“Yes to the Lord’s Hard Word”
Mark 7:24-30
September 9, 2018 – Redeemer
Jesus calls the woman a dog. Don’t try that at work or school. You’re not Jesus. It would be hard to find a worse insult in that day or in ours. Among God’s people dogs were unclean animals. It was an insult used for non-Jews, for pagans. Jesus lays down a double offense. She was a Gentile dog. She was an unclean pagan. As a woman she shouldn’t even have been talking to this Rabbi. Jesus had said earlier in a sermon, “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw pearls before pigs.” (Matt 7:6)
But this woman has been driven to Jesus by her troubles. It doesn’t matter that she is a woman or a Gentile. Trouble doesn’t respect or ignore anyone. She has the worst troubles in the world. She has mom trouble. Her daughter is demon possessed. Men and women are different. Fathers and mothers are different. Fathers are usually strong, stable, and objective in the midst of a child’s illness. Mothers, to whom God has given the gift of nurture and compassion, are not so strong. They stay awake all night. They lay down in the bed with a sick child. They watch and notice every change in the child’s condition. A dad says, “She’ll be fine. Let’s just wait it out.” A mom says, “I’m taking her to the emergency room.” One thing is driving this mother. Her daughter is demon possessed. This isn’t some malady that is healed with medicine or rest or fluids. It’s not going to be OK with time.
Learn from this. By the grace of God our troubles drive us to seek Jesus. Without this demon possessed daughter, this mother would not have sought Jesus. We may lament and complain about our troubles but without that rebellious child or abnormal test result you might not seek the Lord while He may be found. Every trouble from Demon possession to divorce proceedings is the result of our own sin, but because Christ rules all things for the sake of His beloved bride the church, He also rules our troubles. This is why Saint Paul could write the Romans, “We rejoice in our sufferings.” You’ll never see that line in a get well card, but it is true, our suffering drives us to Jesus.
Trouble is driving this woman, but so is faith in Jesus. She could have gone to any number of gods. The land was filled with gods – he gods, she gods, gods for rain, gods for crops, gods for good fortune, and most likely gods for demon possession. But she didn’t go to the corner god with the drive through window where you can have god your way. She was going to Jesus, because she has heard about Him. Faith didn’t come to the woman out of thin air. She didn’t just decide to follow Jesus. She heard the Word – faith comes by hearing and hearing from the Word of God. That is why the chief work of the Church is preaching, teaching, and speaking God’s Word. By the Word alone faith is given and Jesus is believed. This woman heard – Jesus fed 5000 with five loaves and two fish. Jesus walked on water. He healed the sick. And of course Jesus had cast out demons. And that made Him something more than the gods of the land. They couldn’t do anything, but Jesus did all things well.
We too can go to any number of gods can’t we? We run after money believing that it will fix things. We worship the medical gods and pleasure gods. We’ll make incredible sacrifices to seek their favor. As parents we can stake our lives on our children, on their success and accomplishments. How much do we sacrifice to the gods of this age – the sports gods, the health gods, the pleasure gods? And how destroyed are we when they fail to deliver? Do you know the test to decide if a god is false or true? A false god enslaves you. You give and give and give. You drive and pay and sacrifice, week after week. Maybe you might get a very small return on your sacrifice, but the god who enslaves you benefits the most. The true God gives everything and sets you free from slavery to sin, death, and the devil (and also from every false god on earth.)
The woman came to Jesus because she had faith – faith which came by the Word. Jesus is never slow to give people His word. It sounds like He gives this woman a word of rebuke. “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” (Mark 7:27, ESV) Who are the children? God’s OT people, the Jews. What is this woman? She’s a Gentile woman, a dog. Jesus said you don’t give the food intended for the children to the dogs. Ouch. You’re a dog lady. The food is for the children. Double ouch.
From this woman we learn something about faith. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God therefore faith takes Jesus at His Word. “Yes Lord,” she says. Right there is faith. Jesus, you are Lord (true God) and yes, I am a dog. It is as you say. But Lord, everyone knows that little children are messy eaters and there’s going to be some crumbs that fall to the floor. Yes Lord, I’m a dog, but all my daughter needs is a crumb from you.
For that statement, Jesus sends her back home. For that statement Jesus casts the demon out of her daughter.
What do we learn from this Syrophonecian woman? Faith comes by hearing and hearing takes Jesus at His Word. Even when He says things that are hard to take. He called the woman a dog and that sounds offensive. What do you think is the most offensive word in the Bible? The Bible tells us. It is the Word “Jesus.” The Word “Jesus” tells us God became man. That offends us because we think we can save ourselves. I’m not that bad. God doesn’t have to show up for me. Jesus tells us that the wages of sin is death. We don’t want to think about that – cancer, old age, heart attack, tragic accident – those are the reasons we die. Death isn’t our fault, but the Word “Jesus” proclaims God in the flesh died for our sins. Jesus proclaims there is one way and one truth to life – Him alone. That’s offensive. Aren’t all gods the same? Isn’t faith what matters? Can’t we coexist? It is another paradox of God’s Word that the greatest good news we can hear, “Christ Jesus died for sinners. You are forgiven.” is also the most offensive word in Scripture. Faith is the difference between hearing Jesus as good news or taking offense.
That woman took Jesus at His Word, even though it was hard to hear. Jesus speaks some Words you might find hard to believe. He called you “forgiven” of all your sins from His cross. He says you’re “cleansed of sin” and “robed in His righteousness” and “adopted as God’s sons” by the washing of water with His Word in baptism. He says “heaven is open” when you hear the Word of forgiveness on earth. He says, “I am with you always” in His body and blood in the Lord’s Supper. He proclaims you “alive” and that “your body will rise” by His death and resurrection. Faith takes Jesus at His Word, even when that word is hard to hear. Faith says to Jesus, “Yes Lord” or as we say in the church. Amen.
Pr. Bruce Timm
September 8, 2018 anno Domini