The faith of a Syrophoenician woman

Mark 7:24-8:10

“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.”

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.

“How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. “Seven,” they replied. 

The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. About four thousand were present. After he had sent them away, he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha.

Why?

Jesus healed the deaf and mute man,  1) took him aside away from the crowd. 2) then Jesus put his fingers into the man's ears and touched the man's tongue,  3)Jesus looked up to heaven and said to him. 

Jesus can heal every sickness or draw demons away and satisfy 4000 men eating. Who can do it for a man? So Jesus is not a teacher or prophet but he is the son of God.

The Spiritual work is working in a silent environment, so as we keep a closer relationship with the Lord have to away from the crowd.

Maybe Jesus is testing the faith of the Greek woman, so he said to the woman's daughter as a dog. But the faith of this woman is so strong, so the healing may be across the distance.

-----------------------

外邦人又是婦女地位很低，與文士，法利賽人比較更是如此。地位高的人被責備，人看來地位低的，反而先領受神的恩典。兒女指的是猶太人，狗指的是外邦人。這是猶太人人的看法，不是耶穌的看法，這也是救恩臨到的順序，這個婦人很謙卑，自知自己不配！神的恩典大到如一點碎屑就可以將鬼趕走。

通常耶穌醫治人沒有那麼多動作，但是耶穌沒有按照這人的要求做！人不能說因為人不會聽！聾子不能說因為聽不到所以不會講。人不聽就不會講。神要人宣揚多是趕鬼的事，宣揚權柄的事，醫治的事通常耶穌不要人宣揚！

這次是耶穌問門徒有多少餅?不能只是做分配奉獻的人，自己也要奉獻。上次有12籃子，這次剩7個框子，7代表完全，猶太人有12個支派，7個是要給萬邦萬族。這個外邦婦人的信心，使萬國萬族也得到福音。

----------------------

How?

The healing of the Lord sometimes goes through touch, sometimes across space. The way of healing from the Lord is free and no rule to follow.