First the kids eat then the dogs
Wow, really, Jesus? I mean, he says to this poor mother in Mark 7:27, “’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.’” Alright, the woman is a Syrian so she is a Gentile (a non-Jew and outsider to the people of God.) Then, she is from Phoenicia, a wealthy and godless city that had a history of oppressing the people of Israel. So, her humble request of Jesus is just fraught with tension.
A few points to consider in interpreting this text. First, Jesus is the Messiah or Christ (God’s sent and anointed one) for Israel. Look at Romans 1:16 and Romans 2:9-10. Second, the woman will not give up on Jesus or her daughter. She clings to the ray of hope for the Gentiles. Jesus offers in Mark 7:28, “’Lord,’” she replied, ‘even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.’” She is not put off by his brash words and see the meaning behind his words. Third, hard as it is to hear, the woman understands who the “children’ are and who the “dogs are. She does not become embittered, she can wait on Jesus. Finally, she will not take “No” for an answer.
To understand this text and to then be transformed by these words of Jesus, we should not try to relieve Jesus of his scandalous words. Jesus hints that this Gentile woman is a “dog,” which was a derogatory slang used by Jews for Gentiles. Let his words stand. What in the story bothers you most? What would you have done if Jesus said this to you? What is Jesus getting at? What moves him to grant the women’s request?
Prayer, “Jesus, these are almost mean words. You are not mean. So, what do you want us to see? How do you want to change us?”
AMEN for now,
