Tests

              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. (Mark 7:24-30)

 

Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”

Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”

He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”

The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.

He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

“Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”

Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment. (Matthew 15:21-28)

 

Yesterday, someone shared a video of someone discussing one of these two passages, and let’s just say that his temporal arrogance or philosophical arrogance was on full display. He said he liked the passage because it showed that Jesus was human, and because He was willing to “do his work” to overcome His racism.  Scripture twisting at its most obvious.

This happens to be one of my favorite passages in the Gospels, so it should surprise no one that I have to take today’s post to address the issue. I’m surprised half the world didn’t hear my “WHAT?”

          First, let’s put this into context a little. Jesus had called His twelve students (AKA disciples.) He had been teaching them for some time. John the Baptist had been beheaded, and Jesus took His disciples out of Israel, where they would be safe and get a break from ministry. He’d healed the child of a centurion, and lepers, those with demon-possession, and women by the scores.  He had, in short, made it clear that you didn’t have to be a “good person” or a Jew to be helped. He had taught people that they should love their neighbors as themselves, to do unto others as they would have the others do unto them, and to love their enemies.

          So in this passage, He’s taken them into an area where doing those things is a little more difficult. He’s upped the ante.

          The disciples see a foreign woman coming toward them. They know the look in her eye. She wants something from Jesus. Not only is she not a Jewess, but if Jesus helps her, the whole circus of His helping everyone will start up again and they’re supposed to be on vacation. Do they live up to Jesus’ teaching? No. They failed the test by trying to send her away.  They fail the test again when they ask Him to tell her to go away.

          Now, let’s look at it from her perspective. There’s a rabbi coming to town who supposedly can help her daughter. The problem is, He’s a man, a Jew, and a rabbi. In her world, men didn’t interact with women, Jews didn’t interact with Syrians, and rabbis didn’t interact with Gentiles. Not only that but in bargaining, one always starts out strong and negative. That’s just the way the game works. She had no reason to expect Him to do anything other than have His disciples drive her away, possibly with a beating.

          So she overcame her fears of men and of Jews. She put aside anything resembling pride or self-confidence and begged Him for help. He doesn’t respond, which means that He doesn’t say “No. Go away.” The disciples do.

          She asks some more. The disciples turn to Jesus and ask Him to send her away. He doesn’t. If the disciples had a sinking feeling when they say the woman coming toward them, the feeling was growing. He was going to do it again. Their vacation would turn into another ministry campaign.

          She pleads again, perhaps encouraged by His lack of response. This time, He does respond, but it’s with precisely the sort of response that a man, a Jew, and a rabbi would give. He doesn’t say “No, that’s my final answer.” He challenges. He was sent to the people of Israel. It’s not good to take what was meant for the children and throw it to the dogs.

          I wonder if the disciples cheered. I wonder if the woman cheered. He had responded to her. He hadn’t said, “No.” He’d offered up an argument, and she was a woman, a community member, and a Greek. Arguments and bargaining were the air she breathed. Not only did she answer His challenge, but she answered it using the terms He’d used. Jesus put the woman in her comfort zone while taking His disciples out of theirs.