Daily Excerpt: Jesus Is Still Passing By (Easterling) - A Gentile Woman's Child


 


excerpt from Jesus Is Still Passing By by Bennett Easterling - 

A GENTILE WOMAN’S CHILD

(Gospel account in Matthew 15:21-28; Matthew 20:29-34)

Jesus went to the vicinity of Tyre, where a Canaanite woman came to him pleading, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! For my daughter has a demon in her, and it’s severely tormenting her.”

Jesus gave her no reply. His disciples urged him to send her away. “Tell her to leave,” they said. “She’s bothering us with all her begging.” Sensitive souls, right?

Then Jesus said to the woman, “I was sent to help the people of Israel, God’s lost sheep, not the Gentiles.”

But she came and worshipped him, pleading again, “Lord, help me!”

Again, he protested, “It’s not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.”

“Yes, Lord,” she agreed, “but even puppies eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”

Her reply seemed to astonish the Lord, blowing away any further thought of refusal.

“Woman, great is your faith,” he told her. “Your request is granted.” And her daughter was instantly healed.

BACKGROUND

Mom was desperate for her beloved child, who was being severely tormented. She was determined not to be put off by society’s rigid “do’s and don’ts.” She was risking public disgrace, rejection, and humiliation by approaching this Jewish rabbi for help. Yet, her daughter had been stolen from her by this possession, and she would do anything to get her back.

The disciples were likely dumbfounded when Jesus befriended a Gentile (non-Jew)—especially one of Canaanite heritage. The Canaanites had fought the Israelites furiously when the Israelites entered the Promised Land and remained one of their most savage and troublesome enemies.

The good news Jesus was proclaiming traveled fast: “The Kingdom of God is near.” And, he was performing miraculous signs and wonders. News of a heaven-sent healer flashed like lightning in a dark sky. The kingdom of heaven was indeed at hand. People were astounded to learn God is for his people and not against them—that he’s not willing that any should perish but that all will come to have knowledge of God.

Jesus said to the Canaanite, “Woman, I must first help my own people. It’s not right to take the children’s food and toss it to their dogs.”

Why such a harsh-sounding response? Jesus was sent first to God’s chosen people the Jews. “He came to his own but his own received him not.”

This was true of the majority, yet some Jews were persuaded by the Nazarene. Even two honored members of the high council, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus who came to Jesus at night, became secret followers. They fought past their fears, asking Pilate for his crucified body, then embalmed it with spices, and lovingly laid it in a tomb.

As the story unfolds, this encounter with a Gentile lady, a hated Canaanite, shows us that God has not excluded Gentiles and foreigners. This mother conceded Jesus’ point—his first duty was to God’s chosen people. Yet, she was not giving up her dreams. Something deep inside was telling her Jesus was a man of uncensored compassion. So, she persisted, “But sir, even the puppies under the table are given scraps from the children’s plates.” Her stubborn faith was rewarded.

LIFE APPLICATIONS

HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO?

The same good news Immanuel brought from heaven is still electrifying, still changing peoples’ lives and their eternity. Have you heard it, believed it, and been “born again” by this life-changing truth, that the Lamb of God takes away the sins of the world? It’s a text message from God that changes everything, and it’s addressed to you.

Today Christians around the world are being targeted for persecution. “The stabbing death of a priest is only the tip of an iceberg,” according to a recent report from the American Bible Society. Believers are threatened, beaten, driven from their homes, imprisoned, and even murdered. More than 200 million Christians suffered extreme persecutions in 50 countries last year, the ABC reported. Sadly, missionaries, priests, nurses, and relief workers are often targeted.

These brave soldiers of the cross, facing death every day, are bringing the gospel to some of the most inhospitable places on earth: Muslim nations, communist Europe, India and Pakistan, North Korea, Iraq, Iran, Egypt, Syria and many others. The Bible says, “Blessed are the feet of them who bring good news”. They’re depending on our prayers for safety as they carry the gospel into these danger-fraught lands.

Who can deny that Jesus is still passing by?

For reflection:
When have you violated traditions or rules to help someone?

How far would you go—will you risk ridicule or danger?

REDEEMING FRIENDS AND ENEMIES ALIKE

The disciples were likely dumbfounded when Jesus befriended a Gentile foreigner, especially one of Canaanite heritage. The Canaanites had fought the Israelites furiously when they entered the Promised Land and were one of their most savage and troublesome enemies. Now, Jesus was proclaiming, “The kingdom of God is near.” He was appealing not just to respectable citizens but also to those society had condemned: criminals, enemies, adulterers, and prostitutes. He was winning them over with miraculous signs and wonders. News of a heaven-sent healer who turned no one away flashed like lightening in a dark sky. Notorious sinners were astounded to learn God is for us and not against us, that he’s not willing that any should perish but that all come to the knowledge of God.

That same good news Immanuel brought from heaven is still electrifying, still changing peoples’ lives and their eternity. Chuck Colson was known as President Nixon’s hatchet man. By his own admission, “I would have stepped on my own grandmother’s grave to get ahead.” He was charged and convicted of criminal activities, found himself stripped of his White House trappings of power, and sitting in a lonely prison cell. Senator Mark Hatfield and other Christians on Capitol Hill decided to share their faith with Colson. He was receptive. He repented and received Christ as his Savior. The former hatchet man today has a worldwide prison ministry that is finding and redeeming thousands of lost souls.

For reflection

What type of person do you find it difficult to befriend?

Will this miracle encourage you to push past society’s stereotypes?

STUBBORN FAITH REWARDED

One day Daniel, a young newly married Jewish man was milking cows in an Israeli agricultural commune when he slipped, seriously injuring his back. When it didn’t heal, his doctors ordered surgery but accidently severed some vital nerves, leaving him paralyzed. One day as he was idly flipping through his television channels at home, he turned to the 700 Club, a Christian ministry program, and heard of people being healed by accepting Jesus into their lives and having fellow believers pray for them.

Daniel was skeptical but kept watching the program. When the host invited viewers to pray to receive Christ into their lives, Daniel overcame his fears and responded. Listening to a prophetic speaker one day, Daniel sensed he was about to be healed. Sure enough, feeling soon began returning to his paralyzed legs. When he was examined by his Jewish doctors they proclaimed it to be a medical miracle. “This is not a medical miracle. This is Yeshua!” Daniel told them. That was too much for his Jewish doctors.

He began calling himself a Messianic Jew, telling people that Jesus had healed him. The agricultural commune leaders threw Daniel and his wife out of the commune, giving them ten days to leave. “Had God not made a way, we would’ve been out in the streets penniless,” he says.

That was not to be. Someone soon handed him an envelope. When he opened it, he couldn’t believe his eyes. It contained two airline tickets and a scholarship to attend Bible school in Dallas, Texas. His dream is to return to Israel one day to proclaim the Messiah who saves and heals.

For Reflection:
Who has the most long-suffering faith of anyone you’ve known?

When have you personally seen stubborn faith rewarded?


 Winner Pinnacle Book Achievement Award/Religion

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