Mark 7:24-37

Introduction

Mark has just dropped a theological bomb on his readers -- Jesus' teaching that defilement comes from within, from the heart of man. And Jesus' extensive list of "evil thoughts" which come from the human heart confronted everyone who heard him say those words. It confronted Mark's readers in Rome. And, last week, it confronted us.

We hear Jesus say, "From within, from the heart, come evil thoughts" (Mark 7:21). We nod our heads in agreement.

Yes, Jesus, it isn't about ceremony, but the heart.

But then, Jesus goes on. Sexual immorality...Theft...

Yes, Jesus, so true.

Murder...Adultery.

Wow, yeah, I agree.

Coveting...Wickedness...

OK. Got it, Jesus.

Deceit...Sensuality...

Got me, Jesus (nervous laughter).

Envy...Slander...

Is it getting hot in here? This is getting a bit intense, Jesus.

Pride...foolishness...all these things come from within, and they defile a person.

And, after Jesus is done speaking, we might be tempted to argue with him. We might object at being spoken to and about in that way. How can the human heart be this corrupt? Maybe some people have internal wiring capable of such evil, but not us!

But, as we will see today, though anyone can turn to Jesus, we must not argue with him. He does not release us from our captive hearts because of our merit, our goodness, or the sliver of our hearts that are pure and good. No! It is all grace. So we must agree with him.

As examples of this unmerited grace, Mark holds out two people, first a woman, then a man.

24 And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden. 25 But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. 26 Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter.

The Woman's Credentials

There are many details to this story that, though they might not immediately jump out at us, would've jumped out to the original audience. Think of it, Jesus has just been talking to the religious leaders about religious ceremonies designed to keep them religiously pure. And many of those ceremonies were designed with people like this woman in mind. To the scribes and Pharisees, even accidental interaction with someone like this woman would make one unclean.

Mark is careful to detail how she was an outsider in every way. She approaches Jesus, and Mark lists her lack of credentials to do so. She lived in the region of Tyre and Sidon (24). This is northwest of Capernaum, modern-day Lebanon. It was a place which, to the Jewish population, represented the most extreme versions of paganism. She was a woman in a culture that did not value women highly (25). She was a Gentile, outside the covenant of Israel (26). And she was a Syrophoenician by birth, meaning she had come from that non-Jewish, Gentile, outsider region (26).

The Woman's Situation

And the reason she came is heartbreaking. Here daughter had an unclean spirit (25). We don't know the details, but as a mother, she was finely tuned to her daughter's pains. Parenting can be a heart-rending experience, and this woman had been torn asunder by the pain her daughter endured. She begged Jesus to cast the demon out (26).

The New Jezebel?

And she isn't the first woman in Scripture to have come from this region. Historically, some of Israel's darkest hours were caused by a woman from there. King Ahab had married the daughter of the Sidonian king, a woman named Jezebel, who became infamous for her aggressive introduction of idolatry to Israel and her persecution of the Israelite prophets. So women from this region would've been regarded with suspicion.

All this might've programmed the disciples to expect this kind of stuff in Tyre and Sidon. I don't know how often, or if they'd ever ventured into this Gentile region. I'm sure they were shocked by Jesus' desire to go into a territory widely regarded as filled with great darkness. So when they heard this woman had a daughter with an unclean spirit, they might have thought, Just as we suspected. These people up here -- just terrible.

A Shocking Preview

For Peter, the source of Mark's material, this story was emblazoned on his heart, and I'm sure it came to his mind when, years later, he also went north into the home of a non-Jew to preach the gospel of Jesus.

Jesus' interaction with this woman was a sneak peek into his desire to be a blessing to all nations. God had promised Abraham, centuries earlier, that in him all the families of the earth would be blessed, and Jesus came to bring that multi-national blessing by his blood (Genesis 12:3). Our episodes today were a foretaste of his plan. Though the disciples didn't yet understand it, the Jewish Messiah is for everyone!

1. Anyone Can Partake Of Christ.

Who Might You Imagine Is Far From The Kingdom?

This should cause us to ask ourselves: who might I imagine is far from the kingdom? Who might you think is beyond the grace of God? Is it the person with political leanings opposite yours? Is it the person entrenched in a worldview dominated by the teaching of evolution? Is it the person walking in confusion regarding sexuality? Is it a person who looks unlike you?

Is it the person who, like this woman, lives in lands that are mysterious to you? Don't think that way, because God is on the move throughout the whole world.

  • In the Middle-East, which is home to our oldest churches, God is doing major work, even in countries closed off to the gospel. Some of our fastest growing and most persecuted churches can be found in the Middle-East.

  • In the first couple of centuries of the church, Christianity took root in places like Ethiopia, Egypt, Tunisia, the Sudan, and other parts of Africa. Today, over 60 percent of sub-Saharan Africa identifies as Christian. Some have estimated that by 2050, 40 percent of the world's Christians will be from that part of the world.

