HEAL – God’s Heart for Healing in MarkSample

Barging In

Have you ever gone home one day and just wanted time alone? No distractions. No work. No one needing you. Just quiet time. In this account, Jesus was in that mode. He was in a house with His disciples. The text says that He did not want anyone to know it, yet He could not keep His presence secret.

Barging into the home comes a woman whose little daughter was demon-possessed. It may seem rude that she interrupted Jesus’ personal time with His disciples. She didn’t care because she was a mother desperate to see her child healed. This interruption is a possible explanation for Jesus saying, “First let the children eat all they want, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” He was the Bread of Life and was having time alone with His disciples. This time alone was a priority, yet the woman’s response to His rebuke showed her great faith.  

“‘Yes Lord,’ she replied, ‘but even the dogs under the table eat the children’s bread.’” She was willing to get just a crumb from Jesus because she believed a small crumb of His power could heal her daughter. Jesus rewarded her faith by healing her daughter.  

Questions:

1. What did you learn from this woman as she pursued healing for her daughter?
2. What did you learn about Jesus and His response to her?
3. Have you been so desperate you’d just take a crumb?