September 4, 2014
I am impressed by the woman in Mark 7. Her smart response to Jesus’ metaphor had caught my eye before, but this morning I was floored. Earlier in the chapter, we encounter the disciples being ignorant, yet again, and Jesus asking them, “Do you mean you don’t understand this one either? (7:18, VOICE)” Then, we encounter a woman begging Jesus to heal her demon-possessed daughter.
“‘He said, “Stand in line and take your turn. The children get fed first. If there’s any left over, the dogs get it.”
She said, “Of course, Master. But don’t dogs under the table get scraps dropped by the children?”
Jesus was impressed. “You’re right! On your way! Your daughter is no longer disturbed. The demonic affliction is gone.” She went home and found her daughter relaxed on the bed, the torment gone for good. (7:27-30 MSG)”
The previous verse tells us that this woman was a Greek, so we can understand that Jesus is saying that Jews get helped first and Gentiles get the left-overs. I am astounded that this woman understood Jesus’ metaphor. I would wager that the disciples, the chosen 12 closest to Jesus, would not have.
I want to be like this woman. She was confident in Jesus’ power to heal her daughter. She also knew that Jewish teacher and healer might look upon her as the lesser but she was confident in her right to have access to the power she believed in, regardless of her heritage.
1 Timothy 4:12 “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.”
