|
Sermon
of 08-10-02
Can You Pass The Test?
by Dr. David A. Farmer, pastor
Scripture - Matthew 15:28 (taken from the book Desire of Ages page 399 - 403 "Barriers Broken Down")
"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." Matt. 15:28
I once heard a story about a preacher who asked each of his members to bring a clear plastic bag and a sack of potatoes to church the next week. When the next week arrived they were then instructed that for every person they ever refused to forgive in their life they were to choose a potato and write on it the persons name and date the experience happened and place it in the plastic bag.
Some of the bags, as you can imagine, were quite heavy. After that instructed to carry this bag with them everywhere they went for one week. They were to place it beside their bed each night. Place it on their car seat when driving. And they were to place it next to their desk at work where everyone could see it. And if asked what the sack of potatoes was all about they were to tell them the entire story.
As you can imagine the hassle of lugging this extra weight around made it clear what an extra burden they were carrying spiritually. And also having to pay attention to the bag
all the time was an extra millstone around their neck. And above all, it was embarrassing having to explain it to others. As the week rolled on, the potatoes began to deteriorate into a nasty slime.
This story should be a great reminder to us for the price we have to pay for not forgiving others. Too often we think of forgiveness as a gift to the other person. But really it is for ourselves! So the next time you decide you can't forgive someone, ask yourself, isn't your bag heavy enough?
Friend can you pass the test of forgiveness this morning? Testing time. That is the subject of this morning sermon. Please return with me to Matthew 15:21-28.
These verses prove that Jesus knows the burden of every mother's heart. The people of this area were of the old Canaanite race. They were idolaters, and were despised and hated by the Jews. To this group of people belonged this woman who came to Jesus asking for help. As you read these verses, a person can almost feel her pain as she urges her case at the feet of Jesus.
She came to Jesus crying we find in verse 22; "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed" NKJ. Verse 23 says Jesus doesn't answer her. In fact, He appears to be avoiding her. But notice what the disciples say in verse 23:
"Send her away, for she cries out after us" NKJ.
Now take note in verse 24, Jesus doesn't give her a Bible Study. He simples says;
"I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel"
NKJ. But she came back and cried again in verse 25: "Lord, help me."
Jesus simple replied to her in verse 26: "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs" NKJ.
Now that answer would have would have probably discouraged most people. But this woman probably thought that this was her only opportunity to receive help. So she replies in verse 27;
"True Lord, yet even the little dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table."
This woman knew that even a family dog was not left unfed. It was the custom in those days that a dog could eat the crumbs that fall from the family table. Jesus closes the conversation with theses words found in verse 28;
"O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt."
Now I want to ask you a question and I want you to be completely honest with your answer. How many think Jesus is being a little rude with this woman? Yea, from our human viewpoint it appears that Jesus was a little impolite with how He talks to this woman. Let me explain what I see happening in these verses.
To me Jesus is showing His ability of how to handle different situations. How to deal with different people. See, it's not only the woman Jesus is trying to teach a lesson too. He is also trying to teach His disciples a lesson in working with non-Jews.
Always remember that throughout the 4 Gospels, Jesus was always trying to teach His disciples a lesson in something. For example; Jesus once told His disciples to feed a huge crowd of people when they didn't have but a small portion of food. Why? To test their faith in Him. Another time He has them enter a boat when a storm was headed their way. Why? Again to test their faith in Him. Over and over Jesus try's to teach His disciples a lesson in faith. And yet over and over they failed their test. And this experience with Jesus I see as a test to both this Canaanite woman and the Lord's disciples. Before we are though this morning I hope to show you who aces their test and who fails.
Before I go any farther with this story I need to show you how the disciples see this Canaanite woman.
Turn back a few chapters to Matthew 11:21-22; "Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
V:22 But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you."
Verse 20 says that Jesus started denouncing different Israelite cities. He says that even the most wicked people you think you know would have repented and believed in Him if they had seen the same miracles they have seen. So, the disciples would have regarded this woman as the enemy. She was a member of the most spiritually degraded people they knew. And this upsets the disciples tremendously.
Then if that isn't bad enough, she calls Jesus "Lord" 3 times in our verses back in Matthew 15, please return with me. Again look at verse 23. Once more notice Jesus doesn't say a word. But this doesn't surprise the disciples. Not only was she a stranger; she was a woman. It was against rabbi laws to speak to women. Not only that, but she is a foreigner. So this doesn't surprise the disciple that Jesus appears to ignore her.
