THE LIFE OF CHRIST - THE MINISTRY OF WITHDRAWALS

Second Withdrawal

-Tyre and Sidon - The Daughter Of A Syro-Phenician Woman Is Healed

-Matthew 15:21-28; Mark 7:24-30

-“Since the death of John the Baptist, Jesus was the object of notice by Herod Anitpas, and as ‘his hour’

 had not come, he retires to a country not under the jurisdiction of Herod” (Boles, pg 331).

-“Jesus withdrew to escape the opposition of his enemies and the mistaken movements of his friends.  As

 he was not on a missionary tour it was perfectly proper for him to enter heathen territory” (McGarvey/

 Pendleton, pg 399).

-Even though Jesus didn’t make His presence known to those in the region (Mark 7:24), His visit did not

 remain secretive. 

-As a result, a Greek woman (Mark 7:26) who lived in that region approached Jesus with a request.

 She pleaded with Him that her daughter might be healed from an unclean spirit.

            -We must remember that Jesus’ primary audience was the Jews.  He had come to save the world and

             His word would be spread through its entirety, but the process began with the Jews. 

            -Remember Jesus’ words to the twelve when first sent out - “…Go not into the way of the Gentiles,

             and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel”

             (Matt 10:5-6).

            -However, when Jesus encountered Samaritans (i.e. John 4 and the woman at the well) or Gentiles (as

             on this occasion), He certainly did not cast them aside but displayed compassion and a willingness to

             teach.

-Notice that Jesus’ first response to this woman was silence.

            -He was not ignoring her.  Instead, He was testing her.

                        -“God’s unanswering silence is a severe test of our faith” (McGarvey/Pendleton, pg 400).

                        -How many times has the faith of individuals been shaken through perceived silence from God?

-Jesus didn’t send the woman away even though His disciples requested Him to do so.

            -“Some think that the disciples wanted him to dismiss her with his blessings so that she would

             not annoy him any longer; others think that the disciples wanted him to send her away without the

             blessing, as she was not entitled to it, being a Gentile.  We are not told by either record why they

             requested her to be sent away; so there is no use in our spending an opinion on it.  Such is not

             germane to the lesson taught in this instance” (Boles, pg 333).

-Jesus then indicated that He was sent to the Jews.

            -However, this Gentile woman didn’t argue the point but continued with persistence.

-Jesus continued to prove her faith by saying that it is not appropriate to take the children’s bread and

 give it to the dogs.

            -Jesus is not degrading the Gentiles.  Instead, He is providing the opportunity to reveal the great faith

             of this woman.

            -From her first words to Jesus, her faith has been evident.  Notice that she first referred to Jesus as

              “O Lord, thou Son of David.”  Of course this indicated her faith in Jesus as the prophesied Messiah -

              an interesting fact since she was a Gentile.

            -Her deep humility shines forth with a very wise response - “Lord, yet the dogs eat of the crumbs

             which fall from their masters’ table.”

-Jesus then commends her great faith and sends her home to her healed daughter.

            -“The woman’s faith is shown in many ways:  1. She persisted when he was silent.  2. She reasoned

             when he spoke.  3. She regarded this miracle, though a priceless gift to her, as a mere crumb from

             the table of his abundant powers.  It is noteworthy that the two most notable for faith - this woman

             and the centurion - were both Gentiles” (McGarvey/Pendleton, pg 402).