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MARK: WORKING MESSIAH FOURTH DIVISION: Why Did The Messiah Come 7:24-9:50 First Section: For Needy People 7:24-8:13
(The corresponding PowerPoint® presentation is Mark 4th Division 1st Section NEEDY PEOPLE or click on Mark Fourth Division NEEDY PEOPLE PP on the home page for Mark studies.) ________________________________________________________________________
The Outline:
I. The Demon Possessed, An Evil That Goes Back A Long Way! 7:24-30
II. The Deaf Mute, A Non Communicator! 7:31-37
III. The Hungry, Wouldn’t Make It Back Home 8:1-10
IV. The Religious, The Non Needy 8:11-13
Let’s Review Questions To Aid In The Study Of This Section Mark 7:24-8:13
___________________________________________________________________________
Needy, needy people everywhere…but not everyone!?
A River Of Need Jesus came into this world because we are needy people. He is portrayed as the one who can meet our needs. The evangelist takes us through four scenes in chapters 7:24-8:13 describing very different and very large areas of human need, and how Jesus met those needs. The pressing needs of people run like a river through the 4 scenes in our text in Mark. Let’s quickly paint in broad brush strokes the four scenes.
The Four Scenes The first scene took place north of Galilee in the Gentile city of Tyre. We meet the Greek woman whose daughter is possessed of a demon (7:24-30).
Then Jesus crossed Galilee from Sidon to the Decapolis, the area on the east side of the Sea of Galilee and the River Jordan. Jesus healed a deaf mute (7:31-37).
The third scene took place where a large crowd followed Jesus to a remote area. Jesus performed a great miracle feeding 4000 hungry men plus women and children, with 7 loaves and a few small fish (8:1-10).
In the fourth and final scene, in Dalmanutha, the Pharisees asked Jesus for a sign from heaven. Jesus refused their request (8:11-13).
The Big Exception Here we have four scenes describing people, or groups of people, either asking Jesus for help or obviously in need of help. The big exception is the group which came to him with a request in the last scene (8:11 – 13). In this chart we find these stories or scenes are all in the first column of the grid, in other words, the first section of this division.
1) 1. The Greek woman pleaded for her demon possessed daughter (7:24 – 30). 2) 2. People brought the deaf mute and begged Jesus to put his hand on him (7:31 – 37). 3) 3. A crowd in a remote place became hungry and would faint on the way if sent home (8:1 –10). 4) 4. But in the last scene the Pharisees do not come with a request born of need. They came to test him (8:11-13)!
What a difference between the first three groups who came in desperate need and the last group which came with no apparent need. Jesus responded to the first three groups by helping them at their point of need. By contrast he refused to answer the Pharisees’ request.
Let’s look at these groups and their needs.
I. The Demon Possessed, An Evil That Goes Back A Long Way! 7:24-30
My Pressing Need! Has it ever cost you an arm and a leg to find the help you needed to complete a job or goal at home, at work, at church or overseas where you work? Did you feel overwhelmed with all you had to do, knowing that with just a little help you could have finished the task, but that the ideal help you looked for just wasn’t available? I remember not having enough hours in the day when I was attending Bible college. With devotions, classes, work, homework, evangelistic outreaches, orientation for the trips to Mexico, prayer meetings, letter writing to those who supported me and my fiancée I was rushing from one activity to another. In the following story we will meet someone who needed a mountain of help in the middle of extremely trying circumstances. We will discover how that help that she needed so badly reached her.
A Bit Of The History Of Tyre And Sidon Jesus left Galilee and went to the region of Tyre and Sidon (7:24). He wanted to stay in a house without anyone knowing he was there but he couldn’t hide it. The region of Tyre and Sidon reminds us of some Old Testament events, especially those that took place during the time of Elijah the prophet and King Ahab. Ahab, an evil king, followed in the footsteps of the first king of Israel, Jeroboam, who practiced idolatry. He married Jezebel, the daughter of the king of Tyre. She was worse than Ahab and she incited him to do evil (1 Kings 21:23). To Israel Tyre and Sidon represented the pagan world, and this in spite of the friendship between King David and Hiram, one of the kings of Tyre (2 Samuel 5:11 and 1 Kings 5:1).
