Image: The Woman of Canaan by Michael Angelo Immenraet, 17th century
Why did Jesus to come to earth? We usually hear answers like, “to die for our sins,” or “so that he could live a life we could never live.” While these are right answers, his purposes are actually multi-facted. However, he has one message- all human beings, we who are far away from God, the marginalized, the unwelcome, are now welcome to come to the Father because of Jesus.
Not only that, but Jesus is God with us. Emmanuel. For all of us. He sees us and hears us. He came to look people in the eyes and to listen to them as well.
The passage I’m going to read is not a typical passage that people go to during Christmas. But I chose this passage because I think it the perfect passage to explain Jesus’ purpose.
The passages are Matt. 15:22-28 and Mark 7:24-30
In order to understand these particular passages, we need to talk about the context.
In the prior verses, Jesus was just rebuking the Pharisees who tried to condemn Jesus for his disciples not washing hands before eating.
To summarize his message, I’ll read Mark 7:
“This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines. You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition.”
I mean, if that doesn’t floor you and make you repent, what will? Straight from the mouth of Jesus.
After this encounter with the Pharisees who were Jews, Jesus travels to Gentile territory.
Matt. 15:22-28 22 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.” 23 Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.” 24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” 25 The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said. 26 He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” 27 “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” 28 Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment. Mark 7:24-30 24 Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre.[a] 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.” 30 She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.
As you can tell from the passages, Jesus was trying not to be noticed. In her desperation to get Jesus’ attention, this woman started shouting. She knew who Jesus is. She calls him, “Son of David,” which is another term for “Messiah.” She also might have heard Jesus’ power to heal the sick and free people from demons. At first Jesus does not pay attention to her. But she continues to shout and follow them to the extent that the disciples were begging Jesus to send her away.
Finally, Jesus turns his attention to the woman. What do you notice about Jesus’ answer? “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” Was Jesus being exclusive? In Jesus Through the Eyes of Women, Rebecca McLaughlin noted that Jesus already ministered to a gentile even before this event- the Roman Centurion. She posits that Jesus was giving the woman an opportunity to show her humble faith as a comparison to how the Jews are treating him. The Jews, like the Pharisees were missing the point. They were shunning Jesus away because of their own self-righteousness. They were trusting in their own selves. Jesus was already aware of her great faith, but he wanted everyone to notice what he was noticing in this woman.
My study Bible noted that this woman is doubly marginalized for being a woman and being Gentile. While she is in the margins, she is very aware of the hope that the Jews are awaiting and she believes that Jesus is that hope. See, the woman knew that she does not deserve Jesus’ attention because of her race, yet her faith was not only in Jesus’ ability to heal, but in Jesus’ mercy and grace. We see this in the response of woman to Jesus’ answer to her request. She appeals to Jesus mercy and begged him to give her the crumbs that the Jews are receiving in full. She is saying to Jesus that she is willing to receive even the crumbs – the crumbs that are reserved for dogs!
I came to the US with plans of going back to the Philippines. There are many people in the Philippines who need counseling and I was ready to answer the call. But God had other plans. I was confused at first. Why is God calling me to the people in the US? There are already so many resources here and isn’t America a Christian nation? It was not until I started serving in the churches here in the US when I realized that there are also many people here who needed Jesus. God redirected my heart from the Philippines, to the lost people immediately around me. As a counselor, I see people who are marginalized. Like the Syrophoenician woman, people who are just asking for some crumbs. People who are overlooked – not seen or heard. There are many people who are starving for the very thing that we as Christians posses. We have a seat at the table with Jesus with a full spread of spiritual blessings!
So my question for you is this: Are there people around you you do not naturally see or hear? Why is that?
Remember, Jesus also came for the people in the margins. We need to serve those who are overlooked. By overlooked I don’t just mean people who are too broken or too messed up. Or people you would never talk to because you have nobody in common with them. I’m also talking about those people who don’t seem to “need” Jesus. Those who look like they have everything figured out. Those people who are “religious,” but whose life do not reflect a life lived for Christ. It is easy to overlook people. When Jesus walked the earth, he looked the overlooked in the eye and invited them to eat with him. Jesus is God incarnate. GOD WITH US. His presence is important. While Jesus is back in heaven, we his children are his ambassadors to other Christians and those who do not know HIm. Therefore, we are called to do what Jesus did.
As a foreigner, I have experienced marginalization and subtle racism. After 7 years of living here, I still don’t feel at home. I miss my family, my friends, the places that I know. Living here in the US requires faith. People in the Philippines might think that life here in the US is easy. It might be easier, but life is till hard here.
Sometimes, we are the ones who aren’t seen or heard. Have you ever experienced not being seen or heard?
When we feel this, may we raise up our voices, but also look the hope of Jesus Christ. He has already accepted us into his fold. We are included in His family. And while in this world we will face injustices and sufferings, this Christmas may we celebrate the hope that is in Jesus. May we remember not only of his power to save us from our sins, but His mercy and grace for our everyday problems and issues. He came not only so we can go to heaven when we die, but so that we can have a relationship with him today.
Jesus, God with us. For all of us. This is the hope of Christmas.
Bethel Webb 