Mon, May 19, 2008
Jesus provokes a reaction
Jesus says something to provoke a reaction.
He wants me to know how important this is to me? Am I ready to fight for this or am I going to give up on the first obstacle? How serious am I? How far am I willing to take it? Her answer shows she really wanted this done to the degree she built her case around what Jesus said. It’s significant to note Jesus made His probing statement after she pleaded, begged at His feet. She didn’t just want to ask Jesus to help and if He didn’t then go back home. In Matthew 15:23 we’re told she insisted even after “Jesus did not answer a word”. So Jesus statement comes after a silence period (probing her seriousness and eagerness). His statement was the last test in the series. I am wondering weather we don’t get what we want because it’s not important enough for us to just insist and fight every obstacle on the way.
Another reaction He is looking for is to see if I know my place. She didn’t argue with Jesus: a-ha, you don’t really love everybody; you’re in it just for the Jews; so God doesn’t really love everybody. She could have spinned what He said, kind of like trying to force Jesus to help her or else make Him look bad. What she said was: look, I know I am not a Jew and I don’t expect you to treat me like one. But I do know there is a place for me too and I just want to get my share, nothing more. Wow, what a sound understanding of where she fits in and how content with where she is!
She left trusting in what Jesus said. If He said my daughter is healed, I know it’s true. I haven’t seen it yet, but I will when I get home. Now that’s faith!
Lastly it’s worth to observe that all this was not for herself. She fought for someone else: her daughter.
He wants me to know how important this is to me? Am I ready to fight for this or am I going to give up on the first obstacle? How serious am I? How far am I willing to take it? Her answer shows she really wanted this done to the degree she built her case around what Jesus said. It’s significant to note Jesus made His probing statement after she pleaded, begged at His feet. She didn’t just want to ask Jesus to help and if He didn’t then go back home. In Matthew 15:23 we’re told she insisted even after “Jesus did not answer a word”. So Jesus statement comes after a silence period (probing her seriousness and eagerness). His statement was the last test in the series. I am wondering weather we don’t get what we want because it’s not important enough for us to just insist and fight every obstacle on the way.
Another reaction He is looking for is to see if I know my place. She didn’t argue with Jesus: a-ha, you don’t really love everybody; you’re in it just for the Jews; so God doesn’t really love everybody. She could have spinned what He said, kind of like trying to force Jesus to help her or else make Him look bad. What she said was: look, I know I am not a Jew and I don’t expect you to treat me like one. But I do know there is a place for me too and I just want to get my share, nothing more. Wow, what a sound understanding of where she fits in and how content with where she is!
She left trusting in what Jesus said. If He said my daughter is healed, I know it’s true. I haven’t seen it yet, but I will when I get home. Now that’s faith!
Lastly it’s worth to observe that all this was not for herself. She fought for someone else: her daughter.
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