Lesson in Faith… vs. 21-28

• 1^st – Leaving Israel… vs. 21
  • Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon!
  • Challenging TRADITIONS had really upset the PHARISEES [ready to kill Jesus again]
  • Therefore – Jesus LEFT the DECAPOLIS [eastern Galilee]
  • And went to Tyre and Sidon – 50 kilometers north west of the Galilee [Lebanon]
  • Where the PHARISEES had little to no influence!
  • Jesus KNEW these men would CRUCIFY Him – and He would LET them – John 10:18
  • But it was NOT His time – Jesus had to die on a SPECIFIC date [Passover] – Daniel 9:26
  • Until that day He would play a game of hide and seek with the RELIGIOUS leaders!
• 2^nd – Not Jewish… vs. 22
  • Syro-Phoenician…
    • Behold a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him saying!
    • LOOK [imperative] – do NOT miss WHO came to see Jesus when they arrived…
    • WOMAN [γυνή] – women in antiquity were often treated as less important – Galatians 3:28
    • CANAAN [כְּנַעַן] – a reference to the original PAGAN inhabitants of the Land…
    • Mark adds that she was GREEK – Syro-Phoenician [Syrian] by birth – Mark 7:26
    • And from that REGION – removing any doubt this women was NOT a Jew!
  • Jewish greeting…
    • Have mercy on me O Lord – Son of David! 
    • FIRST – she submits to Jesus authority – calling Him Lord [κύριος]
    • It is possible she actually used the name of God [יְהוָה] – often translated as [κύριος]
    • SECOND – she gives Him a MESSIANIC Title – the Son of David…
    • She was NOT a Jew – but she knew Jesus was the promised MESSIAH – II Samuel 7:13
  • Her request…
    • My daughter is severely demon-possessed!
    • Her DAUGHTER was controlled [present] by an EVIL [κακός] DEMON [δαιμονίζομαι]
    • We are NOT told HOW or WHY this happened – only that Jesus was the SOLUTION!
    • Often we make the mistake of focusing our PROBLEM…
    • But when we focus on the PROBLEM – we are not looking at the SOLUTION…
    • It does NOT matter what the problem is – Jesus is the ANSWER!
• 3^rd – Ignored… vs. 23-24
  • Not giving up… vs. 23
    • He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him saying:
    • Send her away for she cries out after us!
    • Jesus refused to say even ONE word to her – IGNORING her plea…
    • But she would NOT go away – she came crying [present] to the DISCIPLES to help…
    • Yet the DISCIPLES did NOT want to help her – they were ANNOYED by her…
    • And kept coming [imperfect] to Jesus – DEMANDING [imperative] He send her away!
    • Jesus told a PARABLE of an UNRIGHTEOUS judge – Luke 18:2-5
    • A widow came to the judge DAILY asking for revenge against her enemy…
    • But the judge would not listen to her – he did not care about her problems…
    • After a while he thought – I do not fear God or man – but this widow keeps coming…
    • She was driving him CRAZY with her constant requests – so he gave in!
    • Often when we pray we give up after a week – or a month – or a year…
    • But God does NOT call us just to pray – God calls us to be a people of PRAYER…
    • We need to be persistent in seeking the Lord – do NOT give up!
    • Matthew 7:7 – “I say to you [keep] asking and it will be given to you. [Keep] seeking and you will find. [Keep] knocking and it will be opened to you.”
  • Only Israel… vs. 24
    • He answered and said: I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel!
    • Jesus answered the DISCIPLES – He was called to find LOST [ἀπόλλυμι] sheep – Luke 15:4
    • But NOT just any SHEEP – specifically to those from the house of ISRAEL!
    • When we look at the Bible – it seem to be a VERY Jewish book…
    • Beginning with Abraham – the whole Old Testament follows only ONE nation – Genesis 12
    • All of the PROPHETS – all of the KINGS – even all of the APOSTLES were Jews!
