Mark 7:24-37
What does it take to Believe – Mk 7:24-37
He was spoken of in the prophets, now here is the One who casts out demons, heals the sick, makes the deaf hear and the blind to see. He has raised the dead, calmed the storm, fed thousands and walked on water. Now He is even removing religious boundaries, possibly the most difficult of miracles, so what will it take for you to believe?
24 Jesus got up and went away from there to the region of Tyre. And when He had entered a house, He wanted no one to know of it; yet He could not escape notice. (NASB®)
1. What do Jesus’ actions indicate?
Fully aware of his widespread fame and needing a much deserved rest, Jesus’ entrance into the “unclean” territory of the Gentiles demonstrates His willingness to cross cultural borders.
Am I able to hide my faith?
Where am I willing to go for Jesus?
25 But after hearing of Him, a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately came and fell at His feet. 26 Now the woman was a Gentile, of the Syrophoenician race. And she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter. (NASB®)
2. What do the woman’s actions tell us about her?
As a Gentile woman from a people cursed by God, there were some fairly significant cultural boundaries surrounding her gaining any access to a Jewish Rabbi. Aware of Jesus’ power and desperate to save her daughter, she is more than willing to cross a few borders of her own, humbling herself, seeking mercy and even adopting the use of His Jewish title “Son of David”.
Do I know who Jesus is?
Am I willing to fall at His feet?
27 And He was saying to her, “Let the children be satisfied first, for it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” (NASB®)
3. What’s up with Jesus response?
Appearing harsh, Jesus is fully aware that the disciples are listening. If the woman is going to put Jesus in a religious box, then she will be limited by its boundaries. God has a plan to redeem many nations and even though Jews, God’s chosen people refer to Gentiles as mongrels, Jesus redeems this practice, indicating His love for them by using the term little puppies.
Does religion impact how I see Jesus?
Do I promote prejudice?
28 But she answered and said to Him, “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs under the table feed on the children’s crumbs.” (NASB®)
4. What is the woman seeking?
Understanding His puppy language and thus accepting God’s will as good, the woman desires that God’s mercy would extend to all, even by indirect means.
Am I willing to submit to God’s will?
Am I willing to be an agent of God’s mercy?
29 And He said to her, “Because of this answer go; the demon has gone out of your daughter.” 30 And going back to her home, she found the child lying on the bed, the demon having left. (NASB®)
5. How does Jesus respond?
Upon seeing Jesus for who He is rather than constrained by some religious boundary, He freely gives her the grace she so desperately needs. No longer estranged, she returns in faith to find her daugher fully restored.
Am I ready to accept Jesus’ grace?
Am I ready to go in faith?
31 Again He went out from the region of Tyre, and came through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, within the region of Decapolis. 32 They *brought to Him one who was deaf and spoke with difficulty, and they *implored Him to lay His hand on him.(NASB®)
6. What did the people want from Jesus?
Jesus finally gets to spend some significant time with His disciples and in the area where the delivered demoniac was sent to testify, people bring another isolated man seeking only physical healing.
Is my physical health more important than my spiritual?
33 Jesus took him aside from the crowd, by himself, and put His fingers into his ears, and after spitting, He touched his tongue with the saliva; 34 and looking up to heaven with a deep sigh, He *said to him, “Ephphatha!” that is, “Be opened!” 35 And his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was removed, and he began speaking plainly. (NASB®)
7. What does Jesus do?
Undeterred by misguided motives, Jesus speaks to this man in a way he can understand. He physically gains his attention, connects with his need i.e. his ears and tongue and then guides him to where his help will come from. With a groan of intercession, Jesus commands his release from bondage and sets this captive free.
Am I willing to let Jesus touch me?
Do I desire to be set free?
36 And He gave them orders not to tell anyone; but the more He ordered them, the more widely they continued to proclaim it. 37 They were utterly astonished, saying, “He has done all things well; He makes even the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.” (NASB®)
8. How did the people respond?
Not wanting His ministry to continue to be viewed as a travelling healing show, Jesus cautioned a number of times for them to keep this to themselves. While willing to trust Him for healing, they refuse to trust His direction and boldly spread the news. Blown away, they unknowingly compare His actions to God and His miracles to Messiah. What will it take for them to believe?
Do I believe that Jesus is “good”?
What is stopping me from trusting Jesus?