Questions Raised By This Story Why didn’t Jesus want people to know where he was? Was he trying to rest? Did he want time for prayer? Did he want to limit his ministry only to people who needed him desperately? Did he want in this way to limit his ministry amongst the Gentiles? Why couldn’t he hide? Was it because he was so famous?
Mark 3:7 tells us that people came from many regions to Jesus for help. People came from Tyre and Sidon. This part of chapter three also mentions unclean spirits. It says in 3:11 that when the unclean spirits saw Jesus they fell down before him and shouted, “You are the Son of God (AV/KJV)!” Why then did this woman not come from her land with the others to seek help for her demon possessed daughter?
She faced insurmountable difficulties. She could not carry her daughter to Galilee, nor could she leave her at home alone to go to Jesus there. Thugatrion is the Greek word, which means, small daughter or child. It is very possible that she had heard about Jesus in her own country and wanted to see him. She followed his movements until he came to her city. Having a daughter who was demon possessed, a daughter she could not leave alone, tells us something of her special need, more than that of many others. This woman made an effort to see Jesus that others did not make. Again this speaks to us of her great need.
It is also possible that Jesus had ministered to some people in Tyre but reached a point when he hoped to “hide” in order to rest or be with his disciples. The author leaves us with the impression that few in Tyre knew he was there. This woman, however, did know (7:25).
Why did this lady come to Jesus with her problem? She would have heard that Jesus had power over unclean spirits and could help her.
Why did she fall at his feet? She was showing her submission to Jesus. This attitude was vital for her to communicate to Jesus. After all why help someone be free of the control of an evil spirit if that person was unwilling to submit to his control? This attitude of the woman is in sharp contrast with that of the Pharisees who come to him demanding a sign in 8:11-13. She demonstrated by falling at his feet the submission that the demon would have to show to Jesus. There is, of course, a great difference between the woman and the demon. She willingly submitted to Jesus while the demon would be forced to submit to Jesus.
Maybe this also demonstrated the urgency with which the woman came to Jesus. It was urgent that Jesus help her. She had no other way out of her problem. She not only had a problem but recognized her problem and also understood who the answer to her problem was. The Pharisees had problems too, but did not recognize their need nor Jesus who could deliver them from their problems.
The Incident, Phrase By Phrase "The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter (7:26 NIV)." This verse tells us the nationality of the woman and it is clear she is not Jewish. She was Greek and born in Syrian Phoenicia. The author prepares us for Jesus’ words which seem a little harsh.
It also says she begged Jesus to cast the demon out of her daughter. She was asking for Jesus’ help with great intensity. It was a supplication! It seems she believed that Jesus could cast the demon out so it seems all was prepared for him to simply do just that. But it was not that easy. Jesus objected! What was his objection and why? The following verse tells us.
Jesus told her something unexpected, 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 their dogs (7:27 NIV).
For many of us Jesus’ answer is amazing! Jesus in a round about way called her a dog! Was Jesus demonstrating the attitude of some religious teacher? There was at least one religious leader who said the worst thing was to be born an animal, Gentile or woman. Was Jesus testing her in some way? Was he trying to find out whether she thought he was just another magician?
He said that the sons had the right to be satisfied first, in other words, with the blessings that Jesus brought. Jesus was speaking of the Jews in contrast to the Gentiles. Jesus goal was to give the Jews all they might be willing to receive first. He did not, however, forget the Gentiles. He had plans to share with the Gentiles afterwards. I think Jesus wanted her as a gentile to recognize his plan and order for Jews and Gentiles.
If Jesus’ answer was unexpected so is that of the woman. She said, Yes, Lord, but even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs (7:28 NIV).
Here we clearly see the humility of the woman. If it is true that John Mark is writing for a Gentile audience, then it is not surprising that he should place at the top of his list of needy people a Greek person. He wanted to say to his audience that they were also included amongst those who received Jesus and were healed by him. She accepted the comparison with puppies and answered Jesus with much wisdom and humility. What does the Scripture say about the humble? For this is what the high and lofty One says—he who lives for ever, whose name is holy: I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite (Isaiah 57:15 NIV).
