Transfiguration Part II

30. January 2009 by Bernice Davis.

Hello:

 

We are still on our same text from yesterday which covers the transfiguration of Jesus.  If you are just joining us today, please review yesterday’s note to catch up.

 

Here is the text for your review:

 

Matthew 17:1 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. 4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters–one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. 9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” 10 The disciples asked him, “Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?” 11 Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. 12 But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist. standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

 Yesterday, we focused on the audience that witnessed this event.   If you have been following this daily devotional then you know that this event took place shortly after Peter reveals to Jesus that he knows that he is the Christ, the son of the Living God.  Jesus responds by saying that flesh and blood could not have revealed this to you but my father which is in heaven.  How powerful it is now that Peter gets to witness Jesus in his glory. 

If you remember from yesterday, the word transfiguration comes from the Greek word that we get metamorphosis from and it means to be changed into another form or for the outside to reflect the identity of what is really within.    Jesus is revealed in his glory as the very God himself.   How powerful and glorious that moment must have been.    

Moses and Elijah are both there talking with him.   Moses is accredited by the Jews to have written the first five books of the bible which is called the Torah.  The Jews considered the Torah to be the most important literature in the bible following the prophets.   Elijah represents the prophetic and the one God used to call his people back into obedience.   

 Peter is frightened by the event and doesn’t know what to say.   He suggest that they build an alter there for Elijah, Moses and Jesus.   It was customary in the ancient world that when a miraculous event took place that the person that experienced would build an alter as a memorial.   As Peter is talking a cloud from heaven enveloped them with the voice of God saying that: “this is my Son, who I am well pleased, Listen to him.”

Peter, James, and John fell facedown to the ground terrified and Jesus touches them to tell them don’t be afraid.  When they look up, they see no one except Jesus.   As they head down the mountain Jesus charges them to tell no one of what they had seen until after the resurrection. 

 The disciples then ask Jesus about the prophecy that Elijah must come first before the coming of the Messiah.  Jesus responds and says that Elijah did come first but they did not recognize him yet did whatever they wanted to him and so Jesus announced that he too would suffer.   The disciples understood that Jesus was talking about John the Baptist. 

Monday, we will discuss what John the Baptist had to say when they asked him was he Elijah.  It is very interesting. 

 

Stay encouraged!!!!!!!!!

 

Jesus is enough!!!!!!!!   God will meet our needs!!!!!!!!

See you on Monday

 Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily. 

 

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His Transfiguration

29. January 2009 by Bernice Davis.

Hello:

 We are in Chapter 17.   Yeah!!!!!!!!  We are making progress.

Our study today deals with the “infamous” transfiguration of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

 

Here is the text:

 

Matthew 17:1 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. 4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters–one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. 9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” 10 The disciples asked him, “Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?” 11 Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. 12 But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist. standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

 For this spectacular event, you will notice that Jesus takes with him his inner circle that I have mentioned to you before; Peter, James, and John.  The word transfiguration means metamorphosis; the changing of one state into another.  The prefix meta means to change and morphe means form.  It also means to change the outside to match the inside and in the case of Jesus Christ we would be talking about his outside matching the glory that exist in his inside or his identify.    

The text teaches that his clothes were change whiter than any one on earth could whiten them and his face shone like the sun.   For the first time, his exterior state revealed the glory of his identify.   

This would also be the second time that we heard God’s voice attesting to the identity of Jesus.  The first account was at his baptism.  Let’s look at the audience.   It is composed of Peter, James, and John, Elijah, Moses, the voice of God and Jesus.    According to Deuteronomy 19:15 a matter must be established by two or three witnesses and Jesus takes three disciples with him to witness this marvelous event.    

