Pastor Cal Lord's Recent Sermons
Who Wants Leftovers
Mark 7:24-30 September 6, 2006
When I think of Jesus the words of the hymn, “Love Divine all Loves Excelling” comes to mind.
“Jesus thou art all compassion, pure unbounded love thou art. Visit us with thy salvation. Enter
every trembling heart.”
Jesus is the embodiment of love. At the heart of our faith and understanding is the fact that Jesus
loved us so much that he gave himself for us on the cross. He took our punishment, all the pain,
all the grief, so that we might be made right with God.
We see him laughing and playing with the children. We see him reaching out to lepers, the lame
and blind and embracing them in a way that was unheard of in his day. We see Jesus offering
forgiveness and new life to the sinner, to the adulterer, the drunkard and to the thief. When we
read the stories in the scriptures we come away with the hope that we can find acceptance,
forgiveness and love in him as well.
That’s why today’s story is a bit troubling. For Jesus seems to be acting out of character. We
see a side of him that is not as pretty as the one we have come to know and tell. As a matter of
fact, this is the only occasion in scripture where Jesus acts with as if he doesn’t care about
someone who has come begging for help.
Now we like to try and make sense out of things don’t we? We are very good at making up a
reason for the things that happen. Someone would be quick to suggest that Jesus was upset with
her. After all, he was trying to get away from the crowds and she invaded his personal space.
Someone else might suggest that Jesus is simply showing his human side and his weariness was
showing in a short temper. We know that feeling right?
If this was the 21st century, someone would be quick to point out that maybe Jesus was a bigot
and he was dumping on her because she was Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia, and a Gentile.
The truth is that none of these make much sense because in spite of the evidence, we know
Jesus. The scriptures paint an accurate picture of a man who had a heart for people. That is
what makes him so approachable. One look in his eyes and you can find welcome and
acceptance.
So what’s going on here? Let’s look at the text. Chapter seven begins with Jesus being
confronted by the Jewish leaders over the practices of his disciples. They accuse Jesus and his
followers of being unfaithful to the laws of God. Jesus goes right back at them and points out
how the Pharisees and Sadducees often set aside the law for their own purposes when it suits
them.
In the end Jesus is frustrated by the narrow mindedness of the religious leaders and we are told
that Jesus leaves them to get away and find some solitude.
Usually Jesus uses these opportunities to reconnect to God in prayer. Now it is important for us
to understand that on this particular occasion, the religious leaders were questioning Jesus’
orthodoxy. He was claiming to be the Messiah, the anointed one of God. And the Pharisees
looked at what he was doing and challenged him.
I don’t know about you, but when people have been critical of me, I sometimes sit down with
me, myself and God, and have a little heart to heart. I look at my motives and try to see if they
are clear. Jesus was growing in popularity among the common people and the accusations hit
close to home.
In Mark 6:35-44 we hear about the miracle of feeding the 5000 an event, which occurred just a
little while before our text. John records the same event with some added information. John 6:14-
15 says: “After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, “Surely this
is the Prophet who is to come into the world”. The crowds wanted Jesus as king because of
their view of the Messiah – the Messiah who in Jewish thinking is a powerful political leader and
a crusher of the Roman scourge.
What the Pharisees were questioning was whether or not Jesus was doing things to gain
popularity among his followers rather than to be faithful to God.
I think all of us who are in leadership in the church need to be careful of letting public opinion or
popularity guide us in the decisions we make. And Jesus was wise to pause and reflect on this.
He was fully human after all.
And it is at this exact moment that the Syrian Phoenician woman shows up, uninvited. And she
comes begging for Jesus to release her child from the possession of a demon.
I told you that I don’t believe in coincidences. So what is the likelihood that this woman shows
up to put Jesus to the test, when he is most vulnerable, when he is questioning his own motives?
If he heals her daughter he has just made another person happy and his fame will continue to
spread. She isn’t even a Jew, so that his appeal will also grow across cultures. It would be so
easy to simply do as she wanted.
I think this is where the hesitation comes in Jesus actions. He understands himself as the Messiah
for the Jews. Weren’t they his first priority? Wasn’t he the one to lead them back to God? His
saving grace, his healing touch was meant for chosen people. You can almost hear the Pharisees
taunting him in the background. Who are you here for? You look like you are trying to build a
coalition rather than to serve God.
And so Jesus uses a parable to talk about precious food, and how it should be used for the
children, the ones in need, the ones that we are responsible for. And he thinks out loud and
suggests that to give it to anyone else isn’t right.
But she comes right back at Jesus and speaks of crumbs and leftovers. She points out that it is
alright to serve the main course but then reminds him that there are others who are willing to
simply take the leftovers. That’s all she is asking for. She doesn’t want him to abandon his
purpose. She simply wants to share in what is left over.
You see this woman knew hardship. She understood what it was to lose hope and be desperate.
