Puppies Series

Mark 7: 24 – 30

Puppies

24 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. 25 For a woman whose young daughter had an unclean spirit heard about Him, and she came and fell at His feet. 26 The woman was a Greek, a Syro-Phoenician by birth, and she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 But Jesus said to her, “Let the children be filled first, for it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” 28 And she answered and said to Him, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the children’s crumbs.” 29 Then He said to her, “For this saying go your way; the demon has gone out of your daughter.” 30 And when she had come to her house, she found the demon gone out, and her daughter lying on the bed.

As a reminder to those of you who have been studying our Lord’s Holy Word, and for those of you who are just joining us, let me say this. The first Gospel was written by Matthew around 50 AD. About 5 years later the disciple Mark penned Peter’s observations of all he witnessed our Lord say and do. Then 10 years after this the disciple Luke came to Jerusalem and interviewed all the eyewitnesses. I find it very interesting that our Precious Holy Spirit kept Luke’s investigation away from this event that the apostles Peter and Matthew witnessed. Here is what Matthew wrote in chapter 15, “21 Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” 23 But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.” 24 But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” 26 But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” 27 And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” 28 Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

I do not know about you but when I first read of this situation between our Lord and the woman I was bothered. It almost seemed like the Lord was rude. [Please forgive me Lord for even considering that sinful thought]. It was my ignorance of course of not fully meditating and learning His Holy Word.

It is good to know your geography when you study the bible. Now please note the location where our Lord and His disciples are at. In fact both Matthew and Mark list the same spot,

24 From there He arose and went to the region of Tyre and Sidon.

Our Lord wanted a break from the daily mob.

And He entered a house and wanted no one to know it, but He could not be hidden.

So He traveled to an area that is presently the country of Lebanon. Knowing this fact helps us bring things more into focus.

Our Lord’s popularity and fame however had now not only made its way throughout all Israel, but also to the surrounding nations. So, when He wanted just to get a little time alone our Precious Holy Spirit had different plans for Him.

25 For a woman whose young daughter had an unclean spirit heard about Him, and she came and fell at His feet. 26 The woman was a Greek, a Syro-Phoenician by birth, and she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter.

The Greeks and Phoenician got around pretty much because they made use of the sea. As you well know from today’s news Syria is adjacent to Lebanon. So, this woman came from three cultures that inhabited this area that our Lord went to.

For some reason her daughter had involved herself with fallen spirits and as a result was demon-possessed. In Luke chapter 4 we read this important fact, “Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness.” Please note that our Lord at all times as this Scripture indicates was ‘led by the Holy Spirit.” Our Lord Jesus Christ had completely given Himself over to the Holy Ghost to be guided by Him into each situation that happened each day to Him.