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HUMBLE FAITH
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 5
Mark 7:24-37

Matthew 15:21-28

 

“The woman was a Greek,

a Syrophenician by nation…”

 

HUMBLE FAITH
 
Jesus at this time was in Tyre and Sidon (modern Syria) which is Gentile territory. There, a Syrophenician woman met Him and begged Him to save her daughter from demon possession. Look at how this woman addressed Jesus; it was with utmost respect, even worship: “Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David” (Matt 15:22). What is truly remarkable is that she as a Gentile knew how to address Jesus as “the Son of David,” a specifically Jewish title. She was able to see that Jesus was the Messianic Son of David, something the Jews should have seen but did not.
 
It is interesting that Jesus ignored her pleas initially. Why? He did so for the sake of His disciples who had to learn what true faith was all about. Jesus was going to use this woman as an example of what great faith is. Great faith is characterised by humility. To test her faith, Jesus said to 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” (Mark 7:27). Jesus likened her to a dog. Most, if not all, of us would resent this. Not this woman. She humbled herself to the dust, and agreed with Jesus that she was but a dog, “Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children’s crumbs” (Mark 7:28).
 
In those days, the people dined with their hands, and after they had eaten, they would use the leftover bread to wipe their fingers, and this dirty bread was cast to the ground for their pet dogs to eat. This woman considered herself worthy only of the dirtied pieces of bread that fell from the Lord’s table. What faith! “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 5:3). Jesus highly commended her, “O woman, great is thy faith” (Matt 15:28). And her daughter was healed that very moment. It is only when we strip ourselves of all our pride, and exalt Jesus in every way, that we receive His blessings. If we want Jesus to do great things in our lives, He must be everything, and we absolutely nothing.
 
THOUGHT: “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” (Ps 34:18)

PRAYER: (Bow your knees to the Lord in prayer.)

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