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The Gospel According to Mark

(Part 26)

Good morning and Welcome to Jesus Church

• We are continuing in our series through the Book of Mark
  • Last week was story of Jesus’ disciples being looked down on
  • Because they didn’t wash there hands before eating
• So these religious leaders ask Jesus why his disciples are so terrible
  • Because according to their traditions (not scripture)
  • They must have been unclean because of how they were living
  • Eating food without washing their hands… sinful to them
    • Not according to the Bible… but according to tradition
    • And to them Bible/Tradition held the same weight
• Jesus responds by telling them a couple things
  • 1 – If you give same authority to Bible & man made ideas/laws
    • You reject God and the foundation of Jesus teachings
    • Jesus quotes Isaiah “Their hearts are far from me”
  • 2 – Not what you put into your body that makes you unclean
    • Jesus says it’s the issues of the heart that make us unclean
    • And those are already inside us
    • We need Jesus in order to clean us from the inside out

This week we will finish Ch. 7

Mk 7:24-37

Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret. In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an impure spirit came and fell at his feet. The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter. “First let the children eat all they want,” he told her, “for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

Lord, she replied, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs. Then he told her, For such a reply you may go, the demon has left your daughter. She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.

Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down the to Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis. There, some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him. After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means be opened). At this the man’s ears were opened his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly. Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone but the more he did so , the more they kept talking about it. People were overwhelmed with amazement, He has done everything well, they said. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.

[Pray] – Really want us to focus on this phrase “He does all things well”

Ever been offended by something someone said 2 you

And I know that’s like preaching to the choir… all been offended

• Ever been offended by something you thought was offensive
  • But only because you took it the wrong way
  • Or you assumed it meant something it didn’t
  • Or you even heard it wrong… now your mad at them
• And even though you no know that wasn’t reality
  • You are still mad at how that person made you fell
• Almost like if you have a dream that someone does something
  • You wake up and know they didn’t do it
  • Yet you still have this anger towards them
  • Have to remember what is reality and what isn’t

This story starts out sounding like Jesus is crazy offensive… even racist

• But as we look at reality vs perception
  • We can see a whole different understanding of what Jesus says
  • And unlike the initial reaction most have to this story
  • Through this we can see the character of God

There are 2 stories… Set in 2 time periods

Jesus has again left the comfort of his home down

• Going to make a stop at a place on the Mediterranean called Tyre
  • Then he heads back to an area where he drove pigs into the sea
  • Now remember what happened in that story from Mark 5
• Demon possessed man is healed and then begs Jesus to go w/ him
  • Jesus says no… go back to your people and tell them about me
  • Well he listened and because the entire area knows who he is
  • Sometimes you wanna go… it makes sense… seems right motive
  • And Jesus says no – You stay here b/c I have a plan
• Wherever you are… Don’t just leave because you can
  • God plants us where we are AND when we are
  • B/C there’s no one else who can uniquely show Jesus like you

TAG: 2 stories here

• 1^st shows us 4 things in a woman’s life that we should see in our lives
• 2^nd shows us 3 things in Jesus’ life that should effect our lives

Starts – Woman will do anything for her little girl

A few weeks ago we talked about a dad doing anything for his daughter

• Now it’s a mom… b/c as a parent your kids mean everything to you
  • And in this interaction with Jesus we see 4 things she does
  • That when we ask Jesus for something we should do as well
  • This is a playbook on how to approach God with your request

Mk 7:24-25

Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret. In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an impure spirit came and fell at his feet.

This mom has heard about the last time Jesus was in her city

• So she comes to beg Jesus to help her daughter
  • And I’m sure she had a plan
  • She had an idea of how she hoped it would go… but it doesn’t
  • Tyson said: Everyone has a plan til they get punched in the face
• Nothing goes as planned – 4 scenarios working against her
  • 1 – Her nationality (not Jewish)
  • 2 – She was a woman
  • 3 – Disciples against her (Matt – urged Jesus to send her away)
  • 4 – Satan is against her… doesn’t want this girl free
    • On top of that… on surface it seems Jesus is against her
• But this woman shows 4 things we all need to make it through life
  • B/C Jesus tells us “In this world you will have trouble”
  • And when we experience trials and pain in this life
  • It gives us opportunity to help others who go through the same
    • So we can identify the challenges and struggles
    • But we have Jesus as our comfort and foundation

1 – Notice her desperation “Lord have mercy on me”

Interesting she doesn’t say have mercy on my daughter

• Because her daughters pain is her pain
  • I remember my son 3 years old having a feveral seizure
    • No clue what that was… didn’t know if it was epilepsy
    • And in the hospital crying and God have mercy on me
    • And just protect my son
• She’s crying out in pain because her daughter is in pain
  • And it says she fell down on her face before Jesus feet
  • Btw that’s a good thing to do… fall down at the feet of Jesus
  • When was the last time you fell at Jesus feet with a prayer

2 – She never gives up on asking Jesus

In NASB: She kept asking him to cast out the demon

• In her desperation she wouldn’t leave without help
  • Have you ever felt so desperate about something
  • And that desperation reminds you to be persistent
• But look at Jesus answer… verse 27

Mk 7:27

First let the children eat all they want, he told her, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.

