The Gospel of Mark - Following the Master XII
Mark 7:24-37
John Ryan
03/25/2007

The religious leaders said, we can make ourselves right before God.
This was their tradition.

Jesus said, only I can make you right before God.
What do you say? Who do you believe?

Mark 7:24 - And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, ...
Jesus and the disciples had needed rest (look back at the beginning of chapter 6). It was long overdue. So, He heads northwest from the Sea of Galilee and enters a non-Jewish area some 35 miles from Gennesaret in the region of the two Phoenician towns known as Tyre and Sidon. He purposely took His disciples on a two day road trip just to get away from the massive crowds so they could rest. Yet, the Word makes it clear. Even in this land of very few Jews, Jesus could not hide. His reputation had preceded Him.

Mark 7:25-26 26 Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter.
This woman had three strikes going against her. First, she was a woman. In this culture of Syrophoenicia (a blend of two old empires - Syria and Phoenicia), women were little more than property. Second, she was not a Jew. The Jews in general despised all those who were not Jewish and regularly called them dogs. In addition, the Messiah (God's Son and Savior) who had been promised to all nations (Isaiah 49:6), was also to begin His ministry among the Jews. (John 4:22, Rom. 1:16). This was God's divine order by promise. (Gen 12:1-3)
Third, she had a daughter who had a demon. This is a women who lived her life believing she was of little value to society (woman), that she would always be alone (demon possessed daughter will do this), and that she had little value to the God of the Jews she had obviously heard of (Matt. 15:22).

How did she approach Jesus and why?
In her mind she was worth little, yet she came and fell at Jesus' feet. This was a sign that showed her true humility and desperation. However, her words are striking. To see these, we have to look at the companion account in Matthew 15:21-28. She begs Jesus to heal her daughter and calls Him, "O Lord, Son of David". Why this title and what does it mean? First, this was a title that only a Jew would have known and used. It was a common title for the coming Messiah. Second, the title referenced the Messiah the Jews longed for and believed would come - a conquering king along the lines of David. This Gentile lady had to have learned this from devout Jews. While she came truly humble and desperate, she also came approaching Jesus with a formality and "tradition" she couldn't have known on her own. She came this way, because she believe this was how she had to approach Him. Her heart was right, but her method was far from the heart of Jesus.

How do you approach God?
This woman approached Jesus in desperation from a desperate life. She had nothing to offer and everything to gain. Yet, she came believing the words she spoke would matter. While she knew she had nothing to offer, she also had been taught to believe she had to offer her self in a "right" way. How do you approach God?

Matthew 15:23 - But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, "Send her away, for she is crying out after us."
The disciple's response to the lady...
The disciples freak. Again. their schedule and way of life is interrupted and they respond how they always do. Make it go away. She just keeps screaming at us. She's freaky and "unclean" (Gentile and has a demon possessed girl).

We often do the same. Our idea of being on mission is an event or a trip - not life. It is planned, structured and somewhere besides home. Jesus was about to show them being on mission was all time, everywhere, and with everyone.

Mark 7:27-29 27 And he said to her ...
Jesus' first response to the lady...
At first, Jesus does not respond to her. That He did talk to this "unclean" lady was surely amazing to her and the disciples.

His words...
His first statement was one of mission and compassion. "I'm here for the children" (these men and Israel) was a reference to the mission at hand. "The dogs" was a compassionate reference to those who were not Jews. The common word used for the Gentiles was dog. However, the word commonly used referenced wild, street dogs. This word for dog referred to a domesticated lap dog. She, know doubt, had heard the derogatory dog term directed at her by Jews. Here she was hearing something different. It was a play on words but He was showing compassion to her like she had never seen from a Jew.

His actions...
He heals her daughter without seeing, touching, or speaking to the little girl. The only time in the whole Gospel of Mark a healing happens like this. Jesus did interrupt His schedule to heal this woman. This was His life. Yes, He no doubt had an agenda for the day. And, no doubt rest and instruction were on the agenda. Yet, the agenda did not supersede the mission as He lived. The mission of His coming was to die a sacrificial death and be raised to life conquering death and sin. What was the mission while He walked the earth - to heal, to teach - no, to make disciples who could reproduce His ways and life. Yes!

Being missional is intentionally engaging the world around us for the purpose of sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ through our words and deeds.
Being “missional” is not about an event or a process. It is the daily life of one who has been invaded by the living breathing presence of Jesus Christ.

They learned being missional is way of life anywhere anytime the opportunity presents itself with anyone. He would instruct them in Matt
28:19 "Go therefore and make disciples" - which lit. says "As you go".

How can we make disciples "as we go". We are you already going?
Remember, making disciples involves an entire process of relationship where one matures to the point of reproduction. However, it begins with God reaching a person with the Gospel (I want you to know my glory so I gave my life for you). This is being missional.

Mark 7:31-32 32 ... and they begged him to lay his hand on him.
Jesus passes through Galilee across the Jordan to another non-Jewish area. He is met by people who are begging Him to heal this man.

This is another picture of being missional. These people were bringing this man to Jesus. This is God's desire for us. We are not to save or convince, just bring people to the One who does. How can you do this?
When was the last time you begged Jesus to do something for someone?

"God is watching us, God is watching us, God is watching us ... from a distance."
Bette Midler – "God is Watching Us"

Mark 7:33-35 33 And taking him aside from the crowd privately ...
Jesus' methods for ministry were always different. However, they always reveal the character of God and His heart toward you and I.

1) "privately" - Your relationship with God is not a private matter, however, what He does in you is about you first. Surrender is not a family affair. Healing of eyes or a heart first is about you. We all long for God to be concerned with just us - just me. Jesus was and is.
2) "spitting" - Intimacy - having no barriers between you and He is always where Jesus is heading. Sin brings barriers. Healing and forgiveness brings openness and safety.
3) "he sighed" - God longs for you to be whole and fully reflect His glory. Here we see a picture of Jesus' grief over broken bodies and lives.

Mark 7:36-37 37 And they were astonished beyond measure, ...
Remember, the telling no one was about trying to undo the years of myth about who and what the Messiah would be.

Our old nature longs to create God in our own image. It was the 2nd commandment given by God Ex. 20:4. Like the Jews, when we long for a Messiah to save us from our problems, we reduce Jesus to an earthly king and make Him into our image. Even in their disobedience, God uses their testimony to proclaim the truth of who Jesus was. This was a prophecy given about the Messiah and quoted by Jesus to John's disciples. (Is. 35:4-6, Matt. 11:4-6) The prophecy spoke of a Messiah who would be recognized by signs and come to change and rule the heart.