Our text this morning may be one of the most difficult encounters with Jesus in the Gospels. Nothing about the way Jesus treats with the Canaanite woman seems to match our understanding of whom Jesus is. We know that Jesus is full of compassion, love, and mercy. We know that he answers the cries of all…

Traditions easily become used as a way to enforce prejudice. Especially after several generations of practice. We can forget to see the needs and the people around us and obey teh command to love them because we are so busy trying to keep our traditions. People are more important than our man-made traditions. Showing mercy is better than not healing on the Sabbath. While we struggle to understand and believe who Jesus really is, the demonic realm is absolutely sure of Him. And they tremble. Too bad we don't. Frequently the world sees Jesus and His followers as those who are out of their minds because spiritually things must be discerned by God's Spirit. His Spirit is in those who believe Him. The Jewish leaders blasphemed God's Spirit by attributing Jesus' works to the power of Satan. Even so, Jesus has come and is making a new family of all those who believe, both Jew and Gentile. Shared by Jason Stuart Percy at Refuge Christian Fellowship Tallahassee on Sunday, February 9, 2020.