Parenting Resources for Elementary

Up until this point, Jesus has spent all his time in the promised land, teaching and healing the Jews. One day, Jesus decided to go on a long journey “to the region of Tyre and Sidon” (Mark 7:24). That might not seem like a big deal to us, but it was back then. Tyre and Sidon were outside the promised land and Gentiles lived there. Even worse, these cities had a bad reputation. In the Old Testament these cities are where God’s enemies—the Canaanites—lived. So, what is Jesus doing in enemy territory?
Let’s keep listening. When he got to that region he slipped into a house. He “did not want anyone to know” where he was (7:24). But that didn’t last long. When word got out that Jesus was in town, a Gentile woman knocked on the door. She was a mother whose little girl was possessed by a demon. How horrible! She needed help.
She “fell down at [Jesus’s] feet . . . and begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter” (7:25–26). Usually, Jesus heals people as soon as they ask. This time he did something strange. He replied 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” (7:27). What did he mean? He was telling her that he first came to provide healing for the Jews (“children”) not the Gentiles (“dogs”). Ouch! But Jesus didn’t say this to be mean and to call her names. He was testing her, because she had something special that he wanted everyone to see. “Yes, Lord,” she said, “I see your point. But even the dogs under the table get to eat the crumbs that fall” (see 7:28). That was her way of saying, “I may be a Gentile, but I trust you will have mercy on me too.” Wow! What a dogged faith! She passed the test and showed all of us what true faith is. Jesus loves such faith. He declared, “O woman, your faith is great!” (see Matt. 15:28). And then, at that very moment, the demon left her daughter.
Jesus has come to love and save both Jews and Gentiles. He doesn’t save us because of how worthy we are; he saves us when we realize we are low and needy. This Gentile woman knew that. And she was the one Jesus used to show us what great faith looks like.