Have you ever read something in the Gospels and thought, “What was Jesus thinking?” Today’s passage from Mark has one of those moments. On the surface, what Jesus said seems out of character and a bit snarky. So, Jesus, what were you thinking?
“He got up and departed from there to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it, but he could not escape notice. Instead, immediately after hearing about him, a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit came and fell at his feet. The woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth, and she was asking him to cast the demon out of her daughter. He said to her, “Let the children be fed first, because it isn’t right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” But she replied to him, “Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” Then he told her, “Because of this reply, you may go. The demon has left your daughter.” When she went back to her home, she found her child lying on the bed, and the demon was gone.” (Mark 7:24–30, CSB)
This unnamed woman comes to Jesus with a problem. She must have heard some of the stories and rumors about His healings and miracles. One day, Jesus turns up near her neighborhood. Perhaps she imagined this as a simple ask, like she’s heard from others. “Here’s my problem Jesus.” And poof, problem is solved. But things didn’t go quite that smoothly.
There’s a hint in Mark that Jesus ignored her at first; something that is clearer in Matthew’s parallel. (see Matthew 15:21-28) That doesn’t seem like Jesus. And then there is His statement that seems a bit racist on the surface. “Let the children be fed first, because it isn’t right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” To clear that up quickly, Jesus wasn’t calling her and other Gentiles dogs. He was using a metaphor to test something in her.
Both Mark and Matthew point out her status as a Gentile and probable worshiper of the pagan Greek or Canaanite gods. Jesus wants to know her heart, so He probes her. His silence is a momentary “no.” His answer in metaphor is also a no. But the woman’s faith is revealed in her answer. “Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”
Her heart is revealed in calling Jesus Lord and in furthering His metaphor. In Matthew’s version, the woman calls Jesus Lord three times. Here’s what Jesus may have been thinking: Is she parroting what she’s heard others say or speaking from her heart? Well, that’s my idea of what Jesus was thinking. There was something in her answer to Jesus that revealed her faith. She wasn’t just quoting words, but she believed them.
The Woman’s daughter was released from the unclean spirits. And interestingly, the daughter was not present. Distance did not prevent Jesus from casting out the impure spirit.
Sometimes God says no when we pray. He’s not testing if we know the right words. However, sometimes He does test the genuineness of our faith and trust in Him. If He is our Lord, our sovereign, He has every right to say no or wait. Does that shipwreck your faith? I hope not.
Jesus taught, “Who among you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him.” (Matthew 7:9–11, CSB) Sometimes, that good gift God gives is “no” or “wait.” We may not like that answer. Still, we trust in the perfect goodness and lovingkindness of our Lord. And sometimes, that good gift of “no” or “wait” becomes “yes” after Jesus reveals or strengthens our faith in Him.
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