 

Elijah was the prophet that appeared before Ahab and commanded according to the word of the Lord that there would be no rain.   Elijah was also known for calling the people back to God by his “infamous” scene of the “showdown at

Mt. Carmel” where he challenged the prophets of Baal to determine who the true God really was.    The challenge was to see which God would consume the sacrifice on the alter with fire.  Of course, the prophets of Baal failed and God consumed the sacrifice even after Elijah had poured water on it.   Elijah also was used to mentor the prophets of the Old Testament and he was considered one of the most prominent and powerful prophets that lived.   He passed on his anointing to his successor, Elisha.

 Moses represented the law.  He was called a friend of God.  He saw God face to face and God showed him his glory.   Tomorrow, we’ll study some more about this event.    

Stay encouraged!!!!!!!!! 

Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily. 

 

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The Plan of God

28. January 2009 by Bernice Davis.

Hello:

 

Our text for today is:

 Matthew 16:21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. 22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” 23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. 28 I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

  Our text today opens up with “from that time on” referring to the time following Peter’s revelation that Jesus was the Christ, the son of the Living God.   Jesus tells his disciples about the things that they were about to see him experience as he travels into

Jerusalem.  He talks about how he will suffer at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and teachers of the law and ultimately result in his death then resurrection. 

Peter is astonished by the news as any one would be who loves someone.  It is very difficult to hear in advance that someone is going to die.   I remember when my mom died a couple of years ago, she was trying to tell us that her time on this earth was over and that she felt she would be leaving us soon, but I would not listen and I would constantly say, “Momma, please…. You’re not dying; you’re going to be around a long time.”    In our text, Peter actually rebukes the Lord.  He actually reprimands Jesus for saying that he will suffer and ultimately die.  Jesus immediately attributes his actions to being influenced by Satan.    Jesus tells Peter that he does not have in mind the things of God but of men.   Peter is being selfish in his attempt to save Jesus’s life but Jesus says to save it would be in direct opposition to the plan of God.   

Sometimes there are difficult things that we have to accept and embrace in life but to have it any other way could possibly mean we are in opposition to the plan of God.   You may notice that I have this favorite saying which is;  “All is well, “Everything is Safe,  and Everything is as it should be.”   I believe that with all of my heart.  No matter what happens in life.  God knows.  God knew it was coming and God has a plan before it even came to get us through it.  The problem is that we aren’t privy to that information so we sometimes panic but we just have to trust him.  

 

During this economic challenge that our country is facing, please know that God knew it was coming and God has a plan to sustain us no matter what it looks like and no matter what we may or may not have lost already.   God promises that his people would be satisfied in the time of famine and restoration is so sweet………

 

Jesus then goes on to tell his disciples that if any man wants to hold on to his life and loves it more than the things of God then he will loose it.   Despite all the “New Age” and “Spiritualists” teachings, there is a destiny for our soul and those of us who are in Christ will live with him for ever and we will be rewarded according to our deeds.   That’s why the Apostle Paul writes “O death where is your sting and grave, where is your victory.”   In death, we live………..    How powerful….

 Stay encouraged!!!!!!!!! 

Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily. 

 

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Who Are You?

27. January 2009 by Bernice Davis.

Hello:

 

Our text today contains a very familiar passage and story in the life of the church.  It is the story where Jesus ask his disciples “whom do men say that he is” and only one (Peter) gives him the right answer.

 

Let’s look at the text:

 

Matthew 16:13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” 14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 ”But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.

 

 

After Jesus posed the question to his disciples concerning who people thought he was; here are the answers:

 

John the Baptist-    He was to come before the Christ and prepare the way for him according to the prophets.

 

Elijah- Malachi closes with the prediction that Elijah would come before the coming of Jesus Christ.

 

Jeremiah or one of the prophets.   This shows you their belief in possibly reincarnation.   They believed that he was one of the prophets returning.

 

There was no word out yet that he was really the Christ, the long awaited Messiah for the Jews and God’s son.  Jesus then turns to his disciples and asked them, “Who do you say I am?”  

