Message 207
Introduction: Restoration! Caring on the inside as well as on the outside. The word rejected will be used to describe certain groups of people. Prejudice and rejection are wrong. The Jews were very guilty of this.
I. Prejudice and rejection are wrong.
A. The rejected are to be reached out to and helped.
II. Jesus needed rest. Vs 24
1. The rejected are always cut off from society.
B. Why? Because society wraps its acceptable behavior around itself.
2. They are excluded, unacceptable and ostracized.
1. Society secludes itself from others that are different.
C. As Jesus did, we are to accept and meet their needs.
2. There is even fear of those that are different.
3. They may shout a little louder, dance a little longer or worship different.
4. Our responsibility is to accept, not reject.
1. Note the steps the rejected took to get help.
a. She approached Jesus humbly. Vs 25
b. She discussed her need with Him. Vs 26-28
c. She persevered in asking for help. Vs 28
d. Confessed her status and need.
e. She received help. Vs 29-30
A. Here He deliberately withdrew Himself.
D. Thought: There is a time to labor and a time to rest and seek God�s presence.
1. They were within the borders of Gentile country.
B. This was God�s desire, that the �Good News� reaches the world.
2. He needed quiet and time to prepare Himself and His disciples.
3. Going into the borders of Gentile country, Jews were not likely to follow.
4. His fame had extended into that country.
1. Let all barriers be broken down.
C. Note where Jesus was, Tyre and Sidon. Vs 24
1. Tyre was the capitol of Phoenicia.
2. It was due north of Judaea and Sidon was even further north.
3. Multitudes flocked to Jesus from these areas.
4. Mark states, He wanted peace and quiet but, �He could not be hid.� Vs 24b
1. Jesus wanted to be alone with the Father.
III. The rejected was allowed to interrupt. Vs 25
2. His desire was to fellowship with the Father and be refreshed, filled and empowered.
3. This retreat lasted nearly six months. [He was preparing for the end]
A. This woman had two strikes against her to begin with.
IV. Our responsibility is to minister to the rejected needs. Vs 26-28
1. She had a daughter with an unclean spirit, a devil.
B. Note this: Jesus let her come to Him.
2. This was taboo in those days. The entire family was cut off, shunned, feared and ostracized.
3. Second, the mother was a Greek, a Syrophenician or Cannanite by race.
4. She was from one of the seven nations driven out of the land of Canaan in the Old Testament.
5. They and the Jews were bitter enemies, ancestral enemies.
6. They hated and despised each other.
7. In approaching Jesus, she knew she was coming to a Jew who she assumed to be her enemy.
1. The others rejected her, had nothing to do with her.
2. She stood alone for her daughter, no friends to help.
3. Matthew 15:23
4. Jesus allowed her to interrupt Him.
5. She stood alone, rejected by others, but Jesus received her. Matthew 20:28
A. One must be able to converse with them.
V. Jesus met her need. Vs 29-30
1. Jesus listened to the cry of the rejected.
a. The woman �besought� Jesus to cast out the devil in her daughter.
2. Jesus stressed the need for humility.
b. Besought: to ask, beg � imperfect tense � means � she kept on begging and begging.
c. Note this; Jesus kept on listening and listening.
d. Remember this, she had only limited knowledge of Jesus.
e. She did know He was and said, �O Lord thou Son of David.� Matthew 15:22
f. He was healing the sick, casting out devils and other miracles.
g. Knowing her need, He led her to confess Him as Lord in worship and praise.
a. Jesus said, �Let the children first be filled�. [The Jews] Vs 27a
3. Jesus also said in: Vs 27b
b. No rejection, just fact, Jesus came for the House of Israel.
c. She was to learn to trust in the True God.
d. Her gods were pagan, false gods.
a. The words spoken were not spoken harshly.
3. Jesus led this �reject� to believe and persist.
b. This was moving her forward in faith and understanding who He was.
c. He was not just the Son of David, but Messiah, the Son of God.
d. He was the salvation of the Jews, master of all lives.
e. Jesus was saying, �Don�t take the bread of true worshipers and throw it to the heathen.
f. Now was she willing to accept Him as Lord? Surrendering herself to Him as Master of her life.
a. With great spiritual insight she called Him Lord.
b. She worshipped Jesus as her Savior and Lord and Master.
A. Jesus answered her prayer.
Conclusion: Restoration. What will cause the miraculous to happen in our churches? When desperate prayers are offered, people humbly surrender themselves to God and worship Him in His presence.
1. Her belief was so strong she would not quit despite being met with silence, opposition, rebuff and being told she was a dog and undeserving.
2. Jesus said to her, �Woman, great is thy faith�. Matthew 15:28