Mark 7:24-30 – Barrier breaking faith

Having clashed with the Pharisees concerning defilement, Jesus left Jerusalem and retreated to the region of Tyre for a much needed rest. As far as the thinking of the scribes and Pharisees were concerned, this Gentile region was ritualistically unclean. The Lord went there quietly, not wanting anyone to know about it. Even then, He could not escape being noticed. And here in this “unclean” place, we read that Jesus met a Syrophoenician woman. Matthew 15:22 referred to her as a Canaanite woman. Being a Gentile, she was considered unclean by the religious establishment. But she had an outstanding faith, one that surpassed the Pharisees’ and even the faith of the Lord’s own disciples.

The picture we get from verses 25-26 is that she did not just casually come to the Lord. She came earnestly and was literally begging the Lord to deliver her daughter from the demon. We are told that she fell at His feet and kept asking the Lord to cast out the demon from her daughter. It gives us that sense that she did not just ask for it once but many times. Her faith in the Lord was persistent.

The Lord‘s reply to her seems unkind and cruel. He said 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.” These words would have sent many going away, feeling rejected and insulted. But not this persistent lady. Undeterred by the Jewish exclusiveness of the Lord’s remark, she would not let this opportunity pass. Her reply to the Lord was, “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs under the table feed on the children’s crumbs.” She virtually caught the Lord in His own words. But unaware to her, Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of all lords, this Master of the universe, saw her great and persistent faith. So He told her to go her way, for the daughter had been delivered. She obeyed and did so. When she arrived home she found her daughter in bed and gloriously delivered of the demon.   

Truly the kingdom of God could be seized by a violent faith. Though it was not the dispensation for the Gentiles yet, this “despised” woman found a crack and boldly broke in. Her faith, her persistence, her humility and her brazen boldness set us an example to come to the Lord for our own needs. This is how we should approach the Lord. We must come to Him trustingly, persistently, humbly and boldly, seeking His answers to the need of our lives. The Lord is more willing to answer us than we ever know!