An Intimate Moment With a Canaanite Woman

Scripture passage: 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 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." And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

Meditation - The following account is a fictionalized version of the text.  

Jesus’ time was growing short, and He knew it. The religious leaders had accused Him of working by the power of evil. Still He had much to do. There were so many people He wanted to reach and He was in training with the twelve. They needed to grasp the scope of His mission…

Jesus stayed far from the religious centers and continued to minister to common people. Crowds of Jews followed to listen to Him teach.  Yet He was always on the lookout for teachable moments. On one occasion He fed over five thousand followers with five loaves and two fish. The disciples saw Jesus multiply the small basket of food and provide a fulfilling meal for the entire crowd. Jesus made sure there was plenty of leftovers-He wanted the disciples to see He had more than enough to give away.

Once He was alone with His disciples on the boat when a storm came up and nearly capsized the boat. Jesus spoke directly to the winds and waves, and the storm calmed immediately. It scared the men somewhat but He wanted His disciples to see that His realm of authority extended beyond sickness and disease. It included all of nature.

Then He took the disciples outside Jewish provinces to the Gentiles territories. He wanted them to see the mission extended beyond the Jews. He wanted the disciples to see He was Lord of all.   

A certain Greek woman lived among the Canaanites. Her daughter suffered terribly from demon possession. She had tried everything and nothing relieved her daughter’s agony. Day and night this poor child was tortured under the influence evil spirits. This mother was at a loss. Was there anyone to help her? She was desperate...

She had heard of this religious man named Jesus. She had heard of His healing and helping. She had heard of His tenderness and compassion.  But He was a Jewish religious man. What would He do for her, a Greek woman, just a common Greek woman? She didn’t know how to pay Him proper homage or respect. And she certainly had nothing of value to offer Him. 

When she heard Jesus had come to their province, she hurried out to meet Him. She first called to Him by the title she heard assigned to Him by others, hoping to gain an audience with Him. “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon possession.”

Jesus and His disciples ignored her.

She continued following and begging. The disciples enclosed around Jesus and gave her menacing looks.  She didn’t care. She wasn’t giving up that easily. She continued to follow to the annoyance of the disciples. They asked Jesus, “Send her away!”

Inside Jesus truly ached for this mother’s plight. And He wanted to help the little girl.  Her words had pierced His heart. But Jesus saw the opportunity to teach.  There was one important lesson the disciples needed to grasp before He could turned the ministry over to them. So Jesus, the master Teacher, proclaimed in a loud voice for all to hear.

“I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” 

At that the woman forced her way in. Jesus was going to have to be Lord of all, or He wasn’t really lord at all. She knelt before Him. She looked up to Him. “Lord, help me!”

Seeing faith prompt her action, Jesus was pleased. Yet He continued with the lesson for the disciples’ benefit. They had just witnessed the multiplying of bread for the crowd. Did they understand that there was enough of Him for everyone – for the Jew and Gentile alike? He followed up on the plentiful bread concept.  He looked at the woman kneeling before Him, then He spoke to the disciples, curious to hear their response. “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.” 

The woman answered before the disciples could even begin to process His words. She cautiously, humbly, looked up into His face, tears in her pleading eyes. “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”

She appealed to Jesus as her Creator. He was not just the Jewish promised Messiah. He was Lord of all He had made. And He came to rescue all who would call on His name.

Smiling broadly Jesus could not wait any longer to relieve this woman of her burden. He would have to continue the lesson with the disciples another time. “Woman, you have great faith. Your request is granted!”   And indeed it was. At that moment the evil spirits left the little girl’s body and she was completely healed.

Later Jesus took another opportunity to teach His disciples the plentiful bread of life lesson. To make His point clear, the master Teacher again fed a huge crowd. This time Jesus fed a crowd of Gentiles who had been following Him for several days. Again He miraculously multiplied bread right before the disciples’ eyes. Again there were lots of leftovers. For He wanted the disciples to know there was enough of Him for all… Yes, He is Lord for all.  

Prayer

I confess that I am unworthy, that I am a sinful person, living among a sinful people, dwelling in a sinful land. Yet You willingly left the glories of heaven to walk the soil l walk.

Thank you for showing me that You see beyond my physical being, my family lineage, my background, my culture and my own unworthiness. You see my need and You see my heart. 

Give me the understanding to recognize I belong to You, first of all as my Maker, and secondly as my Redeemer. I can bring the concerns of my heart and the burdens of my life to You and lay them at Your feet. I can ask You to do any good thing, and know that You hear me and see me. You are almighty, all powerful, and sovereign. There is nothing beyond Your control or ability to act upon.  

Help me to see that every encounter of Your short ministry on earth was purposeful. Help me to see that there are no insignificant people. Help me to trust You today as humbly as those in the pages of Scripture trusted- trusting as though You were their only hope.

Help me to trust in Your plan. Help me to trust in Your timing. Help me to see that everything You do is right, even if I can’t see the immediate benefit. Help me to see that You are working in the midst of my life in ways I can’t see or explain.

Though I can’t explain Your marvelous ways, let my faith bring me quickly and confidently to Your footstool. Let my joy be the simple pleasure of knowing You, the true and living Lord of all.