Would the woman’s attitude change when Jesus called the Gentiles “puppies”? Not in her case.
There is something else. When one does not have a way out of a problem and there is only one way of salvation one accepts that way, even when it carries with it some negative aspect. It did not matter to her that Jesus called her a puppy as long as he cast the demon out of her daughter.
On the other hand it is surprising that John Mark would include this passage if he is writing for a Gentile audience. However, he may have been warning Gentile believers and those sympathetic to the gospel that they might be treated in this way, albeit for different reasons, by Jews who were enemies of the gospel or of the Gentiles. They would have to persevere in their faith and humility and the Lord would bless them in the end. He may have been letting Gentile believers know what the order, not prejudice, was in God’s plan, the Jew first, then the Gentile.
Then he told her, For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter (7:29 NIV).
The woman answered Jesus very wisely. Was she one of the many Gentiles who had come to know and be grateful for the spiritual life of the Jews? On the one hand she appreciated the great power of Jesus and on the other the tradition by which he had come.
So the woman returned to her house and found her daughter lying down the demon having left her (7:30).
She believed the word of Jesus and returned home. Not yet having seen the results of his promise, she went home demonstrating her faith in him. The contrast we see between her and the Pharisees, whose faith was desperately lacking and who were full of a defiant spirit, is alarming!
It is important to note that Jesus helped a needy person, but he did not do it for just any reason. He sought an answer in her. Did she need help? Was she looking for help? How did she look for help? What was her attitude? Did she demand help or ask for it? Did she act as though it was owed to her or as though she was unworthy? How would she react when Jesus told her to go home not having seen the results?
What are our attitudes as we read about this woman? Do I, do you, recognize our needs before the Lord? Are we seeking his help? How did we ask for help? Do we feel God owes it to us? Do we understand he does not owe us anything and that we are unworthy, and that it is only by God’s grace that he helps us? The woman returned home uncertain that Jesus’ had cast out the demon. She went with Jesus’ words, nothing more! Are we willing to trust Jesus’ words when he says he has forgiven our sins and given us eternal life?
A Review Let’s review the situation of this woman and let’s keep in mind her humility:
1. 1. A Gentile – apart from God, from the house of God and from the people of God. 2. 2. A woman – in the beginning, in the Garden of Eden, Satan approached the woman first. 3. 3. A demon – the devil, Satan, has enslaved us through sin. 4. 4. A small daughter – our sin has its impact in our children. It is their natural inheritance. How could a small child be possessed of a demon? 5. 5. Far from where Jesus normally ministered – because of our sin we are far from the Lord. 6. 6. Jesus traveled incognito – she had to look for the Lord. 7. 7. Jesus gave her objections – Was she sincere? Did she persevere? 8. 8. Jesus called her a young dog, a puppy – he calls us sinners. 9. 9. She did not see the demon leave – returning home she walked by faith.
Spiritual Slavery This portion makes me think of the beginnings of our human race. A woman was deceived, and with her husband fell into the sin of disobeying God. She was deceived by the devil, or Satan, the deceiver, the accuser and the enemy of God. They were enslaved to sin and its control. The slavery they suffered and the slavery the little girl suffered was spiritual. Jesus came to put spiritual things in order and renew our relationship to God.
Distances Whether Geographical, Cultural Or National Jesus cast out the unclean spirit from a distance. He did not have to go see or touch the daughter. Neither did the woman ask Jesus to come to her house, nor did he go. When we pray for others it does not matter how far from God they are nor how far they are from us physically. They can be on the other side of the world. What is more, they can be of another culture or another nation, very distant from that of the Jew or even a Christian. The power of God reaches them without any problem. It does not matter; we can pray for people far away or go to them.
