Pray and Catch Jesus By His Word
Matthew 15:21-29
March 17, 2019 – Redeemer
Last week Jesus had one enemy – the Devil. This week the Canaanite woman has one enemy – the demon possessing her daughter. As a baptized child of God you have one enemy – the Devil.
It sounds strange doesn’t it? If I asked you to name enemy number one in your life would any of you name the devil? You would name cancer, Alzheimer’s, death, loneliness, big business, big government, big education, capitalism, socialism, Trump, Bernie. You might even name yourself- sometimes you are your own worst enemy.
Do we even think of the devil outside of church? How come people were possessed visibly in Jesus’ day but we don’t see that too much today? Is the Devil really prowling around now like he was then?
The Devil is around and active. We have Jesus’ word on it and it’s not very hard to prove. Have you daydreamed once during my sermon? Did you ever think you were too sinful for God to forgive? Have you ever done something you absolutely knew was wrong, but you just couldn’t get that nagging temptation out of your head so you gave in? There’s your proof – the Devil does not want you to hear God’s Word. He wants you to believe that your sins are too great for God’s forgiveness. He tempts you to sin and then delights to rub your face in it as soon as you fall.
It is the Devil who drives the woman in the text to Jesus. That tells us who is really in control. The Devil thinks he is boss. He loves to rule with fear and chaos. So he set one of his demons upon this woman’s daughter hoping to destroy her life. He loves destruction, tearing families apart, inflicting suffering, but what happens? The woman runs to Jesus. Well, I guess that plan backfired. You see the Devil is not in control. Jesus has won the battle. Your forgiveness has been purchased. Death and the Devil are defeated. Victory belongs to those who believe in Christ. Right now the Lord’s church is just doing clean-up operations – freeing the last of the prisoners of war before the final and eternal victory parade.
This young girl was a prisoner of a demon. Her mother was helpless to free her. What do you have that can stand up to the devil? You have Jesus. This mom had heard of Jesus. He was known for casting out demons. Tough demons. Thug demons. Demons that would throw you into fires and give you seizures. Demons that would fill a person by the thousands. Demons even the disciples couldn’t beat. Jesus beat them all bad.
This troubled mom ran to Jesus. She speaks nearly the same thing the blind man spoke a few weeks ago. “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David;” The blind man got his sight back. The woman gets nothing. Jesus did not answer her a word. How is it that a blind guy gets his sight but a possessed girl doesn’t get a word? How come a young mother dies of breast cancer and a woman who’s ready to die at 80 lives to 100? I don’t know. You’ll have to ask Jesus, but He might not tell you.
Jesus didn’t give this woman a word, but she isn’t a snowflake. She doesn’t melt because she didn’t get what she wanted. Faith doesn’t melt. She knows Jesus. She believes in Him. She’s looking for help and He’s the only One who will do. The disciples have had enough. She’s making a scene. Come on Jesus. Help her out and then “send her away, for she is crying out after us.” “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” Do you know what that sounds like? It sounds like if I said, “Only people from the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod will be in heaven.” Just so we’re clear – that is absolutely false. But that is what Jesus sounds like – an exclusive Savior for an exclusive people and if you’re not in you are out.
If you were calling a pastor and you wanted a young man gifted in Evangelism Jesus wouldn’t be your guy. He just doesn’t have the people skills necessary. He’s not nice. And it gets worse.
The woman came and knelt before him. Saint Mark tells us she followed him into a house. She looks like a modern day protester, except she isn’t. She’s not in His face. She’s on the floor, at His feet. She’s begging to the Son of God for her daughter’s freedom. “Lord, help me.”
Jesus answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs. Jesus probably couldn’t graduate seminary. He would never make a call list in the Lutheran church. But that’s OK. He’s Jesus and your pastor isn’t. But remember this woman wasn’t a snowflake. Snowflakes is the word used for people who want to be called by their preferred pronoun, who cannot stand to hear a contradictory thought or statement to what they believe. Snowflakes melt into temper tantrums at the mere mention that life does not revolve around them. Faith does not allow you to be a snowflake. Learn from this woman – whatever Jesus calls you, that is what you are. He knows. If Jesus calls you a dog – take His Word on it. That is what this woman did.
Listen to how Martin Luther preaches this, “She catches Christ with his own words, and he is happy to be caught. Very well, she says, if I am a dog, I ask no more than a dog’s rights. … You are a rich Lord and set a lavish table … Let me, merely like a dog, pick up the crumbs under the table, allowing me that which the children don’t need or even miss, the crumbs, and I will be content [with that.]”
Hold Christ to His Word. He is happy to be caught. That is why He comes. Jesus has not come to scold and whip you for your disobedience and rub your nose in your mess. He has come to deliver you from the Devil’s grasp, from your sin, from death. Faith says, “Yes Lord – I am a dog.” Faith tells the truth – If we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us, but if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just and He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. So that Canaanite woman received what she believed. Jesus is compassionate and He had compassion on her. Jesus is the great physician and He healed her daughter that very instant. Jesus is the Sacrifice for our sin and believing that you have forgiveness. Jesus beat the Devil in the wilderness, on the cross, and at the tomb, and believing that you have His righteousness, His death, and His resurrection.
What does this text teach us on the second Sunday in Lent? The Devil is our chief enemy. He doesn’t want you to hear God’s Word. He wants to rub your nose and conscience in your sin. He wants you to judge God with your eyes. What do you have in your battle against the Devil? Jesus. You have Jesus by His Word. Sometimes it appears that God is silent. Sometimes it feels like He is against you. Sometimes God’s work in this world makes no sense. So learn from this woman. Pray to Jesus and take hold of Him by His Word.
Yes Lord. I’m an unworthy and disobedient dog, but even a crumb from your table is enough for me. God’s Word says He doesn’t give crumbs. He gives feasts. He doesn’t throw you the leftovers. He gives you the main course. He gives you Jesus. In John 6 Jesus says His flesh is real food and His blood is real drink, the only food and drink for life. That’s what you have, because that is what He gives you – Jesus flesh and blood on the cross. Jesus risen from the dead. Jesus’ true body and true blood in the Supper. We need the Lord’s Supper often, because the devil is always around. The devil is real. He is your enemy. And he is beaten. In the name of Jesus. Amen.