Jesus Heals a Mother's Heart

Mark 7:24-30

I am sure I am not the only one to read this passage and rub her head in wonder. What...? This is a familiar section of Scripture, but not one easily understood. While I read this many times before, I never took the time or effort to glean its meaning. My curiosity took me deeper in the Word. I assume when a story is told in more than one of the Gospels, there is a very important message here, and this same story can be found in Matthew 15:21-28.

Let's pretend we are sitting in our small group, preparing for some great discussion. Several points I never thought of before, or understood from these verses, are becoming clear. First, we know from past readings that Jesus' popularity grew because of the healings and exorcisms he performed. Wherever they went, Jesus and the Disciples had a huge following. So large, the crowds teetered on the edge of being a mob.

In this passage some historians believe Jesus wanted some rest, and one-on-one time with His Apostles. He still needed to teach them much, and time was running out. It is understandable when the Syrophoenician woman begged Jesus to heal her daughter, He hesitated for a moment, saying, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel." (Matthew 15:24)

This worried mother, a powerful woman, a member of Greek speaking ruling class of Phoenicia, brought her breaking heart to Jesus' feet. Desperate for her child to be healed, she humbled herself and came to a Jewish prophet for help. This step revealed her belief in Jesus. Often, Jesus ministered to Gentiles who exhibited such faith.

Discuss

1. How/why to be prepared to desert your plans to accommodate someone’s needs.

2. How/why did Jesus change His plans this day and what were the results?

3. Consider how this lesson could impact lives, yours included.

God Thought of You

I have a few Christian friends who are Jewish and I just love talking with them about their faith.  I like how they light up when they talk about how Christ is evident all throughout the Old Testament.  Some have parents who grew up following the Jewish laws and customs and then one day Christ was revealed to them.

I get excited about stories like that, but today's passage reminds me to get excited about mine too.  We serve a God who did not leave us out.  His grace extends to us, the Gentile.  When he chose to reveal himself to Abram, calling the Nation of Israel his chosen people, he thought of us too.

“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles;
    I will sing the praises of your name.”

10 Again, it says,

“Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.”

11 And again,

“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles;
    let all the peoples extol him.”

12 And again, Isaiah says,

“The Root of Jesse will spring up,
    one who will arise to rule over the nations;
    in him the Gentiles will hope.”

We definitely have reason to rejoice.  The hope of Christ is ours as well. Take some time today to thank God for seeing you.  His loving arm extends to all who will trust him and for that reason we should rejoice.


Read passage here Romans 15:7-13

Who's in? Who's out?

READ: Acts 13:38-47

Who got invited to the party and who didn’t? Who made the team and who got cut? Who got the promotion and who fell short?

People love to ask these questions because if we’re in, we’re superior.

So, naturally, the Jews (who were in as God’s people) felt superior to the Gentiles (who were out).

Yet in Acts 13:39, Paul preaches that through Jesus everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses.

We’re all in!

“But that’s not fair!” cries the voice of pride. “It’s because of my superiority and hard work that I got invited to that party, made that team, and earned that promotion! Doesn’t my extra effort count for anything?”

Jesus addresses this complaint in The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard (Matt 20:1-16). Though many worked different hours, they all received the same wage - the full grace of God.

Again in Luke 7:36-50, a prideful Pharisee is offended by Christ’s association with a sinful woman. Jesus’s response? He commends the woman, for because she was forgiven more, she loved more.

For some, this idea that everyone is invited into the Kingdom of God is such an offense to pride that they join those who in verse 45 speak abusively against the Gospel.

To them Jesus responds, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the Kingdom of God ahead of you.” (Matt 21:31)

Galatians 2:11-21

Less of Me, More of Jesus

In this scripture Paul opposed Peter (who he sometimes called Cephas)  to his face because he saw him acting in a way that was hypocritical. How often do we see others saying one thing and doing another but do not call them on it? Are there times we talk the talk but don’t walk the walk and hope no one reveals us?

Peter, a proclaimed follower of Christ had been eating with the Gentiles, practicing what Jesus had taught him about nondiscrimination. As Jesus had dined with sinners and the lowly, he expected his apostles to do the same. Upon Paul’s arrival he observed Peter separating from the Gentiles. The other Jews joined him in observance of Jewish law.

Paul stated to Peter in Galatians 2:15-16; “We who are Jews by birth and not ‘Gentile sinners’ know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we too, have to put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.”

Bottom line I get from this is that religious groups have rules and practices they follow, as they did in the days of the old church. When Jesus came to earth, he offered us a new covenant, which gave us another way to look at our God. We found out that He is an all loving and forgiving God, not one who sits on a throne with a gavel in hand waiting to judge us. He cares for us deeply and wants to be eternally with us all when that time comes. This life we have is not ours but; “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

Jesus came to earth to show us how to live the perfect life of love. Though we will not achieve the sinless status Jesus holds, we can continually strive for it by following the Word of God in our daily life. By holding ourselves accountable not so much for the rituals but our faith in the trinity that we demonstrate through our life journey, will we experience the spirit within us and be enabled to live a life that pleases God.

Lord, I need more of you in my life and less of me and the rituals that sometimes dictate my actions. Jesus,
please help me to live a Christ centered life each and every day with a focus on what you taught us is most important. God help me remember that I obey your word not to gain your approval, but because I have faith in you I am your precious child and already have your approval. Amen!

Read/Listen to Galatians 2:11-21

The Council at Jerusalem Then and Now

Acts 15: 1-21

 We have heard many times how the Lord accepts everyone into his kingdom, provided they love Him and have faith in him. The truth is, just as back in the days of Paul; people judge others, set limits, and create man made guidelines to be followed rather than simply allowing God to be the ultimate judge. It is as though we have established our own Council at Jerusalem right here, right now. Christ speaks of His burden being light and His yoke easy, yet we attempt to make this journey of faith a difficult and challenging one by enlisting our own criteria for entering into eternal life.

The council in Jerusalem attempted to weight down the Gentiles who were becoming sincere believers by insisting they adhere to Jewish laws. Paul, Barnabas, and the apostles and elders met to consider their claims. What they concluded was eloquently proclaimed by Peter in Acts 15: 6-11, “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. God, who knows the heart, showed that He accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as He did to us. He made no distinction between us and them, for He purified their hearts by faith. Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”

God knows the heart.

God sent the Holy Spirit to be with us all.

God’s commands are straight forward, there are ten of them.

God welcomes us all into His heavenly kingdom.........Alleluia! 

Read/Listen to Acts 15: 1-21

It's in the Book

Acts 15:13-21 (NIV)  When they finished, James spoke up: "Brothers, listen to me.  Simon has described to us how God at first showed his concern by taking from the Gentiles a people for himself.  The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:  "'After this I will return and rebuild David's fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it,  that the remnant of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things'  that have been known for ages. 

The debate rages on - Should the gentiles be included in the plan of salvation? This is of extreme importance and a point of contention in this early church. Paul and Barnabas have been telling their story, sharing the testimony of God's miraculous events while bringing the good news to the gentiles. They are proposing drastic change and the Jews are finding it difficult to accept.  It is always hard to change from practices which have been ingrained since birth.

Go to the source - James, head of the church in Jerusalem, turns to the scriptures and the prophet Amos for clarity and direction. He reads: 'After this I will return and rebuild David's fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it,  that the remnant of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things'  that have been known for ages.' (Amos 9:11-12) James teaches a lesson valuable for all, when conflicted about life, turn to God's Word for answers.

Still true today - Despite the compelling experiences of Peter, Barnabas, and Paul, James turned to God's Word as the ultimate test of truth. This should be the way we evaluate events. Different ideas are thought to be inferior or invalid. Ultimately, however, what matters is what God's Word says.

The more we know God's Word, the more we read it, study it, memorize it, and meditate on it, the better we will be able to discern what is right and best in times of controversy or merely daily living.

Acts 15:13-21

Travel Stories

Have you ever been on a trip, returned home and wanted to share what you saw with your friends and family? Photos were shared and many stories about the travel and the food were no doubt discussed.

Today’s story, Acts 14:26-28, is a lot like that. Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch where they left two years earlier to preach. The Antioch Christians wanted to hear of their travels and wanted to hear the things God had accomplished through them.

Paul and Barnabas had visited many towns and cities in modern day Turkey as well as the Island of Cyprus. They encountered sorcerers, abusive crowds, Jews who stoned Paul, and even people who thought Paul was a god. The stories must have been incredible!

But that is far from the best part. God “had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.” The Gospel was now available, not just for the Jews, but for all people, everywhere!

This no doubt caused some problems. The Jews and Gentiles were not exactly the best of friends, although they tolerated each other. There were significant cultural differences and significant religious differences.

Paul’s preaching bridged the gap between the religious differences. The saving grace of God through Christ’s death and resurrection was meant for even the Gentiles. Christ displaced the multiple gods that the Greeks had, such as Hermes, Zeus, Neptune, Artemis and so forth. However, the Jewish Christians were going to have to live with many of the cultural differences, regardless how distasteful some of them might be.

Today we have the same obligation to preach Christ crucified that Paul had 2000 years ago. Our risk of being stoned or driven out of town for doing this is probably remote. However, we do have to deal with cultures that are different than we are used to, and I am not speaking of just ethnic differences.

There are things that some non-Christians do that irritate me. However, when trying to reach them with Christ, I have to overlook my irritation and carry out my assignment.

That is what Paul did, and that is what I can do too!

True Love

When I read today’s passage I can’t help but think of my son. Almost four years ago we adopted this little boy, bringing him into our family and making him a Sherrill. Evan is one of us no exception. When Jesus died on the cross, the way to eternal life was open not only for the Jewish believers, but also for the Gentiles.

I am a Gentile, so today’s passage is special to me. “Remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth… excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.”

I was struck by the words, without God in the world. Our son was once without parents in the world, but when he came into our home that ended. I never think of him as anything but my son. Through the blood of Christ, all Gentiles are now Children of God.

God no longer sees the difference between Jew and Gentile. He does not say, "I love you, even though you are a Gentile." He just says, "I love you." When I look at Evan I don’t say,” I love you even though you were adopted.” I just say, “I love you.”

Think about this and take some time to thank God for how much he did for you on the cross.

Read today's passage at Biblegateway Ephesians 2:11-22