Seventeen Days To Asia In the early 1960s Frank D. had a growing burden for a land of south Asia. He had been able to 'touch' that country by prayer while still living in the United States. But he wanted to go and minister there. It was expensive to fly and I dare say Frank had to save some funds to live on while in that land. So Frank boarded a ship in his native California and worked on board that ship for seventeen days to pay his passage until it reached Asia. If my memory serves me Frank said there were moments of sea sickness which were very uncomfortable. He did not reach Asia in a matter of a day by plane. It took seventeen days, but then that was not the six months that it took William Carey to reach Asia from Britain in the early nineteenth century! Maybe some workers who face great financial needs will have to think of new ways of traveling around the world in order to reach those people they been sent to reach! However, with flights coming down in cost the expensive part of being a worker far from home may not be the travel to that place but the funds needed month by month to live there and minister there.
You Can Reach Out From Home Another way in which you can bring spiritual, and physical, and even educational, help to others over these distances is by sending someone in your place, by praying and supporting them financially. As you pray and give others can dedicate themselves fully to the ministry of bringing the Good News of Jesus to many other people. They may also get involved in helping people physically. As I write this our brothers and sisters in Asia are helping people spiritually, emotionally, educationally and physically, who were hit by the Tsunami of December 26, 2004. What do we mean by educationally? Well one of the needs people faced after the devastation of the walls of water that hit their communities was trying to reestablish their schools for the children. Another aspect of ministry has been starting schools and colleges in many places. The ships Logos, Logos 2, Doulos and Logos Hope have held large book fairs in hundreds of port cities around the world offering both spiritual and educational books. The Mercy Ships have ministered to many through surgery in their hospitals on board.
Back to The Devil When we think of human need the evangelist reminds us by this story that it goes back to the devil himself. We are taken back to Eden. We are taken back to that fateful day when Satan turned Eve’s eyes, desire, and pride towards the forbidden fruit. Our problems in the human race began with the devil undermining our loyalty to God. God delegated to man the rule of the earth. Satan tempted man to think he could be like God and man fell under the demonic trance.
An Extreme Case to Cover All Cases This case is different. Not everyone is actually demon possessed, but what better way to say that the devil controls so much of our lives than by using this example? It’s the extreme case to cover all cases. If it were not for the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the world we might all be possessed of demons in the same way. We might be amazed at what God in his mercy keeps us from.
The 'Children' Of Her Desperate Need All she asked for were crumbs. She knew Jesus could cast this demon out and she pressed for that response. Jesus commended her and when she returned home the demon was gone. She was blessed by her faith, perseverance and wisdom. But these things were the 'children' of her desperate need. What a contrast to the request of the Pharisees in the last story in this section!
II. The Deaf Mute, A Non Communicator! 7:31-37
The Social Implications The second need was physical, interestingly enough, but had huge social implications. The man was deaf and could hardly speak. The man could not communicate with others in an easy, fluid manner! He was sorely limited by his problem. Jesus healed this man physically, but he thereby healed him socially. He restored his ability to interact with others.
Some Trouble With Language Learning There was a brother from Korea on our team in Iran in 1966 and 67. He had escaped North Korea during the Korean War. He was exposed to war and the noises of bomb explosions. Through this he lost some of his hearing, especially certain sounds. When studying Persian together we noticed that he could not pronounce certain sounds in Persian words. It was because he could not hear them. When Jesus healed this deaf and dumb man, he healed him of two problems, his hearing and his speaking. They are linked together.
A Social Problem! Jesus left the region of Tyre and Sidon and crossed the region of the Decapolis (7:31). Again Jesus went through an area with a gentile presence. This area on the east of the Jordan was influenced by the Greeks and it can be seen in the name of the region. Decapolis in Greek means “ten cities”.
The people brought a man who was deaf and dumb, and they asked him to put his hands on him (7:32).
They brought (7:32 NKJV), is a phrase which gives the impression that he was taken to Jesus but probably not in a bed but walking. This man’s problem made it almost impossible to develop a normal social life. He could not communicate fully with his fellow human beings. He could not hear and could hardly talk.
Broken Relationships It is not surprising that when sin entered the world and ruined our relationship with God, that it also made a mess of human relationships. Here we have a physical symbol of the spiritual problem. First we have the woman who came with an overwhelming spiritual problem, and now they bring Jesus someone with a problem that affected his human relationships, or in other words a difficulty that frustrated his social life.
