"Even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the children's table!"
When Jesus and his disciples journey to the gentile region of Syrophoenicia, they are interrupted by a pagan woman whose daughter is demon possessed. The Syrophonecian woman-- in a state of great desperation-- falls at Jesus' feet and begs him to cast out the demon. Jesus, however, says, no. "Let the children be fed first," he says, "for it is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs" (Mark 7:27). Undaunted, the woman replies, "Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs" (Mark 7:28). It is then that Jesus heals the woman's daughter.
This story from Mark's Gospel raises a number of important questions. Why did Jesus say no to the woman? What did he means when he talked about the children's food not being thrown to the dogs? What did the woman mean by dogs eating the scraps that fall from the table? And, most importantly, what does this teach us about the woman's faith in Jesus?
Rev. Terence will explore these and other questions in today's sermon on Mark 7:24-30.
Mark 7:24-30
24 Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. 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.
20 окт 2024
