Lent 2022 • Week Three • Jesus Loves Indiscriminately

Friday, March 18, 2022

“Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.”
— Matthew 15:28 (NIV) —

Bible Reading: Matthew 15:21-28

“Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.” 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 the dogs.” “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.”

🕛 🕐 🕑 🕒 🕓 🕔 🕕 🕖 🕗 🕘 🕙 🕚 🕛 TIMING IS EVERYTHING

The Canaanite woman in our story today is persistent, relentless and determined to get Jesus to heal her daughter. In the story, the woman pleads with Jesus and Jesus does not respond. We do not know how long she pleads with Jesus but we do know that it was long enough to annoy the disciples. They finally had heard enough and said to Jesus , “ Send her away, for she keeps crying out to us.” The woman just would not give up. The woman addresses Jesus, “ Lord, Son of David have mercy on me!” This woman, this Gentile is proclaiming who Jesus is and believes in His power to heal her child. Based on the fact she was a woman and a non-Jew, she would have had limited knowledge of scripture and law, neither would deterred her mission. Why should Jesus heal her daughter (?) … After all, Jesus was sent to the lost sheep of Israel.

He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” —Matthew 15:24

**To the biblical scholars reading this, I learned something new today through this particular story, I can’t believe I never connected this before, God’s timing is always “on time!” I now see the meaning/connection of Matthew 5:26, “He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” The children referring to the Israelites and the bread being Jesus. The woman is quick and clever in her response, “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” Matthew 15:27.

This woman from the very beginning of her cries for help acknowledged Jesus as the rightful King of Israel, she called upon His compassion and displayed more faith, maturity and humility than the Pharisees and teachers of the law. Jesus affirms her faith and says to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.” —Matthew 15:28

The very people that Jesus came to save rejected Him, but when He traveled in to Gentile territory; Jesus found mature and humble faith that touched him deeply. This would be the beginning of the expansion of His rule and kingdom reign over all people everywhere. This would be the fulfillment of the promise made to Abraham that all nations would be blessed through him.

Challenge

• Have you ever found yourself frustrated by Jesus’ apparent delay to answer your prayers?

Yes, did I mention I tend to be impatient.

• How might Jesus’ silence in your life actually be a sign of love?

Teaching me patience. Knowledge is something gained over time, with much studying and practical applications.

Further Study

1 Kings 17:7-24 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Kings%2017:7-24&version=NIV

Matthew 8:5-13 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Matthew%208:5-13&version=NIV

Matthew 15:21-28 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Matthew%2015:21-28&version=NIV

Mark 7:24-30 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Mark%207:24-30&version=NIV

John 1:11-12 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John%201:11-12&version=NIV

~Charlotte, Seeker of unexpected Comfort, Happiness, Joy and Patience.

References:

https://www.biblegateway.com/