ChangeMakers: Unsung Women of the Bible (Part 1)Намуна

The Canaanite Woman

Of all Jesus’ encounters with women, this is a really confusing one.

In the account, a Canaanite woman approached Jesus, begging Him to heal her demon-possessed daughter. Throughout their brief conversation, Jesus appears rude and dismissive of the woman and her need. At first glance, we’re left with questions like:

Was He being racist toward this Lebanese woman by calling her a dog?

Why does Jesus seem so dismissive of her daughter’s suffering?

Did He change His mind about her after some witty banter?

Because we know Jesus’ character, we can trust He isn’t being rude or dismissive. Instead, He has a deeper lesson. Throughout this interaction, Jesus exposes societal norms, playing out the typical dynamics between insiders and outsiders, Jews and Gentiles, men and women.

Jesus responds with three culturally-conventional responses, then He flips the script.

First, Jesus doesn’t answer her request for help (verse 23). This wasn’t surprising, given the culture. Jesus’ silence gives his disciples permission for more prejudice. They interpret His silence as tacit approval to take it one step further from ignoring her—they want to get rid of her. She is out of line and out of place.

But then, we see Jesus’ first break with convention. Instead of ignoring her request, he ignores theirs. He doesn’t chase her way. He speaks directly to her, and a piece of the cultural norm starts to splinter.

Second, Jesus says out loud what the insiders are thinking—I am not for you (verse 24). Jesus’ words articulated a deeply-held, limiting belief about who belonged. God’s people are the Jewish people. His disciples might have felt relieved to hear Jesus represent their worldview, but their relief wouldn’t have lasted long. Taking her cue from Jesus, this changemaker of a woman revealed her own qualities that would have messed with the disciples’ stereotypes. She worships Jesus and believes He can (and will) help her. Perhaps the Canaanite woman saw the script was starting to weaken, and emboldened by Jesus’ subtle break with stereotypes, she followed suit.

Third, Jesus explicitly reveals the insiders' disdain for outsiders. There’s nothing subtle about the centuries-old Jewish insult. Jesus’ metaphor of a dog—a wild, unclean nuisance who is not welcome—mirrored His disciples' worldview.

“Scram!” you can almost hear them thinking.

With all of the cultural, political, and religious stereotypes fully exposed, Jesus does what He so often does.

He upends it all.

In an extraordinary reversal of the disciple’s exclusivity, He expands His ministry to include this obvious outsider. He does for her what He came to do for everyone—He brings healing, freedom, and belonging.

Jesus’ message to this Gentile woman (and all outsiders) is that her faith—not her race or role or religiosity—has made her and her daughter clean.

Jesus’ message to His disciples (and all insiders) is that Jesus is not just for them but for everyone.

Jesus and this faithful woman establish a new normal—that the kingdom of God is breaking in and breaking through, and our limiting beliefs cannot contain His grace and goodness.

Prayer & Meditation

What limiting beliefs or stereotypes has society placed on you? What beliefs or traditions have you held against those you deem unworthy of God’s love and forgiveness?

As you spend a few minutes meditating on the image of the Canaanite woman, invite God to search your own heart. Ask Him to reveal where He wants to shift your heart and mind to be more like His in how you love and value others. If you’ve been cast aside, unwelcomed, or marginalized, ask God to help you forgive as you release the burden of hurt, bitterness, and anger to Him.

Written by Jess Basson

Photo Credit: worryisueless.com, "Great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire." August 12, 2012.