 

Peter was the only one with the correct answer:  Peter says that you are the Christ, the son of the living God.  I have always loved that statement.  How powerful when we can say He is the Christ, the son of the living God.   Jesus turns to Peter and says that there is no one on this earth that could have told you that or given you that revelation.  He revealed to Peter that it came from God himself.   The scriptures teach that Jesus says that upon this rock, he will build his church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it and he gave Peter the power of binding and loosing. 

 

This actually designated a name change for Peter.  He will also be called Cephas in the scriptures which mean “the rock.”     Depending on your church tradition, some people teach that Peter was the rock that Jesus was building his church on and some traditions can established their history all the way back to the Apostle Peter.  As a matter of fact in the line of people that I was ordained from, I can actually trace my laying on of hands back to the Apostle Peter through the Episcopal Church. 

 

However, most scholars will concur that the rock that Jesus was referring to was the revelation that Jesus was the Christ, the son of the Living God and upon that fact was the church founded and established.

 

There is much debate as to what binding and loosing really means in the church world.  We actually will encounter this term in more detail later and we will discuss it in detail then.

 

Jesus closes with telling his disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

 

 

Stay encouraged and I’ll see you tomorrow.

 

 

God Bless.

 

Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily. 

 

 

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The Yeast of the Religious Leaders

26. January 2009 by Bernice Davis.

Hello:

I can’t tell you just how excited I am this morning.  I preached a message entitled “Believe” yesterday at church and I could literally feel God ministering to me personally as I preached.   Lately, I have been studying scriptures concerning “Believe” and “According to your Faith” and I am just blown away at what I am discovering in the scriptures.  It’s like I’m reading them for the first time yet it has always been there.    Ohhhh!!!!!  That is what I love about God’s word.  It’s always fresh and always on timely.

Okay, let’s move on to today’s study.  Our text for today is:

Matthew 16:5 When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread. 6 ”Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 7 They discussed this among themselves and said, “It is because we didn’t bring any bread.” 8 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, “You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? 9 Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 11 How is it you don’t understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 12 Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Our text opens with Jesus warning the disciples about the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.    Jesus was using a metaphor to make a point about the dangerous doctrines and teachings of the “religious leaders” and because the disciples had forgot to bring bread on their journey; they immediately thought that Jesus was commenting concerning their failure to bring the bread. 

Jesus instantly says to them; “ O ye of little faith”, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you brought no bread.   Don’t you get it yet?   Do you still fail to understand?   How quickly had they forget about the feeding of the five thousand with five loaves of bread and the feeding of the four thousand with seven loaves of bread and how much they had to gather after they were fed.   I was asked when we did the story on the feeding of the four thousand with the seven loaves of bread concerning how they had always heard that it was five loaves and five thousand people.  It actually was both.  The feeding of the multitude with the loaves of bread happened on two separate occasions in the scripture.   Actually, this is one of the miracles where Jesus had to withdraw from the people because they desired to make him king not because they believed that he was necessarily the Messiah but because of his ability to take care of their physical needs. 

As I am sitting here writing this devotional, I think about me personally and my journey with God.  How often have I  seen God move time and time and time again in my  life and yet when a matter arises, I have had moments where I still feel that God may not come through for me.   I have learned that sometimes my fear has not necessarily been that God will not come through but that God will not do it the way I want it to be done and I was scared of what I might how to go through. 

We say that we trust God, but I am learning for the first time in my life to really trust him.   Whatever happens, I must accept that it is the sovereign will of God and that God really does know best and I can rest in any situation because I really am learning to trust him.  The Apostle Paul puts it best when he penned:  Philippians 4: 11b.. for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

This text closes with them finally understanding that he was not talking about the yeast in bread but the teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Let me encourage all of us that whatever word we get no matter who it is from including me.  Let’s search the scriptures to see if it be so as Paul commended the Berean church for doing.   We must take responsiblity for our own spiritual walk and we have an obligation to verify all things that are being taught to us.  