We read in Genesis chapter three that the man and woman disobeyed God. Immediately in chapter four we read that their older son killed his younger brother. Cain envied Abel and murdered him. Human relationships breakdown as a result of the broken relationship between God and man.
A Bit Of History Of The Decapolis Now that we are thinking about the difficult relationships between human beings let’s think about the history of that region called the Decapolis. It was the region beyond Jordan on the east. When Joshua entered Canaan, the two tribes Ruben and Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, asked to remain on that side of the Jordan because there was excellent pasture for their cattle (Deuteronomy 3:12-20; Joshua 1:12-15; 12:1-6).
Joshua gave them permission to remain as long as they sent their fighting men with the tribes who yet had to take Canaan, on the west side of Jordan. They followed Joshua’s guidelines but there were times when the tensions between those who lived on the east side of Jordan with those on the west grew.
On one occasion there was war between Ephraim a tribe that lived in Canaan, on the west side, and Jephthah and those of Manasseh in Gilead, on the east side. Jephthah and his army took the fords of the Jordan and killed 42,000 of the tribe of Ephraim. Ephraim had threatened Jephthah and Jephthah attacked them (Judges 12:1-6). How sad to see these devastating events take place between people. But all this is originally because of the breakdown between God and man.
If You Can’t Hear It’s Hard To Speak Jesus healed the deaf and dumb emphasizing the fact that if you can’t hear you can’t speak (7:33-35). he put his fingers in the man’s ears, then spit and touched his tongue. He looked up to heaven, sighed and said, be opened (7:34 AV/KJV). Jesus used the command to be open but not to be loosened. While this may seem to be a small detail I think the Lord emphasizes the importance of hearing well before speaking well. We people have problems hearing well. It is easier to speak than to hear.
A few scenes later we will note how people said so many things about Jesus, all of them ideas that were not totally accurate; but those who had walked with Jesus and had listened to and observed him well, would say he was the Messiah.
Jesus told them not to tell anyone what he had done but they did not listen (7:36, 37). They marveled at all he had done. The problem was they didn’t listen, the same problem the deaf and dumb man had had on a different level. We have a tendency to not listen and hear Jesus. We almost always want to blurt out on the spot whatever we think which is, often as not, inaccurate and inconvenient. When will we learn? The Lord has to do a work in us to get us to stop and listen, in order to be able to speak, as we should!
III. The Hungry, Wouldn’t Make It Back Home 8:1-10
Too Many To Feed Conventionally In the third scene we see Jesus helping the people survive physically. He ministered to their physical hunger and kept them from fainting on their way home. So as we look over the needs of these 3 sets of people we see spiritual, social and physical needs. All of these are true, significant, legitimate needs.
Again a crowd gathered and the Lord was concerned for the crowd because many had come from far away and had nothing to eat (8:1-3). If he sent them home they would faint on the way. The disciples did not know what to do because they were far too many to try to feed there in the desert (8:4, 5). Then the Lord asked them how many loaves they had, ... and they said, Seven (8:5 NAS95).
Jesus did a miracle giving food to 4000 men using only the seven loaves and a few fish (8:6, 7)! he was concerned about their physical need and performed a mighty sign to take care of their need.
Steps Jesus Took What were the steps he took? 1. 1. Jesus told them all to sit down on the ground. 2. 2. He took the seven loaves. 3. 3. He gave thanks for them. 4. 4. He broke the loaves. 5. 5. He gave the pieces to the disciples. 6. 6. The disciples served the crowd. 7. 7. Then he took the fish. 8. 8. He blessed them. 9. 9. He told his disciples to serve those.
Things To Learn What can we learn from Jesus?
1. 1. He was concerned about the genuine physical need of the people. 2. 2. He used what little he had to feed them. 3. 3. He gave thanks for what was available. 4. 4. He broke what he had. 5. 5. He gave the disciples the opportunity to help. 6. 6. He told the disciples to serve.
