Sermon Title: Value
Scripture: Mark 7:24-30 (NIV)

Contributed by David Buschart

“… as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an impure spirit came and fell at his feet.” —Mark 7:25

The brief vignette presented in Mark 7:24-30 is yet another testimony to the power of Jesus and to the fact that he is fully worthy of everyone’s, including our, complete trust in him.

This passage begins with the indication that even though Jesus “did not want anyone to know” where he was or what specifically he was doing, “he could not keep his presence secret” (v. 24). People had heard Jesus teach and had seen his sometimes miraculous actions and could not help but talk about him and seek him out. The passage concludes with the return home of the mother of a child who had b*een possessed by a demon (v. 25) where she finds “her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone*” (v. 30). Thus, Mark here reports yet another instance (recall Mark 5:1-20) of Jesus asserting his power and authority over evil spirits.

This particular report of Jesus’s power and authority provides the context for a demonstration of the type of faith Jesus was seeking, the type of faith that Jesus honored, the type of faith in Jesus that was nothing less than life-saving. Life-altering. Life-giving.

The woman in this story who sought out Jesus was not of the people to whom Jesus first came. She was “born in Syrian Phoenicia” (v. 26). She was “a Greek” (v. 26), not ethnically but culturally and religiously. Thus, she was, on the historical-religious landscape of the Bible, a Gentile, a Gentile woman. Either one of these biographical identities—being a Gentile or being a woman—was in itself potentially a basis for overlooking her as a model of faith. Yet, that is precisely what she is for us: a model of true faith in Jesus.

Jesus’s harsh response to her begging him to “drive the demon out of her daughter” (v. 26) did not deter her. She did not even allow his allusion to some people as “dogs” (v. 28) to distract her or unravel her confidence in him. Rather, she boldly, insightfully, and shrewdly played off of Jesus’s imagery and responded to him by saying that “even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs” (v. 28).

Her humble yet bold and unshaken faith in Jesus was rewarded in the way that Jesus always responds to humble, genuine faith in him. He responds redemptively, savingly. Jesus said, “For such a reply you may go; the demon has left your daughter” (v. 29).

May we seek, by God’s grace, to cultivate a faith as humble, as deep, as unswerving as that of this Syrophoenician woman.

Consider—

╬ Imagine being one of the disciples with Jesus during this encounter with this Syrophoenician woman. She is one who is known to be an enemy of Israel and an enemy of God. The disciples would have expected Jesus to reject her, to use harsh words toward her, and to reject her request for healing of her daughter. The disciples would have approved of Jesus’s words toward her. Then they would have been stunned by Jesus’s response and healing. When have you expected one kind of justice only to be surprised by mercy? When have you witnessed deep faith in God from someone you believed couldn’t possibly understand? How has someone’s unexpected faith challenged and changed you?

╬ The Lord is always inviting us to know him better and to trust him more. Success and blessing or disappointment and loss can be equally valuable to us as our faith and trust grow. How has the Lord deepened your relationship with Jesus? What have been the moments that have undeniably deepened your faith and your trust in God?

╬ Father, in your grace and by your Spirit, work on me and in me to deepen my faith in Jesus, my unswerving trust in your goodness, wisdom, and power. In Jesus’ name. Amen.