Luther Seminary

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Archives for September 6, 2012

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Mark 7:24-37 (NRSV)

Read Mark 7:24-37 on biblegateway.com

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

Verse 31Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. Verse 32They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand on him. Verse 33He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. Verse 34Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, "Ephphatha," that is, "Be opened." Verse 35And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. Verse 36Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. Verse 37They were astounded beyond measure, saying, "He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak."

Devotion

The woman was a Greek, a Canaanite, who had a deep, deep faith. This is one example from the New Testament where true faith is found in unusual places.

What is your idea of the reach of God’s love? Is God’s love and healing power available in all circumstances to all people?

This woman had a sick child whom she brought to Jesus, believing that he could heal the child. She approached Jesus and said, “Jesus, heal my child.”

Notice the way this woman prayed. She was not intimidated by silence or the apparent busyness of Jesus. She was persistent, believing that Jesus had the power to make her child whole.

I think God is pleased when our prayers are persistent. God, whose love is persistent, loves everyone without condition, without exception.

Jesus looked at her and said, “Great is your faith, woman. Depart, your daughter is healed.”

Prayer

Almighty God, there is no situation that lies outside the bounds of your love. Give us a heart to see our neighbors as you see them. The world desperately needs Jesus’ healing touch. As the story of this woman is our witness, may her faith and her persistence be ours as well. Amen.

Richard Andersen Director of Congregational Relations, Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota