Faith Clings to Jesus’ Word
Matthew 15:21-28
August 20, 2017 – Redeemer
Last week we heard about the little faith of Peter, foremost of the disciples (the first pope if you’re Roman Catholic. Of course, we aren’t so he isn’t anyone but Peter to us). This week we hear about the great faith of a Canaanite woman – a non-Jewish woman, a woman who should never even have spoken to a Rabbi like Jesus. Almost makes you think that your salvation isn’t based on who you are or what you’ve done, but in Whom you believe and what He has done. Jesus saves Peter from drowning and doubt. Jesus saves the Canaanite woman and frees her daughter from demon possession. The Kingdom of heaven is not about who you are, what you’ve done or haven’t done, but about the Son of God who reveals His Father’s mercy and salvation.
Behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” When Saint Matthew uses that little word “behold” he wants you to look. He wants you to see that Canaanite woman. He wants you to see a woman walking into Redeemer – a woman about whom you would immediately think (or even say), “What is she doing here? She doesn’t belong here.” Maybe she isn’t American. Maybe her clothes give her away. One look and you don’t want her here. You despise woman like her, people like her. Whatever she does you would put the worst construction on it. So when she asks for help for her daughter – you immediately wonder if she is even married. Where’s her husband? She probably did drugs when she was pregnant or wasn’t smart enough to look after herself and now her daughter is suffering.
Dr. Martin Luther say this woman suffered four severe blows. 1) Her daughter is demon possessed and she is a Canaanite woman with no standing. 2) At first Jesus doesn’t answer her a word. 3) Jesus doesn’t listen to his disciples. 4) Jesus calls her a dog. Where is the compassionate man, who fed a crowd of thousands and healed hundreds? Where is this man she had obviously heard about, whom people were confessing to be the Son of God because of His mercy and His miracles? This text leaves us with more questions than answers, until we get to the very end.
At first Jesus did not answer her a word.” There it appears that Jesus is already treating her like a dog – ignore a barking, whining dog and eventually it will quit its yapping. But this woman will not be deterred. Her daughter is suffering and she knows Jesus alone can help.
She is such a pest that the disciples came and begged him saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” They know Jesus can help this woman. They have seen him cast out demons, heal people at the request of others. In essence, they pray to Jesus to save this woman’s daughter, not because of compassion, but because of annoyance. They too receive an apparent rebuff from Jesus. “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
Here Jesus speaks a necssary truth to understand this text. God promised Abraham a son and the promise was always a promise to Israel, the promise was carried by Isaac, and his son Jacob, who was renamed Israel, then to his son Judah, then Judah’s great, great, great grandson David the King. That promise reached its fulfillment when Mary, who was betrothed to Joseph, who was a descendent of David, gave birth to Jesus, the incarnate Son of God. Salvation comes through Israel and to Israel. Salvation comes in God’s way through Jesus born of Israel for Israel.
The Canaanite woman is not of Israel, but knows that Jesus is. She calls Him, “Lord, Son of David.” Her daughter needs a Savior and Jesus is the only Savior. So she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” If Jesus had attended one of our Lutheran seminaries and acted like that on a hospital call He wouldn’t have graduated. If He was your pastor and called you a dog, you would make sure the next deacons meeting would be very unpleasant for him.
Learn from the Canaanite woman. She won’t let her sensitivities get in the way of her faith. She has come to Him by faith in God’s Word and now she will hold Jesus to His Word. “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Take Jesus at His Word, even if you don’t like it, even if it makes no sense, even if your sensitive and tender ears are hurt, and you want to cry out, “Don’t talk to me like that.” The woman’s faith takes Jesus at His Word and her faith receives the gifts of Jesus. The Jews were indeed God’s chosen people, His children, salvation came through them, but salvation was never intended for them alone. When children eat, what happens? They spill.The crumbs from their bread fall to the floor where the dog gobbles it up. Sometimes children even sneak the dog a choice morsel or two. This woman believes that what Jesus is doing is so great, so abundant, a crumb from His bread of life will be more than enough for her and her daughter to live. And so it is, “Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.
We should rejoice in this story because we are no different than the Canaanite woman. Does anyone of us deserve to be here this morning? By birth we have no standing in God’s Kingdom because we are born sinful. Anyone who knows you also knows your sins – your short fuse, your wandering eye, your lustful heart, your fill in the blank favorite sin. Yet, here you sit in the Lord’s house. Couldn’t anyone who knows you say, “What is he doing here? What is she doing here?”
Well, we are doing the very same thing that Canaanite woman was doing. We are here because God’s Word is here and we are holding on to that by faith. God has delivered our salvation in a particular way – His way. He sent His Son, born of a particular woman named Mary in the fullness of time. He was born in the city of David, David’s Son. Jesus saved us in God’s own way – He took our sins upon Himself and then suffered our punishment at the cross. Could God have simply declared us forgiven? I suppose, but He didn’t. Sin results in death and separation from God so God accomplished our salvation by the death of His Son and by separating Himself from His Son, leaving Jesus alone to suffer God’s wrath and our hell. That’s God’s plan. His way. That is what the Scriptures confess.
The Pharisees will not make it into heaven because they look good and were Jewish. This Canaanite woman will not be kept out because she was so bad and not of Israel. Jesus’ death for sinners opens the way. Whoever believes that is in. If you believe that you’re in – no matter if you look pretty good, or if you know that deep down you’re totally sinful. Christ Jesus took away your sin by way of His cross and that’s your in, your life, your salvation.
I don’t know if you ever look at the artwork on your bulletin insert. Today’s is quite interesting – there’s the dog at the table, but the table is an altar set with the Lord’s Supper. The artist is making a confession like the Canaanite woman – as the gifts of God are purchased and won in God’s particular way – through His Son, so the gifts of God are delivered in His particular way – the Word and the Sacraments. At His Table, by His Word is given all that you need for salvation, for life instead of death, for deliverance from your sins, for the hope that your body one day will be free of sin, of sickness, of cancer, of Satan’s pestering attacks. The little host of bread, the little sip of wine deliver the full, saving work of Jesus to us, even as the Canaanite’s daughter was healed instantly. The gift of salvation is given to all who have faith in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Pr. Bruce Timm
19 August 2017 anno Domini