Give her what she wants and be done with her. Jesus’ disciples in Matthew 15:23
Mark 7 (and see Matthew 15)
It doesn’t matter how long we’ve followed Christ, our life experiences, or knowledge of the Bible—when desperate prayers are delayed we wonder why. There is an encounter in both of the above-referenced Gospels that is first appalling, then revelatory. In this highly emotional scene we are given a God’s-eye view of the Divine premium placed on faith.
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It’s strange. Jesus has been with His disciples at his home base in Capernaum on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee. Ministry is intense. Abruptly, He informs His disciples that they will take a trip west toward the coast. Jesus has attracted a wide following in this region. Perhaps He wants to minister to these pagan peoples near their home turf. The border between Phoenician land and Jewish land is not distinct, unlike their morals. The depraved worship of Baal and Ashtaroth reigns in Phoenicia.
So why head that way? It’s at least a two day journey on foot. Why not let the crowds keep coming to Him?
They approach the border. Jesus does not want anyone to know He is in the area. Why? He needs rest after the trip? Not in the mood for crowds? Hardly. But someone does know. He enters a house–no details provided. The disciples leave to—what?—find some lunch? This we do know: Jesus is sitting in a house when a woman bursts in and cries out,
Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed!
Jesus, sitting there in that house, does not respond. She stands before Him and repeatedly sobs out her request. He is silent.
The disciples appear, recognizing the woman as the same one who had been following them while they were out, and they want her to leave: “Send her away, for she cries out after us.” But Jesus’ response indicates that they are actually saying, “Grant her petition, then make her leave.” In a odd, admittedly irritated, way, they are advocating for her request to be granted.
My mission is to the lost ones of the house of Israel. Period.
Is Jesus being dismissive–cruel, even? We can’t make those words go away. There they are.
She responds by falling at His feet and worshiping:
Lord, help me!
His response?
It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.
What?
But never for one moment does this Greek mother lose sight of her appeal of misery to Mercy itself. She knows that Jews have no use for dogs, which roam in wild packs. Not so in Greek homes, where they are tamed and trained to feed from the hand.
Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the children’s crumbs.
Her quick thinking is astonishing. The Bread of Life is at the very edge of the table. She is absolutely willing to acknowledge her humble position, and she has no claim except her appeal to mercy.
Immediately:
Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.
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There are only two people whose faith Jesus praised to that degree. Both were Gentiles. (and see Luke 7:1-10) He did not say, “Great is your humility,” even though it was on full display; or “Great is your passion,” exhibited from the moment she entered His presence; not even “Great is the love for your child,” which was what had driven her to the feet of Jesus. It was “great is your faith”—which is, as one writer puts it, “the parent of all the rest.”
There is no indication that Jesus did anything else in that region. He and His disciples returned to Galilee, making a wide circuit of ministry around the lake. The sole reason for His making that trip was to answer the desperate need of a desperate woman, and to draw from her a remarkable admission.
Our requests in prayer are not always granted as we think best. but we do not stop praying. Christ Himself, in HIs agony in the garden, prayed more earnestly. Wherever we are, Christ is there first. Whatever we ask, He knows and is working, not just on our need, but on us, drawing from us ever-increasing faith.