But what they didn't know was that Jesus was really watching them to see how they would react to His remaining quite. Jesus wanted to see if they understood that His mission was for Jews and Gentiles. For men and women. For the liked and disliked of the world.
But again listen to the disciple response in verse 23; "Send her away, for she cries out after us." Did you notice the "us"? That is a little flamboyant wouldn't you say? She wasn't talking to the disciples. She hadn't even acknowledged their presence. She wasn't talking to the disciples yet the disciples try to include themselves in Jesus' ministry. "Lord, she's bothering us so You send her away."
So in answer to the request of the disciples, Jesus says to the woman: "I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel" NKJ.
Friends, why would Jesus say this? In many other places in the Bible, Jesus makes it clear that He came to save the entire human race. So why does He say here, "the lost sheep of Israel?" It almost appears like Jesus is agreeing with His disciples. But please take note He doesn't send her away. He appears to agree with the disciples but He was actually watching to see if any of them would stand up for this woman. But none of them do. In fact, it's not until after Christ ascends to heaven before the disciples fully grasped the fact that God considers all men and women worthy to be saved. (See Acts 9:9-18, 32-35; 10:1-48; 15:1-29; Rom. 1:16; 9:24).
But the woman stands true to her faith that Jesus could heal her daughter. Jesus was her only hope. So verse 25 says she came over and worshipped Him. She probably fell to her knees and at the feet of Jesus, she utters a single human phrase. A cry from her soul that we probably all have uttered sometime in our life; "Lord help me."
By now the disciples are beyond themselves. Their theology taught them that this woman should be shunned, rejected, ignored, and turned away. So Jesus replied in verse 26:
"It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs"
NKJ.
How many here would have left at this time? She knew the Israelites believed that the Gentiles were less than dogs. In those days, dogs were considered by the Jews to be almost as unclean as a pig. It's as if Jesus gives voice to the disciples and the Jews of that day theology. But what I see Jesus doing is He hoped they would hear the ugliness of their theology.
You know, sometimes it's hard to swallow our unkindness to another when we see or hear it in its fullness. Jesus waits to see if one of the disciples will step out and say; "Wait a minute. Don't any of you hear the cry of this mothers daughter?" But not a one does. It's as if they can't see beyond their nose. They are so blind to the pain of another. They failed their test of faith this day. But there would be other tests. In fact many more would come their way.
This morning there may be someone here that Christ is giving a test of faith. It may be like the test the disciples where just given in our texts. Maybe the Lord wants to see how you see others. Do you see them as an outcast or as a child of God?
There maybe someone here that God is giving the test to see how you treat your spouse. Or maybe your wayward child. Maybe it's your neighbor. Or even someone here in church. They've hurt you. Disappointed you. So God may give you a test to see how you will react. Can you pass the test? Or will you fail the test like the disciples did here in our story? But Jesus' testing time isn't over.
The disciples failed but what about the woman? After Jesus said: "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs"
NKJ the woman could have run away like many of us probably would have done. She could have taken being called a little dog as an insult. But her love for her daughter and her faith in Jesus made her stay.
She says in verse 27; "True Lord, yet even the little dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table." She won't give up. You might see this as if Jesus is giving her an endurance test. The disciples were given a love test but this woman is given a test of endurance or patience. The disciples failed but what about her? Will she pass or fail too? Will she leave or stay?
Someone here this morning maybe facing the same test this woman is facing. You may be going through some hardship in life. You may be going through the pain of losing a loved one. Or maybe you lost your job. Whatever you maybe going through, Jesus may be testing you to see if you will stay or leave Him. He may even test you to see if you will stay even when you don't know why the test is coming your way. Stay even when there is no answer to your questions.
Do you remember the story in Genesis 32 where Jacob wrestled with God? Jacob would not give up. He would not let go until God had blessed him. Then God changed his name from Jacob to Israel. The name Israel means "one who wrestles with God" or "one prevails over God."
This woman in Matthew 15, we don't know her name. But she might be called Israel because she wrestles with Jesus and will not let Him go until He heals her daughter. Finally Jesus says in verse 28;
"O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt."
She had passed her test. Her endurance or patience test. And just like the nobleman's son in John 4:43-54, and the centurion's servant in Luke 7:1-10, the daughter of this Canaanite woman was healed.
The word here in Greek for "great" is the same word we get mega from. We have mega malls and mega churches. Jesus says, "woman, mega is your faith."
This woman who the disciples thought was from the bottom of the barrel in society, Jesus honors her.
If you are facing something bad this morning will you pass the test? Will you be honored like this woman? Or will your test have to come to you another day like the disciples did?
Only you can answer that question.
|