    • But that is NOT the truth – the Bible is all about Jesus…
    • Abraham believed – so the Messiah would come from Israel – Genesis 22:18
    • David believed – so the Messiah would come from Judah – II Samuel 7:13
    • God did NOT ignore the rest of the world and ONLY care about Israel…
    • The Bible just focuses on Israel – because Jesus came through them!
    • Romans 1:16 – “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ – for it is he power of God to salvation for everyone who believes – for the Jew FIRST and also for the [everyone else].”
• 4^th – Insulted… vs. 25-27
  • Little dogs… vs. 25-26
    • Then she came and worshiped Him saying: Lord help me.
    • He answered saying: It is not good to take the children bread and throw it to the little dogs!
    • The WOMAN was not deterred – she came worshiping [imperfect] Jesus…
    • And PLEADED [imperative] with the Lord [κύριος] – to HELP [βοηθός]
    • But Jesus replied – it is NOT good [καλός] to give the KIDS [Jews] food to the DOGS…
    • The term DOG [κύων] was used by Jews to refer to GENTILES – Matthew 7:6
    • But Jesus uses the word PUPPIES [κυνάριον] – which is not as HARSH!
    • If Hallel does something wrong I use her full name: Hallel Miguel Hinchey…
    • But when I am being playful with her – I will call her Hallelita [little Hallel]
  • Crumbs… vs. 27
    • She said: Yes Lord – yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters table!
    • The WOMAN was NOT offended – instead HUMBLY agreed – YES Lord [κύριος]
    • But she noted the PUPPIES do eat the CRUMBS that fall from the MASTERS table…
    • Anyone who has a DOG knows how true this is…
    • The dogs love to wait under the table – ready to grab any unwanted SCRAP that falls down!
    • Why does God help us – because we DESERVE it…
    • God does not choose the WISE – He picks the FOOLISH [μωρός] – I Corinthians 1:27
    • I know people who left church when they heard this – chosen because we are MORONS!
    • It takes a lot of HUMILITY to admit who we are…
    • We must admit we are MORONS [μωρός] – and we NEED help…
    • True HUMILITY is coming to the place where we realize we NEED Jesus!
    • II Corinthians 12:9 – “[His] strength is made perfect in [our] weakness.”
• 5^th – Great Faith… vs. 28
  • Healing…
    • Then Jesus answered and said to her: O woman great is your faith! 
    • Let it be to you as you desire. And her daughter was healed from that very hour!
    • Jesus replied – woman you have MEGA [μέγας] faith…
    • According to what she WANTED [θέλω] – it would be DONE [imperative]
    • In that very HOUR her daughter was HEALED [passive]!
  • Lesson…
    • Jesus was NOT unwilling to help this woman…
    • Just the opposite – it appears He ONLY came to Tyre and Sidon to find her…
    • He wanted to use her to give His DISCIPLES a LESSON about GREAT [μέγας] faith!
    • GREAT faith – is NOT about to who we are [Jew or Gentile]
    • GREAT faith – does NOT give up – but stubbornly seeks Jesus…
    • GREAT faith – has humility – knowing that we are NOT the answer…
    • Great faith – is what Jesus is willing to TRAVEL to faraway places to FIND!
    • II Chronicles 16:9 – “The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” [NLT]

• 2^nd – Lesson in Methods… vs. 29-31
  • 1^st – Feet of Jesus… vs. 29-30
    • Decapolis… vs. 29
      • Jesus departed from there – skirted the Sea of Galilee.
      • And went up on the mountain and sat down there!
      • Having met the Syro-Phoenician WOMAN – it was time to GO…
      • Jesus left Tyre and Sidon – and returned to the DECAPOLIS [Galilee] – Mark 7:31
      • The same place where He had healed the possessed men [legion] – Mark 5:9
      • The same place where the PHARISEES had challenged Him about TRADITION – Matthew 15:2
      • Therefore – He went up the mountain – still keeping a low profile!
    • Cast down…
      • Then great multitudes came to Him having with them the lame – blind – mute – maimed.
      • And many others. They laid them down at Jesus feet and He healed them!
