“And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden. But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. And he said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” And he said to her, “For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.” And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.
Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him. And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.””
There are invisible lines that people naturally draw.
Some divide people by nationality or culture. Others divide them by social status, education, politics, or religion. We decide who belongs and who does not.
In Jesus’ day, one of the strongest divisions was between Jews and Gentiles.
That makes this encounter with the Syrophoenician woman so surprising.
She is not an Israelite. She has no claim on God’s covenant promises. Yet she comes to Jesus with one request: that He would cast a demon out of her daughter.
At first, Jesus’ response seems unexpected. He speaks about the children being fed first before the dogs.
Rather than turning away, the woman responds with remarkable humility and confidence. She does not argue that she deserves anything. Instead, she simply trusts that even the smallest overflow of Jesus’ mercy is enough.
“Yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”
Her faith is not in herself. Her faith is in Jesus.
And Jesus grants her request.
This account reminds us that God’s saving work was never meant to stop with one nation.
Jesus came first to Israel, fulfilling God’s promises to His people. But through Him, those promises would extend to the whole world.
That includes people like this Gentile woman.
And it includes us.
None of us comes to Jesus because we deserve His mercy. We come because He is merciful.
Mark then records another healing.
A man who is deaf and has a speech impediment is brought to Jesus. Taking the man aside from the crowd, Jesus touches him, looks up to heaven, sighs, and says, “Ephphatha,” which means, “Be opened.”
Immediately the man’s ears are opened and his tongue is loosened.
This miracle reveals something beautiful about Jesus.
He is not hurried or detached. He deals with this man personally and compassionately, understands exactly what is needed, and He gives His full attention to someone the rest of society may have overlooked.
Both accounts reveal the heart of Jesus’ ministry.
His mercy reaches farther than people expect.
That is still the nature of the Gospel.
Jesus does not invite us because we have earned a place at His table, belong to a certain group of people, or come from certain parents. He invites us because His mercy is greater than our need.
And everyone who comes to Him in faith finds that His grace is enough.
Let’s pray…
Lord Jesus,
Thank You that Your mercy reaches people from every nation, background, and circumstance. Keep me from trusting in my own worthiness, and teach me to rest entirely in Your grace. Open my ears to hear Your Word and my heart to receive it with faith. May I also see others as you do and freely share the Good News of your mercy to everyone.
Amen.
As part of your devotion time, I encourage you to also pray for at least some of the following:
After praying for these people, you may want to finish your devotion time with the Lord’s Prayer…
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. They will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and every. Amen.
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Kurt