• • Now in the English that sounds pretty messed up
  • In fact I would say it sounds boarder line racist
  • But in context what Jesus says here is not an issue
• Key is 2 words he uses (Technon – Children / Kynarion – Dogs)
  • Now the Jews saw themselves as the true children of God
  • And they saw anyone who wasn’t a Jew as a dog

Rabbinic Teaching

As the sacred food was intended for men, but not for the dogs, the Torah was intended to be given to the chosen people, but not to the gentiles.

But when Jesus says “Dogs” he doesn’t use the derogatory word

• He uses a different word to this woman… family lap dog
  • This would have actually given the woman hope
  • B/C he did use the word every other Jew would have used
  • Which shows Jesus saw her as different
• And in that she would have felt hope
  • Because we know that Jesus came first to the children of Israel

Jn 1:11-12

He came to his own and those who were his own did not receive him, but as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in his name.

• • But the plan was always to share Jesus w/ the world

Jn 10:16

I have other sheep who are not of this fold, I must bring them also, and they shall hear my voice, and they will become one flock with one shepherd.

• Growing up my youth pastor told me this is Jesus talking of aliens
  • True story… but obviously its talking about Gentiles
  • At least I think it is
  • But that’s I guess for another sermon – Or maybe not lol
• But Jesus is starting to break down the wall b/w Jew & Gentile
  • Using specific cultural words that pave a path to God’s kingdom
  • That this bread isn’t just for the Jews but for everyone

3 – She stays humble the who time

Mk 7:28 (Because look at how she replies)

Lord, she replied, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.

And she actually is responding (wittingly) to the words Jesus uses

• Because she heard Jesus use the word puppy instead of MUTT
  • She responds with a different word for children
    • Doesn’t use Techton (Biologial kid – knows she isn’t a Jew)
    • She uses Pydon which means little children
    • She matches little dogs with little kids
• When things aren’t quite going her way yet… seems like opposition
  • Its easy for me – Start to get really mad at God
  • God I’ve done all of this… I’ve been good… I’ve gone to church
  • And I don’t have a no… but its not the answer I want
• Could she have found a reason to be offended by how this is going
  • Absolutely… opposition to what we think “should” happen
    • It is easy to get offended by that
    • Its easy to just give up
    • Its easy to throw up your hands and say “well I tried”

But she comes before the Lord… not entitled… not on a trial bases

• Begging God to change things for her and her daughter
  • And it moves the heart of God

James 4:6-7

God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.

TAG: So she is desperate… persistent… humble… trusts God

4 – This woman trusts in what God speaks

Mk 7:29-30

Then he told her, “For such a reply, you may go for the demon has left your daughter. She went home and found her child lying on the bed and the demon gone.

How many times do we think about a situation… God speaks to us

• Our first reaction is… God are you sure?
  • God can you come with me just in case
  • Because until I actually am there and see it
  • I don’t know if I can believe it
• This lady leaves and goes home trusting in just the word of Jesus
  • Because faith isn’t seeing and then you believe
  • Faith is believing in what God says even when you don’t see
• Nothing more powerful than believing the word God speaks to you

Rom 10:11

As the scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame (disappointed)”

• • Whatever you are facing today… ask God to give you this faith
  • Because it will move the heart of God

Ends – A man who’s life is changed by Jesus

Just want you to see 3 simple things about Jesus

• Because when we approach him… we need to know what he is like
  • So we can come boldly to his throne
  • Confident in who he is and what he does

Mk 7:32-33

There, some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him. After he took him aside, away from the crowd…

• We need to understand that God loves the entire world…
  • But he has time for you individually
  • To take you out of the crowd… away from the noise
  • And to touch your life
• We need to stop thinking that God doesn’t have time for my issue
  • He knows exactly what you go through… what you need
  • And will take the time to pull you off to the side
  • And take care of you

Mk 7:34

He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means be opened)

• This sigh isn’t a sigh of frustration or exhaustion
  • Same word used when Bible says cries out in prayer for us
  • And the spirit groans inside of us longing to be with God
• This is an emotional sign because Jesus felt what this man felt
  • He enters into his pain… he empathizes with his loss
  • Jesus knows the pain of your struggles
  • He feels what you feel – From the effects of sin in this world
• Regardless of how alone you feel with what has happened to you
  • Just know that you aren’t alone… because when you hurt
  • Jesus hurts with you

2 Cor 1:3-4

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort. Who comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves received from God.

• He is the God of ALL COMFORT
  • And someday… not right now… but someday
  • God will use you to comfort someone else in struggle you had
  • And one day you will sigh with someone else
    • The same way Jesus sighed with you

Want to close with this phrase about Jesus

Mk 7:37

People were overwhelmed with amazement. They said “He has done all things well”

• Here is what that means… If it is not well – It is not done
  • That doesn’t mean it is not hard… or painful… or a loss
  • Does mean if its not well
    • He’s not done showing you what he is doing
    • Might not fully understand until you see him face to face
• But Jesus does all things well
  • Because he cares about you
  • Because he cares about those you care about
  • And until it is well… it is not finished