Any leader who is responsible and serious about the welfare of thier members would encourage as the Apostle Paul did to verify and search the scriptures  for yourself to make sure you are being taught correctly. 

Stay encouraged!!!!!!! 

Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily. 

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A Sign

23. January 2009 by Bernice Davis.

Hello: 

For the past couple of days (as you probably noticed), the server has been down on my site.  They promised that it would be back up on the same day it went out but all they would tell me is that they are experiencing “technical difficulties.”  Thanks for all the emails expressing your concern but Yes, everything was okay and I am fine.  

 

Today we are in the 16^th chapter of Matthew.  We are making progress.

 

Here is the text:

 

1 The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven. 2 He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ 3 and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. 4 A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them and went away.

 

Our text opens up with the two dominant religious groups that existed during the time of Jesus.   The Pharisees and Sadducees were at odds within their theological beliefs yet they were unified with their desire to get rid of Jesus.   Jesus was a threat to the hypocrisy and pride of the Pharisees and the theological beliefs of the Sadducees.   Both parties opposed each other but came together because Jesus was a greater threat to their doctrines, belief systems and way of life than each other.

 

The text opens with they came to test him.  In others words, they came to trap him.  They were not interested in learning from Jesus or being convinced that he was the Messiah.  They were trying to gather some type of evidence to proclaim that he was a false prophet.   The test was to show them a sign from heaven.   In the Old Testament scriptures, they were used to the stories of the miraculous signs to demonstrate the power of God such as the burning bush, the ten commandments being carved by the finger of God,  Elisha and the prophets of Baal,  the fire coming down from heaven to consume the alter, etc. 

 

Jesus had already given them numerous signs. The lame walked, the sick were healed, demons were cast out and sins were being forgiven.  No man could do the things that Jesus was doing which meant it only could have been attributed to God.  

 The test was if Jesus had called down some miraculous event from heaven, they would have identified him with the devil as they did on other occasions when he demonstrated his power.  If he did nothing then they would have argued that he has not the power to issue a sign from heaven and declare him a mere man.  

I love the way Jesus would respond each time that they attempted to test them.  He always put it back on them.  He said , “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.    

 

With all their “spiritual” knowledge, He spoke to their inability to discern and interpret the signs of the times.   Oh!!!!!  Jesus was just so masterful with his answers. Jesus goes on to say that “ A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them and went away.”

 

When we are wicked and adulterous, we look for a miraculous sign because we can’t discern what God is already doing in the land because we are distracted by our wickedness and making other things our Gods.   God often referred to his people that sought after and worship foreign gods as adulterous. 

 

Jesus explains that the only sign given will be that of Jonah.  We actually covered that story before earlier in Matthew when Jesus first referenced it so I want include it today.   We know that Jonah was called to preach to the Niniahvites and he refused and ended up in the belly of the whale for three days and three nights.

 Have a great weekend! 

Stay encouraged!!!!!!! 

Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily. 

 

 

 

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Changing of the Guards

20. January 2009 by Bernice Davis.

 I am pretty sure that nobody is tuning in to me today.   As with people all over the world, I have been glued to the TV.  I have been crying like a baby at some points.   OH!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Well, just incase somebody took a break, as I am now to check my emails, I thought I would just give a quick “shout out. ”  See you tomorrow as we continue our study on the book of Matthew.

Bernice

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King Holiday

19. January 2009 by Bernice Davis.

Good Morning:

Those of you who follow my daily (M-F) devotional know that I don’t post on Holidays.   I forget to remind you of that on last Friday that I would not be posting today so I decided to just say Have a wonderful holiday for those of you that are off.  Most of the people including some of my staff is DC bound for  the inauguration .   It was powerful watching the historical footage of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. this weekend alongside footage of  our soon to be President Barack Obama. 

 I have been glued to the TV watching all the events leading up to the inauguration.  To all my  friends abroad I know this is not a holiday for you but America is celebrating “A New Day.”    “A New Season”   “The Changing of the Guards.”