  • In India, Christianity is a religious minority but has appealed to a growing number, partly because it insists on the equal value and dignity of all humans. The gospel, which exalts human life, is a powerful message which confronts the caste system's vestiges, where untouchables are considered less than human.

  • And in China, conservative estimates from 2010 put the Christian population at 68 million. Some predict there will be more Christians in China than in the US by the year 2030.

    • (adapted from Rebecca McLaughlin's Confronting Christianity.)

Don't allow yourself to have a view of Christianity that confuses nationalism with biblical faith. The gospel of Jesus Christ is for the whole world. And the apocalyptic vision of Revelation is beautiful. We will sing a new song to Jesus:

Revelation 5:9 (ESV) — 9 "...You were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation..."

2. He Must Be Approached With Faith For Grace.

27 And he said to her, "Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." 28 But she answered him, "Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs." 29 And he said to her, "For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter." 30 And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.

A Controversial Statement

Jesus responded to the woman with one of his most offensive statements: "Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs" (27). They were not a society that loved dogs. In the Old Testament, dogs were often used to depict the unclean and unholy. They roamed the streets and ate garbage and roadkill. And Jewish culture at that time referred to the non-Jewish world as dogs. This is racially charged language.

So what did Jesus mean? How did she hear his words? Why did he say this?

A Hope-Filled Statement

There are some clues that Jesus was not trying to offend and obstruct the woman:

  • First, there's the nature of Jesus himself. He stepped out of heaven to save humanity. Looking back, we know this.
  • Second, the story ends with her daughter's deliverance, which helps us learn why Jesus went up to Tyre in the first place. The Father planned for him to serve this woman, not reject her.
  • Third, he did not use the Greek word describing the typical street dog, but little house dogs that would be loved as pets.
  • Fourth, he said, "Let the children be fed first," which gave her hope that another group would be fed second (27).
  • Fifth, in that era, Jews considered themselves God's children, while Gentiles were dogs, so Jesus is teaching the woman -- I must first go to the Jew, then, later, the non-Jew. This meaning is solidified by looking into Matthew's account of this story. He adds that Jesus said, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matthew 15:21).

As Paul said:

Romans 1:16 (ESV) — 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

So Jesus' statement to her was actually a hope-filled one. It was a hint of his glorious gospel of grace.

A Faith-Filled Statement

And her response was amazing: Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs (28). This was so. They didn't use napkins, but bread, in that culture. And any little house dogs around would gladly eat up the bread.

Notice what the woman is doing. She knows something the disciples still don't understand. She believes the kingdom will extend to all the nations and nationalities of the world, and she begs Jesus to let her taste the kingdom right now!

And Jesus loved her faith. He said: "For this statement (or confession) you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter" (29).

She Expected Grace

As I said earlier, our temptation is to argue with Jesus about the condition of the human heart. But Jesus finds no argument from this woman. She isn't offended by his words. She does not list her credentials. She does not see herself as worthy of his blessing.

Instead, she agrees with Jesus. She embraces his words.

What does she want? Grace. Favor from Christ that she cannot and does not deserve. Like Jacob in the Old Testament, she wrestled with God and received a blessing (Genesis 32:28). She tapped into the kingdom. She received treatment, not as a dog, but as a child. As a Gentile woman, she partook of the Jewish Messiah!

Anyone can partake of Christ, but everyone who does must come with an expectation of grace. If you come with demands built on your own worthiness, if you come with the thought you deserve his blessings, you will miss out. But if you come expecting, longing for, asking for, desiring, and pleading for an outpouring of his goodness, solely at the discretion of his marvelous grace, then get ready! Hold out your hands and take in his unmerited favor on your life! As the Psalms instruct, open your mouth wide because he will fill it (Psalm 81:10)!

3. He Unlocks Our Senses.

31 Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. 32 And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him.

This is our second story in a predominantly Gentile region. Here, Jesus goes through Sidon, perhaps on a brief missions tour, before heading to the region of the Decapolis (31). Once there, a group of people begged Jesus to lay his hand of healing on a man who was deaf and, therefore, could not speak (32).

33 And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. 34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, "Ephphatha," that is, "Be opened." 35 And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly.

A Unique Style Of Healing

If you are new to Jesus today, you might be wondering if this was his normal mode of healing. No, it wasn't. He healed in many different ways, and this healing was one of his most creative!

Why did Jesus heal the man this way? Why did he give him privacy? Why did he put his fingers in the man's ears? Why did he spit and touch the man's tongue? Why did he look up to heaven? Why sigh? Why say, in Aramaic, "Ephphatha" (or "be opened")?

Perhaps Jesus is only demonstrating the principle that you cannot put his methods in a box. Perhaps this is his way of keeping us dependent upon him, rather than dependent upon a method.

But I wonder if more is at play. Think about it. The man is deaf. He cannot hear. Nor can he speak.

And here comes Jesus, using exaggerated movements, a universal sign language to communicate to the man. He turned him aside privately, helping the man know he had Jesus' attention. He touched his ears and his mouth. He looked up to heaven, helping the man know where the healing would come from. He sighed, a symbol of grief for human brokenness, and one that the man could observe. And he said a word -- Ephphatha -- that would have been an easy one to lip read.

