Today at our churches

It was lovely to have Revd Nigel Mason and his wife Cathy back eith us again.

Jesus, with his disciples, has withdrawn to an area outside Northern Israel. They are close to Tyre and Sidon.

A Canaanite woman calls out to Jesus for help. With an absence of response from Jesus, the disciples suggest he sends her away.  The significance this non-Israeli woman gives to Jesus is amazing.  She calls him ‘Lord’, ‘Son of David’, asks for his mercy and she kneels before Him, explaining her daughter’s suffering from demon possession.  Her persistence in perusing Jesus reveals a conviction that the answers to such a need lie with Him.

First Jesus tells her that he was only sent , “for the lost sheep of Israel”.  She continues, “Lord, help me”.

What might be considered a harsh reply , “it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs”, comes from within the context that all non- Israelis were loosely referred to as ‘dogs’ – ie other than them.  She agrees but reminds Jesus that even the dogs can eat the crumbs which fall from ‘their master’s table’ .

It was suggested here that there may have been some humour in this communication but in any case Jesus’ attitude would have been  compassionate.  There is also a possible link here to the feeding of the five thousand, with 12 baskets of leftovers and Jesus’ saying of himself, “I am the bread of life”.

Ultimately this woman is commended for her ‘great faith’ and her daughter is restored to her.  Sadly, many of Jesus’ own people, in contrast, had failed to recognise Him.