craving crumbs

Mark 7:24-30

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. 25 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

Mark 7:24-3026 The woman was a Greek, born in

Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.

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.”

Mark 7:24-3028 “Lord,” she replied, “even the dogs

under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”

29 Then he told her, “For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your

daughter.”30 She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.

Luke 4:25

I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine

throughout the land. 26 Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in

Zarephath in the region of Sidon.

Ephesians 2:13-14

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near

by the blood of Christ.14 For he himself is our peace, who has

made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall

of hostility…

We must approach others with compassion.

We must approach others with compassion.

We must approach Jesus with humility.

We must approach others with compassion.

We must approach Jesus with humility.

We must approach Jesus boldly.

Hebrews 4:16

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us

in our time of need.

1 John 5:14-15

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever

we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

We must approach others with compassion.

We must approach Jesus with humility.

We must approach Jesus boldly.

We must approach Jesus in faith.

Hebrews 11:1

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes

to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly

seek him.

Hebrews 11:6

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not

see.

Mark 7:31-37

Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of

Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis. 32 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.

Mark 7:31-3733 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. 34 He looked up to

heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!”

(which means “Be opened!”).

Mark 7:31-3735 At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began

to speak plainly.36 Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the

more they kept talking about it.

Mark 7:31-3737 People were overwhelmed with

amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the

deaf hear and the mute speak.”

Isaiah 35:5-6

Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf

unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue

shout for joy.

Jesus demonstrated compassion.

Jesus demonstrated compassion.

Jesus frees us to hear and to speak.