Principles For Ministry Here we have some principles for the ministry:
1. Be sensitive to the needs of the people whether physical, social or spiritual.
2. Use what God has given us in order to minister. How good it is to know that we can pray for others! We can invite people to meetings of our church! We can tell people about Jesus! We can care for people when they are sick, taking them meals, for example. We can help them with practical jobs around the house or yard. In those places where there are hardly any hospitals or medical personnel we can send them teams of medical personnel. Others are taking Bibles, educational books, and have even established schools, universities, and hospitals. How good it is to know that Jesus gave what he had, eventually even giving his own body on the cross!
3. Give thanks for what God has provided even when it seems to be small, as in the case of the 7 loaves and a few fishes that Jesus used that day to feed all those people. The Scriptures exhort us to be thankful in all things (Philippians 4:6). Woe to the ministers and workers who forget to give thanks to the Lord for what can be done, in the midst of the huge needs of hunger, sickness, war and unreached millions who do not know the gospel. They will simply wear themselves out and become frustrated, even cynical, towards the service they are giving to their fellow human beings because the need seems endless.
4. Share with others what is available. When we share the Lord can cause each to receive what is necessary. When we share the gospel it is wonderful to know that this message will never run out! We can share the gospel many times and know it will never run out! There is enough for everyone. The gospel is not simply what you share the first time with another person. If that person receives the Lord they can go on feeding on the gospel because there is so much to feed on. What the Bible tells us about the gospel is never ending.
5. Give space to others so they can help in the ministry, whether it is the preaching of the gospel or the supply of physical needs. How good to know that all of us as disciples can participate in the ministry the Lord gives us on behalf of others. Brother, sister, don’t try to do it all. Give others an opportunity.
6. Make sure you really do some work. The people did not rise to serve the disciples that day when they were fed by Jesus. No, the people sat down on the ground. The disciples rose to serve. They had to work! Speaking of work, imagine what the miracle of breaking the bread meant to Jesus’ hands! Breaking bread for over 4000 people would wear out his hands and fingers and eventually cause pain. How could he have done it? This was a small miracle in itself! Do repetitious jobs wear you out? Breaking bread with his hands and fingers for over 4000 would have worn him out.
They ate and were satisfied, and they collected seven basketfuls of the pieces left over (8:8).
The Resources Of God They ate and were satisfied. This ministry had results. It was not just words but action we see here. Let’s be careful not to spend our lives talking about nice things without actually doing anything concrete. But let’s keep in mind those who work in really difficult places. My parents healed many people physically by the medicines they distributed in rural Africa, but, as far as we know, very few received Jesus as Savior in their area. (In August 2004, we received a report from a someone traveling through the town in which they lived, that there are believers in the area, but many may be from other parts of the country.)
There was food left over. I think of the resources of God. They do not bottom out. It is a shame that in this world of sin and confusion many resources do not reach the needy. As I said before, the gospel never 'runs out' but sometimes there does not seem to be enough workers to share it with those who have not heard. Let’s make a greater effort to take the gospel to the whole world.
Alter feeding the 4000 Jesus sent the people away, got into a boat and went to the area of Dalmanutha (8:9, 10).
IV. The Religious, The Non Needy 8:11-13
A Terrible Contrast By contrast the Pharisees come asking for a sign from heaven. They did not come sensing a need and asking Jesus for help. That would have implied some dependence on him! That would be a blow to their pride. No, they saw themselves as Jesus’ judges -- not vice versa. They came to test him.
Jesus had done many wonderful things for people in need. Could these Pharisees not simply observe as he ministered on behalf of others? No, they weren’t really interested in his ministry to needy people. They were more inclined to test him and disprove him, in an effort to destroy his credibility.
Jesus helped the needy, the spiritually oppressed, the socially limited and the physically endangered. As his ministers we can do the same.
What The Bible Says About The Needy In Galatians 2: 9, 10, the apostle Paul writes, They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews. All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor. The very thing I was eager to do …(NIV). I have highlighted 2 words in this reference in Galatians. They both represent the needy, the Gentiles and the poor.