 Be Blessed All

I’ll see you tomorrow.

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Compassion for the Multitude

16. January 2009 by Bernice Davis.

Hello: 

 

Our lesson today holds another familiar and famous story in the life of the church.

 

Here is the text:

 

Matthew 15:29 Jesus left there and went along the

Sea of Galilee. Then he went up on a mountainside and sat down. 30 Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them. 31 The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel. 32 Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.” 33 His disciples answered, “Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?” 34 ”How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. “Seven,” they replied, “and a few small fish.” 35 He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. 36 Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people. 37 They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 38 The number of those who ate was four thousand, besides women and children. 39 After Jesus had sent the crowd away, he got into the boat and went to the vicinity of Magadan.

 

The text is pretty much self explanatory.  What I would like to reinforce is the theme of Matthew.  When we started this study we talked about Matthew’s goal and audience.  The theme of the gospel of Matthew is to present Jesus as the long awaited Messiah.   Matthew was written to a Jewish audience.  Many of the statements and traditions in Matthew are written specifically to the Jews which is why I always explain to you the history of those statements since we are non-Jewish. 

 

Matthew demonstrates that Jesus is the Messiah through the opening chapter of Matthew which is a genealogy tracing him through the promised line of David, through his teachings, his miracles and his ability to forgive sins. 

 

You may have noticed that we have been going through a series of the miracles of Jesus.  

 

This particular example is the feeding of the multitude.   Jesus had left and went to a mountainside by the

Sea of Galilee and great crowds came to him for healing.  Evidently, these healing services lasted for three days, for Jesus is ready to end it and he now has compassion on the multitude because they had stayed with him over the course of the three days.  Jesus did not want to send them on their journey home without food yet they collapse from hunger and it was a remote place where there was no where to purchase food. 

 Jesus takes the seven loaves of bread that the disciples have and the few fish and he sits the multitude down and multiples the loaves and fishes so that there is more than enough and leftovers. 

The text says that the amount of people were four thousand besides women and children.  This means that the count of four thousand only included the men, so technically this was way over four thousand possibly as much as 20,000 including women and children according to some scholars.

 

Well, another week into this fabulous New Year has passed and I hope we are making progress.   Remember, if you’ve already stumbled and strayed from your goals just pick yourself up and start over.  A part of being Successful is learning from your failures and never giving up.

 Enjoy your weekend.  See ya on Monday.   

Stay encouraged!!!!!!! 

Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily. 

 

 

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Worship

15. January 2009 by Bernice Davis.

Hello: 

Okay, I must be overwhelmed already.  I have got to slow down and it’s just 15 days into the New Year.  Do you know that I honestly thought I did a posting on yesterday?  It was late last night before I realized that I had not done my daily devotional.   I normally get a lot of emails responding to my daily devotionals and at night, I settle down and try to answer as many questions as I can from the emails and when I did not get any concerning yesterday’s post, I was wondering what was wrong.  I do apologize.  I have no idea what happened.  I had an extremely busy day yesterday but no different than other days.   Uhmmmmm!!!!!!!!!   I’ll do better. 

Our lesson today holds one of my favorite stories in the bible.  It is the story about the Canaanite woman who comes to Jesus on behalf of her child.   Here is the text:

 

Matthew 15: 21 Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and

Sidon. 22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. 23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. 24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of

Israel. 25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. 26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs. 27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. 28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

 

This story is told also in Mark and has more details.  I always like to read every remote (where the story is repeated in another source) context because it gives you the entire picture.

 

The text starts off that when Jesus went thence.  If you remember from day before yesterday (lol) then you know that Jesus is leaving from the discussion about the “religious leaders” questioning him about the washing of hands by the disciples and accusing him of being in violation of the “tradition of the elders.”

