One On One: 100 Days With Jesus--Ministry YearsНамуна

Crumbs: The One who rewards faith       

Nothing takes us to our knees faster than a sick child. We’ll trade our dignity to get relief for our little one. We’ll beg. We’ll bargain. Anything.

It happened on a day when Jesus was trying to get away from the crowds for some needed relief. He took the disciples 40 miles north into Gentile country. Hopefully no one would know them there. But there was a woman, just one, who recognized Jesus. In spite of the fact she was a Greek, a Phoenician from Syria, she believed Jesus could heal her daughter. And she didn’t mind asking Him to do it, again and again. 

“Please, sir, please, sir, please, help me. My daughter is cruelly terrorized by a demon. Only You can help us, Master.” She followed Jesus and His disciples; she begged them. She wouldn’t quit. 

“Send this pagan woman away, Lord. She’s driving us crazy!” the disciples pleaded. But Jesus didn’t say a word to either of them. Nothing made this mother back off, shut up, or walk away. She wasn’t going home to her scarred, terrorized daughter without relief. Not when hope was so close.

Home: just imagine what a wreck it was. They hadn’t known peace since that demon moved in. So, this gutsy girl paid no attention to the long list why she didn’t qualify for help from the Lord—and instead she kept asking, “Please, sir, please help me.”

Finally, He answered her . . . but it wasn’t what anyone expected. “It’s not right to take bread out of children’s mouths and throw it to dogs.” What did Jesus say?  This rude remark wasn’t like Him. But Jesus knew exactly what He was doing. He was fishing for faith.

She was quick with a come-back and not offended at all. Humbly, and perhaps with a twinkle in her eye she threw Jesus’ words back to Him, “You’re right, Master, but even the puppies feed on the crumbs that fall from the table.” 

Even if I’m not entitled to sit as a guest at the Jewish Messiah’s table, at least   I can ask for a crumb of God’s mercy…That would be enough, she seemed to say. Just a crumb of grace.

Can’t you just picture Jesus’ smile at her charming challenge? She passed the test and He agreed. “Oh, woman, your faith is beautiful. What you want is what you get!” 

And that was enough for her. She shut up and went home (by faith) and found her sweet daughter at peace, lying in bed. The demon was gone for good.

That day in a land Jews despised, Jesus surprised everyone—a desperate woman who risked trusting a Jewish rabbi and a bunch of confused disciples who learned God’s grace will save anyone who calls out His name in faith.

Tomorrow: One on one with Jesus and the widow