Scraps
The community of Tyre is not in Israel. Jesus’ mission is to take the gospel message to all people. Tyre is North and West from Nazareth about forty miles.
Jesus’ fame must be spreading because a woman comes to Him asking for a miracle. Her daughter has an unclean spirit. For this woman Jesus is her only hope. The desire to have her daughter healed overcomes her fear of approaching a Jew, a man, and stepping over cultural lines that a woman should never address a man. How great a love she has for her daughter. Their conversation is challenging, but the woman is willing to settle for the scraps, so strong is her faith in Jesus.
Jesus’ disciples must have been shocked that Jesus was talking with this woman. Perhaps Jesus was teaching His disciples that the gospel message is for all people. The disciples would have been with Jesus for some time now and were probably feeling secure in their group. We do the same thing do we not? In sharing the faith, it is always easier to be with people who think the same way we do. But this is not Jesus’ intent.
We are to share the message with all people. And not just the scraps. Jesus healed the daughter. He accepted the mother and answered her prayer. What about you?
Have you stepped out of your group to share the message of Jesus with others? Or are you just passing out scraps to people truly in need of the gospel message?
May the Lord bless you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen