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About-Him.Com Devotional 03-13-2004
Do we really believe God? Perhaps we don't really know the depth of our faith, until, like the Syro-Phoenicia women in our segment below, we are faced with a problem that only Jesus can solve. This women simply would not take "no" for an answer.
Our Lord has promised that if we ask anything in His name (John 14:14), in faith believing, doubting not in our hearts, and according to His will (I John 5:14), He would do it. If any two agree as touching any one thing, it shall be done (Matthew 18:19). Simple faith, as the size of a mustard seed will move mountains (Mark 11:23). In regard to faith, somebody has said, "It doesn't take a lot, just use what you've got."
127: The Tour of Phoenicia: Mt. 15:21-28; Mk. 7:24-30
Matthew 15:21 ¶ Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.
Jesus traveled about 30 miles northeast. into the gentile region of Phoenicia which lay on the Mediterranean coast. His purpose in going there was to leave the political domain of King Herod. He was already banned from the synagogues of Judea where the religious leaders were seeking to kill Him. After this latest confrontation His life would be in danger in Galilee also.
128: The Daughter of the Syro-Phoenician Women Healed: Mt. 15:22-28; Mk. 7:25-30
Matthew 15:21 ¶ Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.
22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.
23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.
There was no escaping, as His fame preceded Him. A gentile woman came and fell at His feet, worshiping Him. “Lord, my daughter is possessed with a devil, please cast it out of her.” This area was not all that far from where Jesus had cast the devil out of the Gadarrene demoniac. This woman knew that Jesus was her only remedy and she was not about to give up.
Jesus uttered what seems like a very hard and uncharacteristic statement. Using the imagery of little pet dogs being allowed to sit under the dinner tables in the great houses of the day’ Jesus stated that it wouldn’t be fitting to take the children’s meat and feed it to the dogs for salvation was of the Jews.
Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, the son of David, the seed of Abraham. The gospel would need to be preached by His Jewish apostles starting at Jerusalem, first. To have started an extensive campaign in a gentile region would have raised so much hostility that His ministry would be ended. Also it would be necessary for Him to be crucified by His own people to fulfil scripture.
Be that as it may, this woman had a problem and Jesus was the answer. She wasn’t about to give up. She answered Jesus with wit and perhaps a bit of sarcasm:
Mark 7:28 And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs.
Jesus was moved by her display of faith. He sent her home. There, she would find her daughter healed and delivered.
Conclusion and Application:
Jesus is moved by our faith much more than our pedigree. He is not affected by our denomination or understanding of doctrine as much as He is by our simple believing Him and being persistent.
Somebody Has Said
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It Should Have Been Me! http://about-him.com/music/tcm02-29-04.ram - RealAudio Sermon - I was privileged to speak concerning the blood and body of our Lord in a recent Sunday service, after a large group from the church had just viewed the movie, The Passion of Christ.
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Humor
It had been snowing for hours when an announcement came over the intercom: "Will the students who are parked on University Drive please move their cars so that we may begin plowing.
Twenty minutes later there was another announcement: "Will the twelve hundred students who went to move 26 cars please return to class?"
Keep Looking Up!
Don & Marie Spooner
About Him! Ministries
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