Today we are reading from Mark 7:24-30:

24 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, 25 but a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard about him, and she came and bowed down at his feet. 26 Now the woman was a Gentile, of Syrophoenician origin. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 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.” 28 But she answered him, “Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” 29 Then he said to her, “For saying that, you may go—the demon has left your daughter.” 30 So she went home, found the child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.

Today we see a mother coming to Jesus, asking for help.  Her child is sick.  We’ve seen Jesus heal a variety of people in a variety of ways throughout Mark. This doesn’t seem to be anything out of the ordinary.  

But here is what is different.  This woman is a Gentile.  She was not Jewish.  But what is interesting if you look at this text, is that almost seems like Jesus went looking for her, instead of the other way around.  He goes to Tyre, tries to slip in and is noticed.  She comes and asks for help.  After she responds to Jesus with great faith, her daughter is healed. 

We see in this passage that all who wish to come to Jesus are welcome.  This woman, she had faith, and even though she was a Gentile, Jesus brought healing.  It was her faith that made this whole.  Not her ethnicity, or position in life, or her station, or any such thing. It was her faith.  Her faith made things right; her faith made things whole.  

All who believe upon the name of Jesus can be saved, all who believe upon the name of Jesus become part of our family.  Today, let’s not write off the folks who God is writing in.  Let’s not limit His grace or His saving power.  Let’s preach and live out the Good News for all the world to hear!  And may all the world come to believe in the goodness and grace of our savior. Let’s do our part today, to tell all the world! 

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