Head Scratcher — The Canaanite Woman - Friday
Today’s Verse
Matthew 15:28
Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly. (ESV)
As we close out the week, I cannot help but wonder what Jesus must have been thinking after His encounter with the Canaanite woman. After He ate dinner, lay His head down, and reflected on His day, do you think He thought it was a bittersweet kind of day? There were definitely some highs and lows. He had just journeyed from His own country, where He had been trying to convince His people and the religious leaders that He was the Messiah.
Instead of believing His words and having faith in Him, the Jewish people were constantly asking Him to prove Himself or demanding that He demonstrate His power; but here in Tyre, was this Gentile woman who had demonstrated she simply believed based on what she had heard about Him. She had professed that He was Lord, the Messiah, and that He could heal her daughter. Do you wonder if He thought of her as being fierce, tenacious, or even spunky? Certainly, she pleased Him by her faith. As for the Jewish people, and perhaps His disciples, well… I am sure He may have been a little sad, wishing they had the same fierce faith as this woman.
James Edwards wrote about this encounter and her faith. He said, “She (the Canaanite woman) appears to understand the purpose of Israel’s Messiah better than Israel does. Her pluck and persistence are a testimony to her trust in the sufficiency and surplus of Jesus.”
REFLECTION
Jesus loves when we seek Him out and ask for His help. What do you need to share with Jesus? Seek Him, ask Him for guidance, and He will help you. Pray this with me.
Lord, give us faith like the Canaanite woman. Help us to rely completely on You and not on ourselves. Help us to simply receive your free gift of grace today and believe that You will provide for us. We love you, Lord. Amen.