It’s Not As Though It Seems....

When I read the story of the Gentile woman coming to beg Jesus to heal her demon possessed daughter, I can see His reaction disturbing people. His initial reaction was very harsh, elitist, and even rude. Is this the same Jesus that everyone praises about His love and non-judgemental attitude? Is this the compassionate, loving, defender of the weak and helpless? How can Jesus respond so coldly to this desperate woman’s plea for help? His reaction, though as harsh as it may seem, was a test. This test was to see how genuine this woman’s request was. Jesus was brought all kinds of people to be healed. And as we read about the story of the ten lepers, about how only one came back to thank Him, we must realize more and more people were using Jesus to be healed and not because they loved Him, and wanted to be saved. Didn’t Jesus have plenty of people around Him that we’re disingenuous? They wanted to follow Him because they wanted Him to overthrow the government? Those that wanted Him to heal the sick without thanking Him? Those that wanted to trap Him, so they could eventually kill Him? They wanted something from Him, not Him. His methods whittled away the false believers from the true believers. Yes, some of them (unbelievers) got healed, but it was the ones that expressed their true faith in Him that really got the full blessing, healing and salvation. I’ll finish with a story that will help illustrate my point. In Russia, during the Cold War, many Christians were persecuted under the communist regime. One particular church continued to hold services, but were very discreet about it. One late night during the service, several Russian KGB agents burst into the church. They told every one that denounced their faith could leave. After more than half the church people left, they locked the doors and told the pastor to continue his sermon. You see they were Christians too, and the only way they could attend services is if they weeded out all the pretenders, for the true followers of Christ would not rat them out. This is exactly what Jesus did here. He purposely (in a harsh way) told the woman, you are not as important as the Jews, so stop asking me to heal your daughter. The woman proved her faith in Him by telling Him (my paraphrase), “if you are God, then You care about all people, so please care about me”. Jesus’ response proves this to be true. Sometimes we need to be prodded, offended, or persecuted to prove our faith is authentic and real to ourselves, and that it is the most important thing to us in our lives (where our true loyalty lies). The only way to bring it out is through adversity. God’s ways are above our ways. And He knows us better than we know ourselves. Do you believe this?

21 Then Jesus left Galilee and went north to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Gentile woman who lived there came to Him, pleading, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! For my daughter is possessed by a demon that torments her severely.”23 But Jesus gave her no reply, not even a word. Then His disciples urged Him to send her away. “Tell her to go away,” they said. “She is bothering us with all her begging.”24 Then Jesus said to the woman, “I was sent only to help God’s lost sheep–the people of Israel.”25 But she came and worshiped Him, pleading again, “Lord, help me!”26 Jesus responded, “It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.”27 She replied, “That’s true, Lord, but even dogs are allowed to eat the scraps that fall beneath their masters’ table.”28 “Dear woman,” Jesus said to her, “your faith is great. Your request is granted.” And her daughter was instantly healed. Matthew 15:21-28