Understanding Faith
The Book of Mark
Mark 7:24-31
I. Introduction:
A. We live in tumultuous days.
1. Hardly a week goes by without one group of people calling another group racist somewhere in the country.
2. The words people use to explain something or to present their side of an issue are scanned under a microscope to make sure that they weren’t saying something that could be construed as racist.
B. When we elected our first black president all of this racial turmoil was suppose to become a faint memory of the past.
1. But now since things haven’t been going the administration’s way the racial thing is becoming an issue again.
2. People who oppose any policy that this administration puts forth are called racists or bigots.
C. People will get before cameras and lament about the atmosphere of incivility and then go out and stoke the fires all for the advancing of a political agenda.
D. Even the church has its racists, especially in the Deep South.
1. I can remember when I was in the navy and a new Christian.
2. I struggled with the fact that a good friend of mine who was also a Christian went to a church that didn’t allow blacks to attend.
3. A black Christian who was in our bible study on board ship was barred from attending a church with two white guys.
E. Racism is alive and well in our country today.
1. Contrary to popular opinion and the main line “civil rights’ activists it isn’t just white on colored either.
2. We all have prejudices.
3. We all have a tendency to discriminate against people who are different than we are.
4. I am not excusing anyone here only explaining.
5. As we get further into our study of Genesis we will discover the roots of racism – but that is for tonight.
F. That brings us to our passage today in Mark 7.
1. In case you didn’t know this same atmosphere of racial tension existed in the 1st century.
2. The Jews especially were strong segregationists.
a) They hated the Gentiles who lived around them and occupied their land.
b) They discriminated against any who were not Jew but especially the Samaritans.
c) Their discrimination was based more up on national rather than racial differences.
3. The Samaritans hated the Jews also.
G. With this in mind isn’t it interesting that immediately after being confronted by and putting the Pharisees in their place by rebuking them for their blind devotion to traditions and dietary laws Jesus departs into a region that was predominantly Gentile.
1. This was considered scandal by most Jews in that day.
2. Most Jews would rather take the long route around these areas rather than come into physical contact with these people.
H. There were two main reasons for Jesus foray into this area along the Mediterranean coast now known as Lebanon.
1. To move away from the threat of the Jewish leaders who were constantly on the attack now.
2. To continue to teach the disciples.
a) He had made several attempts to get away alone with them but each time they were interrupted.
b) This occasion ended the same way.
c) However the disciples still learned an important lesson.
I. Jesus intent was to quietly stay with a family there but His popularity at this time was such that there was no way to escape notice vs.24.
J. Lots of people came to Jesus for many diverse reasons.
1. Some to argue with Him.
2. Some to receive healing from disease.
3. Some to have demon’s cast out.
4. Some to learn.
K. However, unless the person who comes to Jesus understands who He is they will not find what they are truly looking for.
L. In our passage today we are introduced to a gentile woman.
1. Mark takes particular care to mention her origin.
2. Greek
a) Not from Greece.
b) The word is used to describe Gentiles.
c) She was from Syrian-Phoenicia.
M. Have you ever heard someone say something that at first seems to be out of character or even outrageous?
1. The manor in which Jesus deals with this woman falls into that category.
2. On the surface He appears to be a racist woman hating bigot.
3. But there is more here than meets the eye.
II. Her petition vs.26
A. She kept asking vs.26:Matt.15:23b.
1. This wasn’t a one time effort.
2. It appears that she either followed Him around or stood out side of the door and called out.
B. Lord, Son of David Matt.15:22.
1. This was said to impress Him.
a) She was by no means a believer or a proselyte to Judaism.
b) Mark makes this clear vs.24.
c) She had heard about the wonders He had preformed. Mark 3:7–8 …. And a great multitude from Galilee followed Him, and from Judea 8 and Jerusalem and Idumea and beyond the Jordan; and those from Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they heard how many things He was doing, came to Him.
d) She came on this basis.
2. She could not have understood the full impact of His presence.
a) The title would be almost meaningless to her.
b) She was probably repeating what she had heard.
3. One thing is very clear in both accounts.
a) This woman wanted her daughter to be made whole Matt.15:22.
b) And she knew that Jesus was the one who could make it happen.
III. Jesus’ response vs.27.
A. On the surface this seems like a dismissive even racist remark.
1. Matthew says that He ignored her at first.
2. Jews referred to Gentiles as dogs in a derogatory way.
B. Matthew adds another dimension too 15:24.
1. Jesus primary focus at His first coming was to present Himself to the Jews.
2. They were to be the ones through whom God would inform the world about the messiah.
a) That was God’s purpose.
b) Jesus was simply stating the truth of His mission.
3. But… Keep in mind that Jesus also came to this place with a purpose and we see in the rest of this chapter that He actually spent sometime here and in other predominantly Gentile areas ministering to the people.
4. Sometimes we fail to understand God’s purpose in doing what He does until we step back and look at the big picture Ro.15:8-12
C. The word Jesus used here that is translated dog is not the same word used by the Jews to denigrate the Gentiles.
1. The Jews used the word kuon which means wild or street dog capable of violence and filthy habits.
2. The word Jesus uses is kunarion which means little dog or house dog indicating a family pet.
D. Even so, doesn’t this seem callused doesn’t this seem a bit prejudicial and discriminatory?
1. Isn’t it discriminatory that God will only save some out of all the people in the world?
2. Isn’t it prejudicial that God will not let some of those people who are in such need and are so nice into heaven?
3. Isn’t it callused that God will let good people die horrible deaths?
4. It does until you look at things from His point of view.
E. That is what Jesus is doing with this woman.
1. She needed to know that God’s blessing doesn’t come just because she thought it should,
a) She needed to understand that there was a difference between Israel and the rest of the world.
b) She therefore could not approach Him as messiah which is what she attempted to do Matt.15:22.
2. She needed to understand that she needed to approach Him by faith.
a) Matt.15:25
b) Vs.28.
c) Which is what she did Matt.15:28
3. She understood that God’s mercy was available and that it will fall on those who are close by when it is shed abroad.
F. God rewarded the woman vs.30...
IV. Conclusion:
A. The Syro-Phoenician woman learned about the importance of applying her faith in the right way.
1. She learned that humility is rewarded by God.
2. 1 Peter 5:6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
3. James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
B. What did the disciples learn and ultimately we can learn?
1. Discrimination is a bad thing in any form.
a) However just because something seems like discrimination doesn’t mean it is.
b) We need to look behind the words and find out what the motivation or purpose behind them is.
2. WE as believers must never discriminate with regard to whom we share our faith.
a) We don’t have any idea who it is that God may be calling.
b) When ever He is pouring out His blessings there will be crumbs that will be eaten by those who come to understand the truth.
