Daily Devotional

In the story of when Jesus withdrew into the region of Tyre and Sidon (Matt 15:21-28, Mark 7:24-30), a woman approaches and cries out to Him to help her daughter who is severely demon-possessed. His reaction seems to lack all compassion. At first, He doesn’t even answer her. His disciples want Him to send her away, “because she keeps shouting at us.” Jesus explains to them (I suspect within earshot of the woman) that He “was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Yet she bows down at His feet and pleads “Lord, help me!” He finally speaks to her saying “Let the children be satisfied first, for it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”

Mark and Matthew’s gospels point out that the woman is a Gentile, of Syrophoenician descent, a Canaanite. Obviously, not a part of the house of Israel. And by Jesus statement, in a way, no more highly esteemed that a little dog. All this would certainly make her feel unworthy. Yet, she does not relent, “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs under the table feed on the children’s crumbs” is her reply.

I find her first two words to be powerful, wonderful words; “Yes, Lord”. Yes, because she does not disagree. Yes, the children should be satisfied first. Yes, it is not good to take the children’s bread. Yes, the lost sheep of the house Israel (which I am not a part of) is your mission.
 
“Yes, Lord”. Mark 7:25 says that “after hearing about Him” the woman came and fell at Jesus’ feet. How much about Jesus did she hear? I suspect more than just the fact that He’s in town.  She calls Jesus “Lord” more than once, and in Matthew’s account she addresses Him as “Son of David”. She’s heard enough about Jesus to know and believe in who He is and what He can do. Might I say that to the woman, “Lord” is not just Jesus’ title, but that she is submitting to Him as her Lord.

The woman continues, “…but even the dogs under the table feed on the children’s crumbs.” But even the dogs, (the unworthy), under the table, (lowly and submissive), get to feed on the crumbs. She’s saying the crumbs are all she wants. They are more than sufficient for her needs. With them, she would be very satisfied. That’s the kind of faith she has in Jesus. I liken this faith to be similar to the woman who had been hemorrhaging for twelve years. She came up behind Jesus, not even facing Him or asking Him directly, but believing “if I just touch His garments.” Or like the Centurion who’s servant was paralyzed and about to die. Telling Jesus how he was unworthy for Jesus to come under his roof, but rather, “just say the word.”

Just the crumbs, please! That’s all the woman is asking. Her belief in Jesus is such that just a crumb of His power and mercy is more than sufficient to save her daughter from this demon. The crumbs are small but the woman’s faith is great. Jesus even said so, “O woman, your faith is great”. And like the bleeding woman and the Centurion, this Gentile, Syrophoenician, Canaanite woman received what she asked for “and her daughter was healed at once”.

Thank you Jesus for giving us more than crumbs. You gave your whole and complete self for our salvation.

New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.