Released!

And the man was healed! His ears were opened and his tongue was released (35). Immediately, he could speak plainly (35).

The phrase "his tongue was released " could be translated "the chain of his tongue was broken." It was loosened. The word is most often used in the New Testament to describe prisoners that are set free. It is a word of liberation.

Jesus liberated the man from his speech impediment, from his inability to hear.

Jesus Unlocks Our Senses

Perhaps this story can serve as an illustration for us today. Anyone can partake of Christ. He is available for all. But, as we've seen in the woman's story, everyone must come expecting grace. Here, in this man's story, we learn it is Jesus who can unlock the dulled senses of humanity.

I mean, after looking into the human heart last week, we might be tempted to think there is no hope at all. How could anyone ever turn to Jesus? Our hearts are pinned to rebellion. But then Jesus comes along and touches this man, opening his ears and his mouth. He opened his senses, he gave him understanding, he set the captive free!

Our beloved Apostle Paul described his conversion as the moment God, who had set Paul apart from his birth, "was pleased to reveal his Son to" Paul (Galatians 1:15-16). The scales fell from his eyes. He could finally see!

And those of you who know Jesus today have had this experience. God unlocked your senses. You woke up. The light of Christ has shown on your heart!

2 Corinthians 4:6 (ESV) — 6 For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

4. He Is The Messianic Hope Of All Nations.

36 And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. 37 And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, "He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak."

The episode closes with Jesus, yet again, telling people to refrain from broadcasting all he'd done (36). His fame was becoming a hindrance to his ministry work. But it was also important for Jew and Gentile alike to know that signs and wonders are not the point of Jesus' work. He wanted people to wait until after the cross to talk about him because then they'd have a full gospel to declare.

They couldn't keep it in, however, and zealously proclaimed what Jesus had done.

Then, there is this beautiful summary statement from the crowd: "He has done all thing well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak" (37).

Tyre And Sidon: The Firstfruits Of The Kingdom Age

Now, let me conclude with one last point. In these episodes today, Jesus went to Tyre, Sidon, and the predominantly Gentile Decapolis. This is a foretaste of his work among the nations.

I think Mark wants us to see these stories as a glimpse of the future golden age of the kingdom because of something he said in verse 32. There, he said the man had a speech impediment. In the original Greek language, it is a very rare word. It's used only here and in the Greek version of Isaiah 35:6. That's it.

Because of this, it seems Mark is drawing our attention to Isaiah 35. Let's conclude by reading this passage together. It is about the future kingdom we will receive in Jesus. One day, after a period of Great Tribulation, Jesus will return and subdue the earth, restoring it to glory for a period of a thousand years. Just laws. Righteous leadership. Human flourishing.

Fulfilled Prophecies (Isaiah 35)

The Kingdom Of Peace Following Armageddon (Isaiah 35:1-2)

Isaiah 35 (NLT) — 1 Even the wilderness and desert will be glad in those days. The wasteland will rejoice and blossom with spring crocuses. 2 Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers and singing and joy! The deserts will become as green as the mountains of Lebanon, as lovely as Mount Carmel or the plain of Sharon. There the Lord will display his glory, the splendor of our God.

Keep Courage, The Lord Is Coming! (Isaiah 35:3-4)

3 With this news, strengthen those who have tired hands, and encourage those who have weak knees. 4 Say to those with fearful hearts, "Be strong, and do not fear, for your God is coming to destroy your enemies. He is coming to save you."

The Results Of Sin Removed By The Lord's Return (Isaiah 35:5-6)

5 And when he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind and unplug the ears of the deaf. 6 The lame will leap like a deer, and those who cannot speak [Mark's word] will sing for joy! Springs will gush forth in the wilderness, and streams will water the wasteland.

The Renewal Of The Earth (Isaiah 35:7-9)

7 The parched ground will become a pool, and springs of water will satisfy the thirsty land. Marsh grass and reeds and rushes will flourish where desert jackals once lived. 8 And a great road will go through that once deserted land. It will be named the Highway of Holiness. Evil-minded people will never travel on it. It will be only for those who walk in God's ways; fools will never walk there. 9 Lions will not lurk along its course, nor any other ferocious beasts. There will be no other dangers. Only the redeemed will walk on it.

Israel's Complete Restoration (Isaiah 35:10)

10 Those who have been ransomed by the Lord will return. They will enter Jerusalem singing, crowned with everlasting joy. Sorrow and mourning will disappear, and they will be filled with joy and gladness.

Conclusion

He Cannot (Should Not) Be Hidden

Our episodes today began with Jesus going to Tyre for a time of rest. Mark said Jesus could not be hidden (24). It was true that day in Tyre, but also true among the nations since that time. Jesus cannot be hidden. Jesus is the answer. Jesus is the one we need. Jesus is the one who will renew the earth!

Let us believe in him! Let us preach him!