Mark 7:27-28
We
are obsessed with dogs! Have you noticed how many different breeds there are
these days. Labradoodles, Finnish Spitz, Xoloitzcuintli, Whippet, Tosa Inu,
Sloughi. The list is almost endless. We keep and breed dogs with an obsession.
People are very protective of their particular breeds. There are clubs, and
conventions, societies and swapmeets. Pedigrees are kept and lineage is
carefully monitored. Competitions are held and prizes given. Shots, and special
food, grooming fees and obedience lessons, carrying cases and funny hats. Wow,
we place tremendous effort and expense on dogs.
But
dogs are not revered in other culture and at other times with the same
enthusiasm as we do here in the United States. In well over half the world dogs
are not the pampered companions that there are here. They are either working
dogs or they are the next meal. Dogs allowed to run wild in packs are not very
nice toward other creatures.
A
non-Jewish woman has come to Jesus with a grave concern. Her daughter is under
the influence of a demon, and she wants the influence to stop. She is not
getting straight A’s in school, or president of her drama club. It is obvious
the demon is ruining her life. We don’t know the specifics, but mom wants the
demon gone.
She
comes and begs Jesus for help. But Jesus first priority was to His disciples.
He had been trying to get away from the crowds in order to spend time with His
disciples, but at every turn, people with needs kept showing up. He has now gone
out of Palestine to the sea coast in order to find some alone time with His
disciples. And this woman shows up.
How
does Jesus handle this interruption? He uses an illustration that this woman
would easily understand. We hear it as offensive, at least I did. Jesus calls
her a dog! But this doesn’t phase this woman. The children at the table get
first dibs on the food. She gets this. Jesus’ disciples are the priority, but
she has needs too. She doesn’t want to take Jesus away from the time with His
disciples, but she still has a grave need. She will settle for crumbs. She
knows her place and is happy with crumbs. Crumbs will meet her need.
It
can be hard for us to be humble, to know our place. We live in an entitled
society, where we are owed all sorts of things, from healthcare to a living
wage. We deserve hell! But the LORD intervened and now we can have the crumbs of
heaven. They will meet our need. One day we will sit at the table for the full
banquet. Right now we only get a small sample of what heaven will be like. One
day we will experience it all.