healed (Mark 7:29,30).
How gloriously the love of Jesus lights up here!
He doesn’t let averse people shoot. He remains loyal to his people, to his congregation. And it becomes clear that those who humbly and persistently expect the good of Him will never be disappointed (Psalm 25:3; Romans 9:33; 10:11; 1 Peter 2:6).
Questions for self-reflection
▪︎ What does Jesus teach us in Luke 18:1-8 about persistent prayer?
▪︎ How do you apply that?
Prayer suggestion
▪︎ Thank your Father in Heaven for what you have learned from Him over and over again.
Twitter: @SchoemakerHarry
Website: https://devotionals.harryschoemaker.nl
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