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Real Humility, Real Faith

“And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know [it]: but he could not be hid. For a [certain] woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet: The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter. But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast [it] unto the dogs. And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children’s crumbs. And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter. And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed.” (Mark 7:24-30 AV)

Jesus making a distinction between Jews and Gentiles provides an opportunity for this Gentile woman to prove her faith. Not that Jesus had any need of proof, He knowing what was in her already. However, it provided a great lesson of faith to those nearby and for us today.

This woman was not discouraged by the words of Christ which said that the Jews were God’s chosen people and that His ministry was primarily to them first. This of course was only temporary as hope is abundant in the word FIRST. If the Jews were first, that meant the Gentiles were also to be included in the Savior’s ministry albeit at a later time.

No, rather than be discouraged, she plows ahead trusting in the Lord’s mercy. By saying to Jesus, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs, she showed great humility. The picture is clear. Men set the table to feed those invited to the table. Of course, as is often the case, some of the food falls accidentally upon the floor. The dogs, not like our family pets today but ravenous wild beast, would sometimes rush in a snatch the tiny morsels. She was willing to be one of those despised animals that plagued men. She would be anything to have the Savior’s mercy. This of course proved her great faith.

It is difficult to say whether the same scribes and Pharisees were present at the setting that was mentioned in the first part of Mark 7. The Jews did not wish to go into regions that they considered unclean. However, the text says that He could not be hid which was His original intent, and, so, they may have followed Him to spy Him out. What he did in healing the woman’s daughter would have flown in their face again. They were hypocrites and only concerned themselves with outward appearances. This ministry shattered their concept of religion by contrasting their hypocrisy with the genuine faith of this humble woman. It was compounded by the fact that the Jews hated the Gentiles.

The lesson for any would-be Christian is this. One must come to Christ on God’s terms. God is not something that is added to a life. No, to have salvation, one must deny himself, take up his cross and follow Jesus (Mark 8:34-38). He must humble himself, as this woman did, and throw himself on God’s mercy in faith.