The Gentiles were needy spiritually. They were far from the blessings and promises God had given to the Jews through Abraham and the forefathers.
A Perfect Case In Point The Greek woman was a perfect case in point. She had several things against her: 1) 1. She was a Gentile 2) 2. She was a woman 3) 3. She may have been a single parent, no husband is mentioned, maybe widowed, divorced, or never married 4) 4. She pleaded for a daughter, not a son 5) 5. Her daughter had a demon
As far as the Jewish law and strict religious regulations were concerned, she could not have been worse off! She was in a pickle! Of what good would it be for her to go to a Jewish prophet!?
A Perfect Case In Point But Different Maybe the woman had been convinced about Jesus when reports had come to her from Galilee. According to chapter 3:7-12 people had crowed to Jesus from many areas including Tyre and Sidon. He had taught, healed and cast out demons who cried out, “You are the Son of God!” Surely she had heard the news and believed. He had helped and she believed. He had helped Jew and Gentile. He was the Son of God! Demons were not Jews or Gentiles. When demons said Jesus was the Son of God, they were talking about the Son of the Supreme Spirit, the Supreme God, and the One who ruled over all.
She wasn’t coming to just another prophet, even another Jewish prophet. She was coming to the Son of God.
How Are People Blessed Who Are So Far From God? While Jesus came in secret to Tyre, and even put her off by saying the children should be fed first, she persevered! She understood more that others did. Her need drove her to Jesus. In her need she was humbled; she persevered; she understood. Why do some people who are apparently far from God come to him and are blessed while others apparently close to Him, who are religious, seem to 'bounce off' God? These religious people were not 'blessed' with need, so were not driven to Jesus for help. The religious felt self sufficient.
Looking For Answers In the reference in Galatians 2:9, 10, I also highlighted the word poor. Often they recognize their need because of their physical and material need. They have much less to care for and worry about in the sense of protecting possessions. They are looking for answers and sometimes in the end find deeper spiritual answers. Don’t despise the poor in your ministry. Seek to help them and be good to them. Share the good news with them.
Proverbs 14:21 …blessed is he who is kind to the needy (NIV).
Proverbs 14:31 he who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God (NIV).
Proverbs 31:20 says something else about the wife of noble character, She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy (NIV).
In Matthew 6:2 Jesus assumes that we will give to the needy, by saying, When you give to the poor…(NIV).
Besides when we begin to face our own needs isn’t it wonderful to know Philippians 4:19, God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus NIV).
Jesus was commissioned to preach good news to the poor (Isaiah 61:1). He told John’s disciples to let John know of his miracles and that good news was preached to the poor (Matthew 11:5).
Why did Jesus come from Heaven? Why did he come to us? He saw us in our desperate need, in our needs – spiritual, social and physical. He didn’t just give us handouts at a distance. For a time he lived in our world, in the midst of the spiritual, social and physical pressures. Paul describes Jesus’ action beautifully in 2 Corinthians 8:9, For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich (NKJV).
Unable To See One’s Own Neediness Were the Pharisees without need? No, but they could not see it. They didn’t feel need. They couldn’t see their need for their pride. They were the neediest of all but couldn’t see their need, couldn’t feel it. The needy who knew they were needy, went away blessed. The Pharisees received nothing.
Alter seeing Jesus do such great things for people it is a shock to hear the Pharisees arguing with him, and on top of all that, ask him for a sign from heaven (8:11). We cry, “Hey man, open your eyes! He has just fed over 4000 people with seven loaves and a few small fishes! Where have you been these days? Haven’t you heard of the woman he cured of incurable disease? Haven’t they told you about the little girl he raised from the dead? Don’t you know it is not the first time he has fed thousands? Are you blind? What is wrong with you? What planet do you live on?
At the demand of the Pharisees, Jesus had the same reaction any normal human being would have; he sighed deeply in his spirit (8:12). Brother, sister, you would have done the same! What else did Jesus have to do in order for these religious people to believe? There are those who see God’s marvelous creation day after day, have heard what the prophets did, what Jesus did, what the apostles did and what Jesus’ faithful followers have done, and yet they still do not believe. They have been blinded by the devil and hardened by sin, becoming cynics in heart and mind. What a shame!
