Syro-Phoenician Faith
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Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret. In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an impure spirit came and fell at his feet. The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.
“First let the children eat all they want,” he told her, “for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”
“Lord,” she replied, “even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”
Then he told her, “For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.”
She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.
Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis. There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him.
After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means “Be opened!”). At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.
Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. People were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
Is God good?
Is God good?
Jesus here is being human. He has a mission. He needs to finish it. He needed some precious down time. When he’s talking about dogs and crumbs we could get the impression that he’s talking down to Gentiles. On one level I think Jesus is testing her. Is she focused on what makes them different or is she really focused on faith and trusting God? By her clever response she demonstrates the kind of woman she is. Determined and full of faith. Persistent and earnest.
On another level here, Jesus is demonstrating that human beings have to make choices. In many ways Jesus embodies the mission of Israel and the continuing mission of the church universal. On our way to fulfilling the mission of God, we do good to many. But our primary purpose is to make disciples so we don’t make that secondary to other purposes and demands. NT Wright said it well:
Mark for Everyone The Syrophoenician Woman (Mark 7:24–30)
Jesus’ work wasn’t primarily that of an itinerant medical missionary, but of inaugurating God’s kingdom.
The story is therefore a sharp reminder to us that Jesus wasn’t simply called to go around being helpful to everyone. He had specific (and controversial) things to do and a limited time to do them. If we remake Jesus in the cosy image of a universal problem-solver, we will miss the towering importance of his unique assignment. If he must not be distracted from the messianic vocation that will lead him to the cross, nor must we, readers of the gospel and followers of Jesus, be distracted from focusing on that too
The message here is very clear: We have a mission that involves the cross and the resurrection. The good news is to be shared with compassion and service to others. But the purpose of all service is transformed lives. While we are doing good we are praying for opportunities for sharing Jesus. It begins with relationship, but it continues into discipleship.
But we don’t serve a Jesus who only cares about certain people. He cares for all kinds of people. In his time he opened doors to the whole world and sent his disciples into the whole world, to preach and teach and mentor others into kingdom life.
Jesus cares about little girls. You don’t have to tell me that. I saw God do amazing things while we were raising our daughters. Through many dangers, toils and snares they were delivered. Foreign women and little girls weren’t always the center of attention in the ancient world. Jesus meets their need. He can’t get distracted but he does send a clear signal: he’s the savior of the world. Jesus loves the little children. All the children of the world. They are precious in his sight. The should be in ours, too. The good news of Jesus has a Syro-Phoenician chapter. An African Chapter. Even a Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana chapter. Can we let Jesus write all kinds of people into the story?
How about you? Have you been written into the story? Do you have as much faith as a Syro-Phoenician woman? Maybe you don’t come from a powerful family. Maybe your skin is a little different color than most of your neighbors. Do these things cause you to doubt that you matter? Do they undermine your faith? Or do you have Syro-Phonecian woman faith? Do you know God loves you? Do you know you can ask him to work in your life? Do you know you can count on him to come through? It’s not always a sitcom ending to each challenge. But the story goes on and you are cared for in every chapter.
Jesus heads to Sidon, even farther away and then off to Galilee and the area of the Decapolis. Ten cities clustered together. Mark has Jesus travelling through territory that was much less Jewish and much more pagan and Roman. Mark is probably writing from Rome so he’s showing these people that Jesus moved in many circles. He is the powerful son of God. His mission was a secret that could not be kept and has now stretched round the world.
There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk. Jesus takes him off to a private location and does some pretty amazing surgery. I’m always intrigued by the methods. Jesus is hands on. Last year when it turns out I was on the wrong asthma meds, for a while I couldn’t figure out what was wrong. I was concerned so my asthma doc got me an appointment with a top heart surgeon who is a Christian. He listened to me describe things for a long time. Then he took his stethoscope and he pressed it up against my chest. He got right up in my personal space, he took a deep breath, got very silent and closed is eyes and listened. Then he moved it again and listened. There was something that was so professional but also so caring about his method. I relaxed because I believed I was in good hands. When he said everything sounds good I started worrying a lot less. I had been in the hands of a master.
I wonder if that’s how that man felt when Jesus touched him with compassion. OK it’s weird having fingers in your ears and the spit of a holy man on your tongue. He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said: EPHAPHTHA! Be opened! Yeah I’m sure it was weird. Weird in all the best ways possible!
A commentator pointed out that there’s a lot of silence and secrets and then speaking and telling going on in this passage. Another outsider written into the story of God. Another who had been sidelined and silenced given a voice that could now proclaim good news! Jesus isn’t ready yet to go to the cross. There’s more to do. But when Jesus acts in the midst of human need lives are changed. Stories are told.
Is your tongue used to tell the story of your transformation? The good news is for deaf people and mute people and blind people and ugly people and even beautiful and well-spoken people. The beauty is that Jesus unleashes our tongues to give praise. We use our tongues for so many things. Some of us more than others.
But if we get in touch with the power of what Jesus has really done for us we realize we finally have something worth saying. Jesus is for everyone so you are included. Jesus is for EVERYONE so you’re also included in sharing that message far and wide.
Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. People were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
Folks, he has done everything well. Now we know it’s ok to tell it. Jesus wants us to share it in all the world. Get in touch again with all the ways Jesus has touched your life for the better. What has he done well for you?
Is God good? Yes. God is good. He’s inaugurated a new world where all kinds of people can live together under his righteous rule. Live in that world. Rise above the crazy news around us. Share some good news. Do you have Syro-Phoenician faith? Have your ears been opened to hear the truth? Has your tongue been loosed to tell it?
God has been writing you into this story. Make sure you’re in it. Make sure you share it. When you let it flow through you, it’s powerful stuff. Let’s pray.