The Unnamed Mother With Great Faith

The Nameless Mother With Great Faith

Matt 15:21-28

PRESSURES ON MOM TODAY are greater than ever. Its got to be the toughest job in the world. Just think of what’s expected of her in our success-driven society:

Have a successful career

Keep the house spotless

Raise perfect children

Be a great cook

Look like a model

Be a charming hostess and conversationalist•

THERE WAS A STUDY by attorney Michael Minton on the monetary value of a wife’s services in the home. First he listed the various functions she performs:

1. Chauffeur•

2. Gardener•

3. Family counselor•

4. Maintenance worker

5. Cleaning woman•

6. Housekeeper•

7. Cook•

8. Errand• runner

9. Bookkeeper•

10. Interior decorator•

11. Caterer

12. Dietician

13. Secretary

14. Hostess

Using this impressive list of housewife’s work in today’s labor market, He came up with $985/week. That’s $51,220/year!

THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN conducted a nationwide survey several years ago in which they asked thousands of girls between the ages of 11 and 18 what they would like to be in adult life. A surprising 80% expressed a desire to be like their mothers!

It has been said that no other force in the life of a son is as strong as the influence of a mother.

Illus.: “A Lesson on Magnets”

A teacher had just given her 2nd grade class a lesson on magnets. Now came the question session. She asked the class, “My name starts with an M and I pick up things. What am I?” A little boy shot up his hand and said, “A mother!”

A. Hey moms! Have you ever thought of going on strike?

1. I saw a story on TV about a woman who did just that.

2.She was tired of all the chores around the house, done on behalf

of her spouse and children with no offer of help and no thanks.

3.After warning them, she finally decided not to lift another

finger until the rest of the family pitched in. It only took a

few hours to get action.

Illus.: “My Mother is the Light of the World”

A little boy forgot his lines in a S. S. presentation. His mother was in the front row to prompt him. She gestured and formed the words silently with her lips, but it didn’t help. Her sons’ memory went blank. Finally, she leaned forward and whispered the cue, “I am the light of the world.” The boy’s face lit up and with great feeling and a loud and clear voice he said, “My mother is the light of the world.”

B. YOU KNOW THIS THING ABOUT PRESSURE FOR MOMS IS

REALLY NOTHING NEW.

1. Eve was blamed for original sin and she had one son who

killed his brother.

2.Hagar, Abraham’s handmaiden, had a son by him. She was sent away by Abraham with her boy, Ishmael—and they almost died in the desert.

3.Jochebed was the mother of Moses; Egyptians were killing all male Hebrew babies to curb population; placed Moses in a basket and let it lose on the river.

4.Mary, mother of Jesus: no room for her in the Inn; had top flee to Egypt to escape Herod’s wrath; Jesus was missing; His trial and crucifixion.

5.Mother in out text: she had a daughter who was demon-possessed.

A.HAVE YOU EVER KNOWN A PERSON WHO’S CHARACTER COULD BE SUMMED UP IN 4 WORDS?

B.In verse 28 of our Scripture passage, Jesus said to a Gentile

mother: “You have great faith.”

1.She was a Canaanite woman who came from the country north of Palestine—a country hostile to the Jews—and she was presumably married.

2. She had at least one child, but that’s all we know about her. We don’t even know her name!

3.All we know is that in her single encounter with Jesus, He said to her, “You have great faith.” Only 4 words, but they were enough to enshrine her as one of the greatest mothers of all time! And these 4 words tell us everything we need to know, and we can trust them because they were spoken by Jesus. Amen?

The Bible tells us that He searched for it as a gem collector searches for fine jewels, and when He found it He was filled with joy. He didn’t always find it in His disciples.

Not once did He say to Peter, John, or James, “You have great faith.” But He said it to this nameless mother from outside the house of Israel!

What did this woman do to deserve such praise from God? She did 3 remarkable things.

1. She Crossed Great Barriers

1. She was a woman

2. She was a Gentile

3. She was a Canaanite

Here was a mother who in her need was prepared to

cross any obstacle to turn to Jesus for help.