 

Jesus leaves this discussion and after seeing such a display of hypocrisy (Performances, acting, productions)  in the house of God and among the “religious leaders,” he escapes to the coasts of Tyre and

Sidon.  When Mark tells this story it actually says that he enters into a house and desires that no one would know it.  Jesus is trying to get some private time.   He has been frustrated at a people that in vain do worship him declaring worship with their lips yet their hearts are far from him.

 Out of the coasts, comes this woman.  I love it.  I always say when a woman wants to find a man, she can.   Jesus tried to hid away, but this woman desperate for a healing for her child finds him. 

The bible says that she cries unto him and says; “Have mercy on me, my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.   There are a couple of things that I want to point out here.   First the mercy presupposes guilt.  You don’t need mercy unless you know that you are guilty.  Have you ever been in court or listen to court cases on TV and you will hear the guilty person say to the judge that “I fall at the mercy of the court.”  In other words, I know that I am guilty but can you please show kindness or leniency concerning the sentencing.  

 This woman comes with a broken spirit and a humble heart and admits guilt and appeals for mercy from the Lord.    The text says that she cries out.  This phrase “cries out” is a continuous action.    This is not a one time event but a constant cry.  So basically she is running behind Jesus crying and Jesus is not answering or acknowledging her at all.  Her crying after Jesus is so annoying that the disciples finally beg Jesus to send her away for her crying.  Sometimes, I can envision the “what appears to be” heartlessness of this situation.  This woman is hurting and coming not on behalf of herself but her daughter and the disciples show no compassion at all but are simply frustrated at her constant requests and now consider her appeal to be aggravating.   In their defense, this was a Gentile woman and the Jews had no dealings with the Gentiles and considered them to be unworthy of any promises from God. 

Now, Jesus still does not respond to this woman, but he does respond to his disciples concerns about her.   He tells his disciples the following:  “I am not sent but to the lost sheep of the “house of

Israel.”  In other words, “don’t worry” I understand that she is a Gentile and my mission is to the Jews.

 

Now, this is what is fascinating.   I love it.  It takes my breath away every time.     Jesus still has not addressed the woman and if you read it in its remote context, it is clear that he has not addressed the woman yet, the bible says the woman falls down and worship.   I told you.    I can’t take it.    SHE WORSHIPS…… and says, “Lord, help me.”    For the first time in our text, Jesus addresses her concerns.   He talks to her.    Her worship got an audience with him.  

WORSHIP………  IT GET’S THE ATTENTION OF GOD……  But look at what he says to her….. HE CALLS HER A DOG!!!!!!!!!   YEP!!!!!!!!!.   

Jesus says…..  It is not meet to take the children’s bread and to cast it to dogs.   In other words, I am here for the JEWS, (the Gentiles time was not yet) and to take away what belongs to them and give it to dogs would not be right.    In the ancient world, the Gentiles were commonly referred to as “dogs” by the Jews….  

 

WOW!!!!!!!  He’s talking but he called her a dog………   YEAH!!!!  But he’s talking.    It is often silence that we cannot take.   God, Just talk to me, whatever you call me, as long as I know I have your ear….. and worship opened this door.  

 The woman does not give up and answers him brilliantly…  She says….  “yet the dogs, eat from the crumbs that fall from the master’s table.”    All she needed was a crumb.   HOW PERFECT!   Her determination even when her opposition was Jesus.    

Jesus responded with HOW Great is your faith and granted her request and her daughter was healed.  

PLEASE,  LISTEN!!!!   Let’s now do a recap.   Jesus was escaping a people who in vain worshipped him.  He had not experienced true worship from his own people and he goes to get away and he encounters a Gentile woman who worships from the heart…   HOW POWERFUL!!!!!!! 

Worship…..  It takes you there.  It does open up doors and lines of communication with our Lord. 

WORSHIP!!!!!!!!!!  OH!!!!!!!!  I’m losing it.   I LOVE HIM SO!!!! 

Okay, enough…..  

Stay encouraged!!!!!!! 

Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily. 

 

 

 

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