She is in the middle of a major crisis – her daughter is demon possessed. Mark 9 gives us a little
idea of the effects of demon possession. Mark 9:17 shows that the possessed person is robbed
of their ability to speak. Mark 9:18 describes possessed as those who would be thrown to the
ground with foam coming out of their mouth. Mark 9:22 reveals that a possessed person can be
thrown into fire or water in order to kill the body. But there is more to the issue then that –
demon possession means that sin and evil is in total control. She needed help and only Jesus
could do what she wanted.
So she went to him. Here is the truth. Even though she wasn’t a Jew, she sees who Jesus really
is. He is the Messiah who has compassion – compassion which she hopes will stretch beyond
the borders of Israel. He is not simply the hope of Israel but the hope of the whole wide world.
As Jesus hears her plea and sees her persistence, instances where God’s grace touched those
outside of Israel undoubtedly came to mind. Time and again non-Jews in the Old Testament
received an extra measure of this blessing which was promised through Abraham. There was
Ruth, Rahab, the widow of Zarephath, Naaman and others. All of these were recipients of
blessings from the hand of God, blessing which pointed to greater kingdom blessings to come. It
becomes quite clear in that moment that this is the basis on which the woman makes her plea.
She knows this request of hers is but a small crumb from the mighty table of the Lord
The faith of the woman displayed an astounding understanding of the work of Jesus. She really
understands who Jesus is and how He works. He is a compassionate Messiah who will respond
to those who come to Him in faith no matter what background they have.
That is the good news. We are the Gentiles who benefit from this woman’s persistent faith.
None of us are Jews, the people of the promise. We are the late comers, the dogs if you will. But
we are the dogs for whom Christ died so that the Spirit may come upon us as well. This marks a
true turning point in Jesus’ ministry and opened the door for Paul later on to reach out to people
like you and me.
And you know, leftovers aren’t that bad. Every year at the Annual Mother Daughter Banquet,
the men work diligently to serve up a great meal to the ladies. Then when all the serving is done,
they sneak back into the kitchen and load up on the leftovers. Let me tell you there is often more
turkey and stuffing and green beans and mashed potatoes ending up on the guys plates than even
touched the ladies plates. If you didn’t know any better, you would never know this was
leftovers.
That is exactly how the grace of God works. It is boundless and overflowing. So don’t be shy.
Reach out and ask God to lift your burden and give you his grace. Amen.
Mark 7:24-30 September 6, 2006
When I think of Jesus the words of the hymn, “Love Divine all Loves Excelling” comes to mind.
“Jesus thou art all compassion, pure unbounded love thou art. Visit us with thy salvation. Enter
every trembling heart.”
Jesus is the embodiment of love. At the heart of our faith and understanding is the fact that Jesus
loved us so much that he gave himself for us on the cross. He took our punishment, all the pain,
all the grief, so that we might be made right with God.
We see him laughing and playing with the children. We see him reaching out to lepers, the lame
and blind and embracing them in a way that was unheard of in his day. We see Jesus offering
forgiveness and new life to the sinner, to the adulterer, the drunkard and to the thief. When we
read the stories in the scriptures we come away with the hope that we can find acceptance,
forgiveness and love in him as well.
That’s why today’s story is a bit troubling. For Jesus seems to be acting out of character. We
see a side of him that is not as pretty as the one we have come to know and tell. As a matter of
fact, this is the only occasion in scripture where Jesus acts with as if he doesn’t care about
someone who has come begging for help.
Now we like to try and make sense out of things don’t we? We are very good at making up a
reason for the things that happen. Someone would be quick to suggest that Jesus was upset with
her. After all, he was trying to get away from the crowds and she invaded his personal space.
Someone else might suggest that Jesus is simply showing his human side and his weariness was
showing in a short temper. We know that feeling right?
If this was the 21st century, someone would be quick to point out that maybe Jesus was a bigot
and he was dumping on her because she was Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia, and a Gentile.
The truth is that none of these make much sense because in spite of the evidence, we know
Jesus. The scriptures paint an accurate picture of a man who had a heart for people. That is
what makes him so approachable. One look in his eyes and you can find welcome and
acceptance.
So what’s going on here? Let’s look at the text. Chapter seven begins with Jesus being
confronted by the Jewish leaders over the practices of his disciples. They accuse Jesus and his
followers of being unfaithful to the laws of God. Jesus goes right back at them and points out
how the Pharisees and Sadducees often set aside the law for their own purposes when it suits
them.
In the end Jesus is frustrated by the narrow mindedness of the religious leaders and we are told
that Jesus leaves them to get away and find some solitude.
Usually Jesus uses these opportunities to reconnect to God in prayer. Now it is important for us
to understand that on this particular occasion, the religious leaders were questioning Jesus’
orthodoxy. He was claiming to be the Messiah, the anointed one of God. And the Pharisees
looked at what he was doing and challenged him.
