March 22, 2023 — “Ephphatha”

From there he set out and went away to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know he was there. Yet he could not escape notice, but a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard about him, and she came and bowed down at his feet. Now the woman was a Gentile, of Syrophoenician origin. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. He said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” But she answered him, “Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” Then he said to her, “For saying that, you may go—the demon has left your daughter.” So she went home, found the child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.” Mark 7:24-30

“The Phoenician people had a proud, but very pagan, heritage (from a Jewish point of view). They had often been bitter enemies with the children of Israel. For this woman to fall at the feet of a Jew, especially one of “no noble rank,” was indeed a sign of desperation and humility. Coming from the Phoenician culture that produced Jezebel and a host of condemning words in the Bible because of their Baal worship, here is a woman who shows dependence on and worship to the Savior of the world, who also happens to be Jewish. Not even the distance — geographical and racial — could keep Jesus’ saving power from being known!” (heartlight.org: Mark 7:24-30)

This text in Mark, the back-and-forth dialogue between Jesus and the Syrophoenician woman is harsh – and perhaps it is intended to be harsh by Jesus. This kind of dialogue between Jesus and someone who is asking for his help could give some people a difficult time, but there is a greater lesson that we can all learn – a lesson that is greater than the ability to verbally spar with one another. The lesson: when someone has an argument or a point that is worth consideration, we should not automatically reject it, but carefully consider it and its validity. 

When the woman responds to Jesus’ harsh comment with a comment that clearly and obviously affects him deeply, he is forced to consider her point of view. And when he considers it, Jesus responds positively to her situation – he heals her daughter. We should not hold to our own arguments and opinions only for the sake of winning, or for our own selfish gain. We must be like the deaf man – with Jesus commanding us to  “Ephphatha” — to “be open” – and to really listen to each other. What harm is there is considering another’s opinion except that our minds and our ears may be opened to new ways to perceive our world.

Let us pray: Dear G-d, please help us to be open, to awaken and realize that what we have to share with the world is Jesus — not our technology, our culture, or our knowledge. Amen.

Pastor Dave