Degradation or inspiration?
Scripture reading: Matthew 15:21-28. Text: “A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him (Jesus), crying out, ‘Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession.’ Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, ‘Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.’ He answered, ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.’ The woman came and knelt before him. ‘Lord, help me!’ she said. He replied, ‘It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ she said, ‘but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.’ Then Jesus answered, ‘Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.'” Matthew 15:22-28/a.
Once I had a conversation with a friend. During our discussion a pastor’s name was mentioned who was known by both of us. I happened to say, “He is a nice person.” My friend with a smiling face replied, “Can a pastor be anything else but nice?” Of course everybody wishes to be nice, knowing the popular wisdom, “It is nice to be important but it is more important to be nice.”
“‘IT IS NOT RIGHT TO TAKE THE CHILDREN’S BREAD AND TOSS IT TO THEIR DOGS.'”
From the Scripture reading we learn of the dialogue that took place between our Lord and the Canaanite woman. The Canaanite woman asked Jesus to heal her daughter. The kneeling woman’s request was responded to in this way, “‘It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.'” Please see our text.
How can a human being be degraded to the low level of a dog? Was Christ’s answer insensitive? How would we react to such a response as this woman received? Do we not expect anything else of Jesus but his being nice, kind, helping and caring?
FORGETTING OUR FIRST REACTION, WHAT DO WE LEARN FROM THE CANAANITE WOMAN’S PLEA AND JESUS’ RESPONSE TO IT?
There is no PUSH BUTTON divine providence. How wonderful it would be if, whenever we need something that cannot be satisfied through our human abilities, we could turn to God, and, lo and behold, it is granted without delay. Just a short prayer or a desperate plea or a fervent supplication and God will be obliged to grant our request. Can we humans influence or manipulate or control the Almighty? We have to accept the reality that God is the sovereign CREATOR and we are his creation.
What is our INPUT? How do we know whether Jesus was insulting this Canaanite woman or testing her faith? Just think how Abraham’s faith was tested when God asked him to sacrifice his only son Isaac. See Genesis 22:1-19. After the negative response from Jesus, the Canaanite woman did not leave disappointed or embittered but was tenacious and made this humble remark, “‘Yes, Lord,’ she said, ‘but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.'” Her simple and honest response was appreciated by Jesus and he granted the Canaanite woman’s request, “Then Jesus answered, ‘Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.’ And her daughter was healed from that very hour.” 28th verse.
What is our ATTITUDE when we do not receive the response from Jesus that we expect? Is our faith strong enough to try again? What happened to Apostle Paul? “To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'” 2 Corinthians 12:7-9/a.
Most of us have heard about Shakespeare’s play “ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL.” How did the Canaanite woman’s story end? “And her daughter was healed from that very hour.” Verse 28/b. In our spiritual life what is most important is not how we like what is going on at the present time, but how we prepare ourselves so it can be said about our lives, “All’s well that ends well.” Are you sure you are saved?
There is a very encouraging case when Jesus referred to birds concerning his disciples, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:29-31.
The Rev. Alexander Jalso is a retired United Presbyterian minister living in Brownsville.