Mark 7:24-30

Rachel Workman: ²⁴ Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre.^[g] 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. ²⁶ 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.”
²⁸ “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.” Jesus didn't even have to be present to cast out the demon. Just a word for Jesus and it was done. He is mighty. And he is enough. All we need from Jesus is a word.
³⁰ She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.

____________________________________________________________________________________

Allen Michaels:  ²⁴ 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. ²⁶ 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.” Jesus was saying that his first priority was to provide food for the children (teach his disciples), not to allow pets to interrupt the family meal.

²⁸ “Lord,” she replied, “even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” The woman did not try to argue. Using Jesus’ choice of imagery, she pointed out that she was willing to be considered an interruption as long as she could receive God’s healing for her daughter. Ironically, many Jews would lose God’s spiritual healing because they rejected Jesus, while many Gentiles, whom the Jews rejected, would find salvation because they recognized Jesus.

²⁹ Then he told her, “For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.” This miracle shows that Jesus’ power over demons is so great that he doesn’t need to be present physically in order to free someone. His power transcends and distance.

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

She began with a request and she ended on her knees in worshipful prayer to the living God. No one, whoever sought Jesus with faith, whether Jew or Gentile, was ever denied his help. We must always seek Jesus with expectant faith.

____________________________________________________________________________________

Tomorrow's reading for Mark 7:31-37 ³¹ Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis.^{[h] 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.
³³ 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!”). ³⁵ 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. ³⁷ People were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”