The sad thing about this is that those who lead this group of cynics and detractors may be religious leaders. If only all the pulpits in the world were full of preachers who loved the Lord Jesus with all their hearts, people of prayer, love and exemplary good works! I am not saying perfect people but those who repent when they sin and keep coming back to the Lord for renewal and strength to go on.
Jesus answered the Pharisees and asked them why they demanded a sign. Jesus had done so many signs that there was no need for another. Furthermore he did not do signs “just because”, as we used to say when we were young, just to satisfy someone’s curiosity. Jesus did not come to set up an impressive circus so that all would stand around with their mouths open! No, no, no, he came to deal with the needs of people, especially those who recognized their need.
The Pharisees did not come looking for a sign out of personal need and therefore he would not give a sign to this generation of people. Their kind did not deserve a sign!
So Jesus left the Pharisees, entered a boat and crossed to the other side (8:13). He did not want to be with people who were curious or challenging his authority but with those who recognized their need and asked for his help.
At the same time let’s not think Jesus could not save a Pharisee. Do you remember Saul of Tarsus, a Pharisee of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews, who was greatly advancing in his religion? He came to understand who Jesus was and after that considered as garbage all the advantages he had had in his religion, in order to gain Christ (Philippians 3:8).
In Whose Shoes Are We Standing? But aren’t many of us standing in the shoes of the Pharisees? We have a few bumps and warts in our lives but nothing extreme. We are doing okay, more or less. Nothing like demon possession; nothing like being deaf and dumb; nothing like fainting of hunger is our lot in life. We haven’t felt the crunch of the extreme.
So we 'bounce along life’s road' ignoring Jesus’ help.
Let’s recognize our need. As sinners we need the Savior. As believers, as disciples, we can do nothing without Him (John 15:5).
As ministers of the good news of Jesus let’s remember that some will recognize their need and others will not. They think they are okay. Don’t give up! There are people out there who know they are needy and will turn to the Lord and be saved.
But let’s look at the advocates of these needy people. The first advocate was a mother; the second acquaintances, maybe family amongst them, for the deaf mute; and in the third case, Jesus himself when he spoke to his disciples on behalf of the hungry crowds.
You may someday find yourself in the roll of an advocate for needy people. Remember, Jesus himself was an advocate for the hungry crowds and even now he is our advocate in heaven (Romans 8:34; 1 John 2:1).
JESUS CAME FOR THE NEEDY. ARE WE AMONGST THE NEEDY OR THE CURIOUS?LET US ADMIT OUR NEED TO HIM AND HE WILL HELP US.
Let’s Review Nine lessons: 1) 1. Jesus listened to the needy that came to Him. 2) 2. Jesus helped people with different needs spiritual, social and material or physical. 3) 3. He also helped people from widely varying backgrounds. 4) 4. Jesus was an advocate for the needy. 5) 5. Jesus refused those who asked for signs, who asked not out of personal need, but in order to test him. 6) 6. We are to be concerned for the needy. 7) 7. We should recognize our own need. 8) 8. We should be willing to be advocates for the needy. 9) 9. We should help the needy.
Questions to aid in the study of this section, Mark 7:24-8:13
1. Just how desperate was the Syrian Phoenician woman? Make a list of needs and prejudices she would face with the typical religious teacher. How was Jesus unique in his treatment of her? 2. What did the deaf and mute man need in order to speak well, or even speak at all? 3. What was Jesus main and original concern for the crowd that gathered around him in the desert? 4. In the attitudes and actions displayed by Jesus in the feeding of the crowd what principles do we find here for our own ministries? Give two or three. 5. Have you fallen into the trap of not seeing your own needs? Have you sensed great need spiritually and morally on a regular basis or do you feel self sufficient most of the time? How can we avoid the pitfall of rejecting Jesus’ help because we feel so little need? 6. Jesus reached out to needy people. How are you, your church, ministry team or even your business reaching out to needy people?
©Copyright 2006-2046 John (Jack) W Rendel. All rights reserved.
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