Woman, Great Is Your Faith (Matt. 15:21-28)

Woman, Great Is Your Faith (Matt. 15:21-28)

      
The author of the Book of Hebrews tells in 11:6, "Without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him."
When we sing songs, pray, worship, and serve for Him, we need faith that pleases God.
What should we do to have faith that pleases God?
We should humble ourselves. God likes to see His children to be humble.
Jesus tells us to deny ourselves.
We should lean on Him wholly.
And we should seek Him desperately.

About 40 years ago Korean missionary candidates had to pass the training called "Dead Dog Training" before they left for their mission countries. The purpose of training was to kill one's pride. If one's pride is not completely killed, he should redo the same training until his pride is completely gone away. So, when he finished the course completely he is just like a dead dog. He does not defend himself even if somebody falsely accuses him or somebody kicks him verbally or physically. He is just silent like a dead dog. Only Christ lives in him and there is only faith that makes him look to Jesus.

Jesus had withdrawn into the neighborhood of Tyre and Sidon, a country outside the confines of Israel. Out of that district came a Canaanite woman. She was a gentile.
                                                   
At this time of sacred history, gentiles had no right to the privileges of the children of Israel. But somehow she had found faith in Jesus and as the story unfolds, she exercised it to a most extraordinary degree.

She pleaded with Him, "Have pity on me, Master, Son of David! My daughter is sorely tempted by a demon."
Instead of healing her demon-possessed daughter immediately, Jesus tested her faith in three different ways.

At first, Jesus was silent. He just pretended to ignore her.
Sometimes, when we pray our prayers to God, God seems to be silent.
What does He want from us?
He wants us to show our faith by continuing to pray.

She did not give up at Jesus' silence.
She kept shouting.
And Jesus' disciples were troubled very much by her loud cry. They asked their teacher: "Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us."

Yet, Jesus again tested her faith.
At this time Jesus pretended to exclude her: "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."

Then, she came forward and knelt before Jesus. She showed her humbleness and acknowledged his messianic divinity.
And she said: "Lord, help me!"
She is not the person who was demon-possessed. But, as she loves her daughter very much, she is begging for her daughter desperately to Jesus.

Our usual Jesus should have answered for her supplication.
But, again, unlike our meek Jesus, he pretended to be very mean to her.
He pretended to despise her. This is a severe insult to the woman who came to him with a desperate heart.
Yet, this is Jesus' third test for her faith.
Jesus answered: "It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs."
What would you do if you hear this kind of reply when you ask somebody for help. Most of us will just turn away from him with a cursing word.

However, the woman acted differently.
She said: "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table."
She nodded her head. "Yes, I am a dog. I am a dog which belongs to you, master. I want to eat the crumbs that fall from your table. So, give mercy that falls from your table."

After testing her faith three times, Jesus was well pleased with her faith and her wise answers.
Jesus tells her: "Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish."
And her daughter was healed instantly.

By showing her true genuine faith, not only her daughter was healed from demon-possession but also her faith was approved and gained eternal life.
What kind of faith do you have?
Do you please God with your faith?
We need faith that humbles us, seeks God desperately, and keeps asking him until our prayers are answered.