      • For a SECOND time – they brought MANY kinds of SICK people to Jesus – Matthew 14:35
      • And they CAST [ῥίπτω] them at His FEET – and He healed [θεραπεύω] them!
      • Are we needlessly carrying a BURDEN – struggling under a heavy weight…
      • It does NOT matter what the PROBLEM is – Financial – Relational – Physical…
      • Throw them down at the feet of Jesus – He is WILLING and ABLE to take them all!
      • Matthew 11:28 – “Come to Me all you who labor and are heavy laden.”
        
        
  • 2^nd – Deaf and Mute – Mark 7:31-37
    • Spitting…
      • One man in particular was both DEAF and DUMB [unable to speak]
      • Then Jesus put His fingers in his ears – and spit and put it on his tongue…
      • Perhaps as a way of saying to the man [who could not hear] WHAT Jesus would HEAL…
      • But it taught another LESSON – God does not ALWAYS do things the same way!
      • Imagine if Jesus always HEALED in the same manner [this happened once]
      • We would go around poking our fingers in ears – spitting in mouths [yuck]
      • Rather than seeing it is NOT about HOW – but KNOWING that Jesus is the ANSWER!
    • Not the method…
      • We tend to define church by WHATS – rather than WHYS…
      • We define OUR church – by worship on SUNDAY – with PRAISE songs…
      • While OTHER churches – worship on a different day – sing OTHER kinds of songs…
      • Getting caught up in METHOD – and forgetting the point is to KNOW Christ…
      • God is NOT limited to ONE way – there is a beauty in DIVERSITY within the BODY…
      • Many FLAVORS – to reach a VARIETY of people – but all with ONE Lord!
      • I Corinthians 12:27 – “[We] are the body of Christ.”
  • 3^rd – Glory to God… vs. 31
    • The multitude marveled when they saw the mute speaking – the maimed made whole.
    • The lame walking – and the blind seeing – and they glorified the God of Israel!
    • When the CROWD saw what Jesus had done…
    • Healing EVERY kind of SICKNESS they brought to Him – they were AMAZED…
    • And they gave GLORY [δοξάζω] – not to Jesus – but to the God of Israel…
    • Because the SPIRIT always points people to the SON – John 16:14
    • And the SON always points people to the FATHER – John 16:4
    • We see a LOT of things in the church today – and rightfully question it…
    • People falling over in the spirit – fundraising drives – smoke and laser concerts!
    • With all this DIVERSITY within the church – and how do we KNOW what is from God…
    • The answer is SIMPLE – the RESULT will be people will give GLORY to God!

• 3^rd – Lesson in Provision… vs. 32-39
  • 1^st – Second time around… vs. 32
    • Hungry people…
      • Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said: I have compassion on the multitude.
      • They have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. 
      • And I do not want to send them away hungry – lest they faint on the way!
      • The CROWD was there with Jesus [προσμένω] on the MOUNTAIN for THREE days…
      • The whole time they had NOTHING [subjunctive] to eat…
      • Jesus was concerned – if He SENT them home without FOOD – they would NOT make it!
    • Another lesson…
      • Jesus was NOT asking a question – He was preparing another LESSON…
      • It happened to be a REPEAT – just in case they DISCIPLES missed the FIRST time…
      • This would be the SECOND time He fed thousands – with just a LITTLE – Matthew 14:21
      • The more time we spend in CHURCH – reading our BIBLES…
      • The more we notice – there is a LOT of repetition…
      • But God does NOT stutter – He does NOT want to have a THICKER Bible…
      • If something is said TWICE – it is because it is VERY important…
      • If something is repeated – we likely did NOT get it the FIRST time around!
      • Philippians 3:1 – “I never get tired of telling you these things. I do it to safeguard your faith.”
  • 2^nd – No Food… vs. 33
    • To many people…
      • Then His disciples said to Him:
      • Where could we get enough bread in the wilderness to fill such a great multitude?