I don’t know about you, but when people have been critical of me, I sometimes sit down with
me, myself and God, and have a little heart to heart. I look at my motives and try to see if they
are clear. Jesus was growing in popularity among the common people and the accusations hit
close to home.
In Mark 6:35-44 we hear about the miracle of feeding the 5000 an event, which occurred just a
little while before our text. John records the same event with some added information. John 6:14-
15 says: “After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, “Surely this
is the Prophet who is to come into the world”. The crowds wanted Jesus as king because of
their view of the Messiah – the Messiah who in Jewish thinking is a powerful political leader and
a crusher of the Roman scourge.
What the Pharisees were questioning was whether or not Jesus was doing things to gain
popularity among his followers rather than to be faithful to God.
I think all of us who are in leadership in the church need to be careful of letting public opinion or
popularity guide us in the decisions we make. And Jesus was wise to pause and reflect on this.
He was fully human after all.
And it is at this exact moment that the Syrian Phoenician woman shows up, uninvited. And she
comes begging for Jesus to release her child from the possession of a demon.
I told you that I don’t believe in coincidences. So what is the likelihood that this woman shows
up to put Jesus to the test, when he is most vulnerable, when he is questioning his own motives?
If he heals her daughter he has just made another person happy and his fame will continue to
spread. She isn’t even a Jew, so that his appeal will also grow across cultures. It would be so
easy to simply do as she wanted.
I think this is where the hesitation comes in Jesus actions. He understands himself as the Messiah
for the Jews. Weren’t they his first priority? Wasn’t he the one to lead them back to God? His
saving grace, his healing touch was meant for chosen people. You can almost hear the Pharisees
taunting him in the background. Who are you here for? You look like you are trying to build a
coalition rather than to serve God.
And so Jesus uses a parable to talk about precious food, and how it should be used for the
children, the ones in need, the ones that we are responsible for. And he thinks out loud and
suggests that to give it to anyone else isn’t right.
But she comes right back at Jesus and speaks of crumbs and leftovers. She points out that it is
alright to serve the main course but then reminds him that there are others who are willing to
simply take the leftovers. That’s all she is asking for. She doesn’t want him to abandon his
purpose. She simply wants to share in what is left over.
You see this woman knew hardship. She understood what it was to lose hope and be desperate.
She is in the middle of a major crisis – her daughter is demon possessed. Mark 9 gives us a little
idea of the effects of demon possession. Mark 9:17 shows that the possessed person is robbed
of their ability to speak. Mark 9:18 describes possessed as those who would be thrown to the
ground with foam coming out of their mouth. Mark 9:22 reveals that a possessed person can be
thrown into fire or water in order to kill the body. But there is more to the issue then that –
demon possession means that sin and evil is in total control. She needed help and only Jesus
could do what she wanted.
So she went to him. Here is the truth. Even though she wasn’t a Jew, she sees who Jesus really
is. He is the Messiah who has compassion – compassion which she hopes will stretch beyond
the borders of Israel. He is not simply the hope of Israel but the hope of the whole wide world.
As Jesus hears her plea and sees her persistence, instances where God’s grace touched those
outside of Israel undoubtedly came to mind. Time and again non-Jews in the Old Testament
received an extra measure of this blessing which was promised through Abraham. There was
Ruth, Rahab, the widow of Zarephath, Naaman and others. All of these were recipients of
blessings from the hand of God, blessing which pointed to greater kingdom blessings to come. It
becomes quite clear in that moment that this is the basis on which the woman makes her plea.
She knows this request of hers is but a small crumb from the mighty table of the Lord
The faith of the woman displayed an astounding understanding of the work of Jesus. She really
understands who Jesus is and how He works. He is a compassionate Messiah who will respond
to those who come to Him in faith no matter what background they have.
That is the good news. We are the Gentiles who benefit from this woman’s persistent faith.
None of us are Jews, the people of the promise. We are the late comers, the dogs if you will. But
we are the dogs for whom Christ died so that the Spirit may come upon us as well. This marks a
true turning point in Jesus’ ministry and opened the door for Paul later on to reach out to people
like you and me.
And you know, leftovers aren’t that bad. Every year at the Annual Mother Daughter Banquet,
the men work diligently to serve up a great meal to the ladies. Then when all the serving is done,
they sneak back into the kitchen and load up on the leftovers. Let me tell you there is often more
turkey and stuffing and green beans and mashed potatoes ending up on the guys plates than even
touched the ladies plates. If you didn’t know any better, you would never know this was
leftovers.
That is exactly how the grace of God works. It is boundless and overflowing. So don’t be shy.
Reach out and ask God to lift your burden and give you his grace. Amen.
| Welcome to the First Baptist Church of Norwich 239 West Main Street Norwich, Connecticut Phone: 860-889-0369 |
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