Nature of Faith
Today’s text is Mark 7:24-30
24 And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden. 25 But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. 26 Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 And he said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 28 But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” 29 And he said to her, “For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.” 30 And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.
1. Jesus attempts to find solitude. (Mark 7:24-25) Why do we run to social gatherings – from group to group, or from Bible study to Bible study, or from party to party, while never desiring to have solitude? What about being alone disturbs us most? Being with people is certainly a blessing and a necessity for the balanced Christian life – but equally so, solitude is as well. Jesus was attempting to find some alone time with the Father for rest and for strength. Solitude is a spiritual discipline that is very much needed to meditate and to pray. (See Don Whitney’s work: Spritual Disciplines for the Christian Life) Too many times, the crowd drowns out our soul’s cry for our Maker.
2. Jesus came to the Jews first. (Mark 7:25-27) We see here that the covenant people of Israel need a Savior. Jesus came in order that they may live. The OT saints (Abraham, Moses, David, etc. ) were saved by their faith in God – and they had a way made for them through Christ as well (Galatians 3). He came to fulfill all righteousness, that God’s promises to Israel would stand.
3. Jesus came to the rest of the world. (Mark 7:28-30) This is a foreshadowing of Jesus saving Gentiles. This illustration that Jesus uses may be offensive to some – but did it offend the woman in the text? No. She had no pride to be offended with. That is the way that all come to Christ – without a pride-filled heart, humble and low. Gentile believers are ingrafted branches in the kingdom. Praise God that we are – for we could not have a righteousness of our own to save us.
4. Jesus’ power over the demonic. (Mark 7:29-30) Let’s not discount Jesus’ authority. He did NOT have to be in close proximity to cast demons out. He said the word – and it is done! What in your life needs this kind of extraction? What in your life needs this kind of surgery?
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