      • The DISCIPLES saw the people – over FOUR thousand men [plus women and children]
      • They skeptically asked – where could they get enough for so many in the WILDERNESS…
      • It is EASY to be hard on the DISCIPLES – how quickly they FORGOT…
      • This was actually a SMALLER crowd than the one Jesus had ALREADY fed!
    • Doubting the Lord…
      • When Israel left Egypt – and the armies of Pharoah followed – God split an OCEAN…
      • Yet it ONLY took THREE days for them to begin to COMPLAIN – Exodus 15:22-24
      • They had no WATER [God just parted an ocean] – yet they DOUBTED the LORD!
      • It seems no matter how much the Lord has done for us – we FORGET when trials come…
      • As if somehow God has changed – He took care of us before – but maybe NOT this time…
      • When we face the challenges of life – we ONLY need look back to see…
      • God has ALWAYS been faithful to take care of our needs – and He ALWAYS will be!
      • Hebrews 13:8 – “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday – today – and forever.”
  • 3^rd – Give it to Jesus… vs. 34
    • Jesus said to them: How many loaves do you have? And they said: Seven and a few little fish!
    • The DISCIPLES only had SEVEN loaves of bread – and a few LITTLE fish [ἰχθύδιον]
    • Again – MORE than what they had when Jesus fed the FIVE thousand [five loaves]
    • Yet they were still looking at what THEY had – too LITTLE to feed so MANY…
    • But that was not the point – they just needed to give it ALL to the LORD!
    • When we look at our ABILITY – our MONEY – our TIME…
    • The answer will always be the same – we do NOT have enough…
    • But we are looking the WRONG way – we are focused on the PROBLEM…
    • We should instead be LOOKING to Jesus – because He is the SOLUTION…
    • Take ALL we have – no matter how LITTLE – and just TRUST Him!
  • 4^th – Giving Thanks… vs. 35-36
    • So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.
    • And He took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks.
    • Broke them and gave them to His disciples – and the disciples gave to the multitude!
    • Jesus gave THANKS for what He KNEW was about to happen [God always provides]
    • THANKS [εὐχαριστέω] – where we get the word EUCHARIST…
    • The same word used at the LAST supper [body and blood] – Luke 22:17
    • And He gave to His DISCIPLES – who then passed in onto the CROWD!
    • God PROVIDING for our daily needs was NEVER in question – Matthew 6:33
    • The question is do we PASS on what Jesus has GIVEN to us…
    • Do we give people the EUCHARIST – the HOPE that God does not just take care of TODAY…
    • We have a God who gave Himself [cross] – to give us HEAVEN!
  • 5^th – Satisfied… vs. 37-39
    • Seven Baskets… vs. 37 / 38
      • So they all ate and were filled.
      • Now those who ate were four thousand men besides women and children.
      • They took up seven large baskets full of the fragments that were left!
      • ALL [πᾶς] FOUR thousand people [plus woman and kids] ate until they were FULL…
      • And there were even seven LARGE baskets [σπυρίς] left over…
      • Because God has NO limits – He is more than able to PROVIDE!
      • There is a and ASTEROID [Psyche] just beyond Mars…
      • But it has enough GOLD [and other metals] to give every person on earth 5 TRILLION pesos…
      • And that is just from one ROCK – there are MILLIONS more just in our solar system…
      • Imagine how much WEALTH exists in a UNIVERSE – created with just a WORD – Genesis 1:1
      • God is NOT poor – and He has NO problem taking care of every NEED…
      • But He does NOT tend to give us a lot of EXTRA – because we would forget about Him…
      • Therefore we need to be REMINDED – a LOT – that we serve the God who PROVIDES!
    • Magdala… vs. 39
      • He sent away the multitude – got into the boat – and came to the region of Magdala!
      • Having taken care of the HUNGRY crowd – they could go HOME…
      • Jesus got back into a boat and sailed to the city of MAGDALA…
      • MAGDALA [מִגְדָּל] – only here NT – the home of Mary Magdalene – Luke 8:2
      • A small fishing village on the EAST side of the Galilee [near Capernaum]
      • As Jesus prepared to confront the SCRIBES and PHARISEES once again!