Mark 7:24-30

Find a way to separate yourself from whatever’s going on around you so you can fully enter into today’s passage. if you haven’t read the introduction to Mark’s Gospel, read it here.

Read Mark 7:24-30 paying attention to any questions or reactions you may have.

Already in Mark’s Gospel we’ve seen Jesus cast demons out of a Gentile man in the country of the Gerasenes (Mark 5:1-20), so what is going on here? The word for “dogs” in this passage is in the diminutive form and most likely refers to a pet dog rather than a guard dog, but Jesus’ comment to the non-Jewish Syrophoenician woman is still puzzling.

Jesus always sees the person and the need, not the person’s ethnicity, so we must assume that Jesus knows something about the woman that we don’t. We also know that Jesus listened carefully to his Father, and as a result had God-given insight into the deepest needs of the people he encountered.

What need or hurt could Jesus be addressing in his first response to the Syrophoenician woman?

Read Mark 7:24-30 again focusing in on the courage and faith of the woman.

The woman calls Jesus “Lord” and pushes past his initial response believing that he will show mercy to her daughter. This Gentile woman exhibits more faith than the people of Jesus’ hometown or the leaders of the religion of his kinfolk. She is not a Jew, but she recognizes Jesus’ authority over the spirit world, and her faith in him is rewarded – her daughter is set free.

Have you ever asked Jesus for something and been confused by what happened next?

Considering Jesus knows your deepest needs, are you able to trust him even when his “answer” seems strange?

Do you believe that Jesus is always good and always has your deepest good in mind?

Take some time to talk with Jesus about this. Ask him to grow your confidence in his character so you are able to hold on to him in faith wherever he leads. Then get quiet for a moment and listen. If you sense something from Jesus, write it down and put it where you will see it during the day today.

If these meditations are helpful to you, please forward them to couple of friends.

Interested in going deeper? Check out The Everyday Jesus Follower’s Guide and blog.