Two of my favorite stories in the gospels are the stories of the woman with the issue of blood and of the Syrophoenician woman. Both stories reveal the goodness of God and the faith of these women who received healing. One was Jewish, the other a Greek Gentile. It is recorded that Jesus healed all who came to Him. Faith’s response is always coming to Jesus. The second story has some interesting dialogue between Jesus and the Gentile woman. Let’s read the account and glean some understanding of what went on. Hopefully, this will minister to you in your own healing and faith journey.
Matthew 15:21-28(NKJV)21 Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon.22 And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.”23 But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.”24 But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”25 Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!”26 But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.”27 And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”28 Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.
After preaching again in Capernaum, Jesus left Galilee and traveled north to Phoenicia, where he preached in Tyre and Sidon. These are both cities in Lebanon. Cannan is part of modern-day Lebanon, from where this Gentile woman was from. What is interesting is that this is the same area where Jezebel set up Baal worship. The Canaanites were enemies of the Jews. We often see that Jesus ministered exclusively to Jewish people. Yet Jesus went to Samaria and ministered to the woman at the well, who was half Jewish. He also ministered to a Gentile Roman centurion’s servant. The compassion of Jesus always transcends race and ethnic cultures. We have this Greek Gentile woman coming to Jesus. She was not welcomed by the disciples, and it looks like Jesus didn’t welcome her as well.
This woman, a mother whose daughter is greatly oppressed by a demon, is greatly concerned for her daughter. What mother wouldn’t be? It is probable, like the woman with the issue of blood. That she heard about Jesus and the miracles he did. Desperately, she was crying for help! She cries Jesus Son of David. Which is unlike a Gentile, non-Jew, to address a Rabbi. Was she trying to fool Jesus into believing she was Jewish? What did Jesus do? He ignored her at first. That doesnt sound like Jesus. It gets worse and refers to her as a dog. Now, this term dog in the Greek means puppy, a house pet. This is not the same Greek word used elsewhere for dog. The Greek word metaphorically refers to moral impurity or uncleanliness ( Matt. 7:6, Rev. 22:15). Either way, it sounds demeaning. Jesus is simply pointing out that she is not Jewish and not a part of the Jewish covenant. The disciples begged Jesus to send her away. He tells them in their hearing, including hers, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. The gospel of Mark says it a little differently- Mark 7:27 (NKJV)-27 But Jesus said to her, “Let the children (Jews) be filled first, for it is not good to take the children’s bread ( healing) and throw it to the little dogs.” Jesus ‘ first ministry was to the Jewish people. We know Jesus ministered to other Gentiles, so why this statement? Notice it says House of Israel. These are areas in the promised land. If Jesus had begun ministering in a Gentile area, he would have been rejected by the Jewish population. The Jewish people looked down on Gentiles and had nothing to do with them. They were considered unclean, like scavenger dogs. It seems the disciples still had this attitude. Jesus went into this territory as a foreshadowing that the Gospel was for all people.
One thing we need to understand about receiving and walking in healing and health, as well as believing God for any promise, is to never give up! Never stop coming to Jesus! This woman will do anything for her daughter’s health and well-being. Did she try to convince Jesus she was Jewish? Did she assume she would be rejected because she was a Greek Gentile? Yet we find her coming to Jesus and worshiping Him, calling Him Lord. Now that it is an unusual response. A Gentile recognizing Jesus is Lord. This woman is determined even after seemingly being rejected. Faith never gives up! Her love for her daughter speaks volumes. The Bible tells us that faith is energized and works by love ( Gal 5:6). She countered Jesus’ response by saying, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” That was a remarkable statement! It was a gotcha moment. Jesus saw the faith behind her statement! A resolute faith that says, “I’m not leaving until I receive my request!” Jesus respected her and called her a woman with great faith. The Greek word for great is mega. She had mega faith! Great faith stays the course! It continues to grow in the midst of adversity.
What happened? In the words of Jesus, “Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour. This woman was not Born Again, had no Bible, no training course on healing, no church, and no lessons on faith! She is the lesson on great faith. She had to overcome so much, especially being a woman who was considered a second-class citizen in that culture, a non-Jew, a gentile. Jesus always looks past culture, ethnicity, and status to the heart of people. Notice it says “as you have desire”. It wasn’t Jesus’ desire that healed her daughter but hers. Jesus said this in Mark 11:24 (NKJV)-24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask (desire) when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. How was her daughter healed of the demonic oppression? Jesus commanded the demon to leave. We see this in Matthew 8:16 (NKJV)-16 When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick. Faith-filled, commanding words are powerful. Jesus had authority over demons to cast them out (Acts 10:38). Faith is of the heart and not the head. Her faith, coupled with a strong desire, made her determined to receive deliverance and healing for her daughter.
Notice that her words agreed with her desire. She didn’t back off on what she believed. Proverbs 18:21 tells us that death and life are in the power of the tongue. What we say is just as important as what we believe in our heart (Matt. 12:34b). “Out of the abundance of our heart, our mouth speaks.” We can’t speak against what we know to be true in our hearts when we are standing on God’s Word, his promises for us. Faith is voice-activated, and that means saying the same thing God says about our situations! We are to fight the good fight of faith with patient endurance. To lay hold of eternal life and not let go (Hebrews 6:12, 1 Tim. 6:12). God has given us the spirit of faith Gal. 5:22) when we were Born Again ( 2 Cor.4:13). We have the faith of Jesus ( Gal 2:20). This woman had no more faith than we have today as believers. Now let’s put our faith into words and action as this woman did, and pursue Jesus the healer and the deliverer. The difference for us is that the healer now lives within us by God’s Spirit ( Gal. 4:6). It is learning to release that healing flow. It is not faith in our faith or ability but in God’s ability. Faith in the promises of God gives substance to what we are believing for (Rom. 10:8, Rom.10:10, Rom. 10:17, Hebrews 11:1).
In closing, we are all on a journey desiring all of God’s best in our lives. He came to give us life and not death (John 10:10)! Abundant overflowing life he came to give. Romans 8:32 (NKJV)
32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? This is the good news of the gospel. Healing and health are good news. In my own personal testimony: God healed me of depression, insecurity, the spirit of fear, and delivered me from pornography. God healed a lower back issue from playing tennis when I was younger. Overcame chronic ear problems and infections. I know God healed me of high blood pressure, healed me of gall bladder duct cancer, and my gall bladder was removed. God used doctors to fix my non-cancerous prostate problem. I have seen healing in my wife and children. Today, I’m standing on his promise that I no longer have to be on dialysis. We are all growing and learning in our faith. I havent arrived fully, but I’m going on, pursuing God and His promises for me! God is so good! Let us learn from this woman’s tenacity and great faith! That we will never give up, no matter what. We have so much more today as believers in Christ to walk in all that God has for us. Take a leap of faith! God will never let us down or give up on us!
Hebrews 11:11 (NKJV)-11 By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.
Hebrews 11:11 (NKJV)-11 By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.
Mark 9:23 (NKJV)-23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”
In Christ’s love;
Brent and Linda Bushen
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