Crying Out For Crumbs Series

CRYING OUT FOR CRUMBS

Mark 7:24-30

(Antioch Baptist Church – Sunday April 6th, 2025)

Do you know someone who possesses a seemingly unwavering faith in Jesus Christ? I am referring to those special people who can face impossible odds or endure unimaginable tragedies and remain fervent in their prayer and praise no matter the outcome of their situation. Most of us know someone like that, I want to be one of them, but if I am honest, I am not there yet. There are times in my walk when Jesus when I find myself tired, discouraged and frustrated.

Not too long ago I was struggling in prayer and I cried out to God and said, “I am not asking for a miracle, just give me some crumbs from the table!”. That comment was prompted by our selected text and the encounter between Jesus and the Syrophoenician woman. In this passage, a Gentile woman approached Jesus on behalf of her daughter who was possessed by an “unclean spirit”. At first Jesus ignored her and then essentially denies her request. However, this woman was undeterred; she continued to plead with the Savior to deliver her daughter.

Scripture shows us that she came before Jesus with humility, consistency, and faith. So much so that Jesus said to her "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire." Matthew tells us that “her daughter was healed from that very hour.”

I know that there are several people in this assembly who are at what seems like a breaking point. Many of you are facing seemingly impossible odds. Others are enduring unimaginable tragedies. For this reason, I would like to point you to the One who is able to provide you with far more than mere “crumbs from the table”.

I want to invite you to journey with me to the region of Tyre and Sidon and consider the thought “Crying Out For Crumbs”. The first truth that I would like for us to consider is:

WE CAN CRY OUT TO JESUS BECAUSE HE IS AVAILABLE

v24 From there He arose and went to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And He entered a house and wanted no one to know it, but He could not be hidden.

At this point in time, Jesus had spent more than a year in Galilee. Now, His Galilean ministry has come to a close. The people had seen His miracles, they had heard His teaching, and they had ample time to put their faith in Him as the Messiah. Some did see Jesus for who He was, but the majority of the people rejected Him.

In the early days there was no shortage of people following Jesus. Tragically, most were merely superficial followers. Multitudes were amazed by His mighty works, but they did not see Him for who He really was. There came a point when the majority of them turned away from Him.

It was at this time that the opposition to Jesus began to increase. The religious leaders constantly challenged and opposed Him. The Pharisees and Herodians were collaborating with the intention of destroying Him, and King Herod wanted to execute Him. Because of this, Jesus departed Galilee and entered into a Gentile region. He did not do this out of fear; rather it was because His ministry focus had shifted. The shadow of the Cross was growing closer; the Crucifixion was months away, and Jesus knew that it was necessary for Him to prepare the Disciples for what was ahead.

Jesus “arose and went to the region of Tyre and Sidon”. These were two Gentile cities on the Mediterranean coast North of Galilee. As we are told in this passage, Jesus was first called to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom to the Children of Israel; but He also had a plan for the salvation of the Gentiles. He said in Mark 13:10 that “the Gospel must be preached to all the nations”.

Jesus initially came to this region with the intention of getting some rest, but as soon as He arrived word spread that He was in the area. Verse 24 says that “He entered a house and wanted no one to know it, but He could not be hidden”. One of the people who encountered Jesus shortly after He arrived in the area was this Syrophoenician woman who hoped that He would deliver her daughter.

Though Jesus’ intention was to get away from the crowds and find a brief moment of rest, the Savior was available to help this desperate woman. We can rest in the same promise today! The Lord Jesus Christ is omnipresent, which means that He is everywhere. For this reason we can go to Him with full assurance that He is available!

Jesus is available and that is wonderful news because the second truth I would like to consider is the fact that: