Only a Crumb is Needed

He got up and departed from there to the region of  Tyre and Sidon. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it, but He couldn't escape notice. Instead, immediately after hearing about Him, a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit came and fell at His feet. Now the woman was Greek, a Syrophonecian by birth, and she kept asking Him to drive the demon out of her daughter. He said to her, "Allow the children to be satisfied 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 gone out of your daughter. When she went back home, she found her child lying on the bed and the demon had gone. Mark 7:26-30

What faith! Here was a woman who believed even a crumb of God's grace could heal her daughter. Notice this woman called Him 'Lord.' She recognised Him as a man of importance, even divine.

Jesus challenged this woman with a racial comment. The Jews referred to the Gentiles as dogs. By using this term Jesus is challenging offence, self-pity, rejection. The woman rose above the slight and agreed she was a dog but under the master's table the crumbs would be enough. What a humble attitude.

I just watched an address by President Obama at the service for the pastor who was slain in Carolina. He recognised the grace given by the families of those slain, to the killer. This grace spoke and it challenged the racial hatred that inspired the killing. The president was, himself, touched by the grace given. The result was the bringing down of the Confederate flag, a racially inspired flag.

The president's speech will go into the annals of American history as a great speech by the first black president. I pray that the faith of the families who lost loved ones will be rewarded. Amen! Great faith! Great grace!