MARK 7:24-30   Lesson 16

OUR PERCEIVED OBSTACLES TO REACHING GOD

I. Greetings:

II. Introduction: Many people in the church today feel like the Gentiles of Jesus’ day. They felt they were not part of the elect people of God. They went one step further, and they bought into the misunderstanding that their lack of status, or their sinful behavior, made them unwanted by God.
Q Do you know people who feel like they may be a Christian but really do not have any faith? Do you know people who feel like their prayers do not really affect God?
An = They may feel like a “spiritual pygmy”.
Q Do others of you here today feel alienated from God?
An = Many of feel this all the time and sometimes it is temporary. If you are honest enough to know the truth about yourself and honest enough to admit that you and God are not on good terms; I have good news for you. I have a word for both of you; it is not my word, but the word of Almighty God.

III. Seeking to Get Away: Mark 7:24.
>>>> Have someone read Mark 7:24.
Q What was the reason for Jesus leaving Jewish territory?
An = See 6:30-31, 6:54. He was probably seeking rest, to escape notice and gain a break for His disciples and Himself.
Note: The joint reference to Tyre and Sidon was commonly used to designate the pagan world, see Mark 3:8. Serious Jews would not even enter the home, or building, of a Gentile.
Today, many serious Christians will often not even darken the doors of some places. It means they take their faith seriously, and that is good. However, it also conveys to people in those places that they are judged as inferior and that is not good.
Note: Jesus said He had a different view of defilement (7:19) than the religious leaders and so went among a perceived “unclean” people.
Q Do most conservative ministers go into a bar? Why or why not? Why would they?
An = As shocking as that would be, it was that shocking that Jesus would enter gentile, pagan territory.
Q What else did Jesus model for us here by His change of location?
An = We need rest sometimes; we need to be aggressive in seeking it, i.e. a change of location. It would be a form of taking a Sabbath.

IV. Seeking God despite Obstacles: Mark 7:25-28
>>>> Have someone read Mark 7:25-26.
Q Was Jesus able to keep hidden?
An = No, it seems there was something about what He had to offer that was so powerful He was aggressively sought out. She sought Jesus out.
Q What type of woman was she, what was her nationality?
An = Her Gentile character was stressed: a Gentile, of the Syrophoenian race (7:26).
Q What was driving her to seek out a Jewish rabbi?
An = She no doubt had heard about His healing power. Her daughter was terribly oppressed, and she had heard this man of God could bring help. The needs of children can drive us to God. Loving our children (teachers, youth workers or pastors included) will cause us to see our need to come closer to God. Love for family can lead us to God.
Q Did she ask for herself or for her daughter?
An = Her love for another had driven her to speak with Jesus. To talk to a pious Jew, a member of a race that felt itself superior to other peoples was no doubt a humbling experience.
Q Did the Jews have a name for those who were not of their race?
An = They called them the “goiim” or Gentiles. But she was talking to more than a Jew, she was talking to Jesus. Indeed, Jesus was Jewish, thus He was a human being (as all humans have a racial designation), but He was also fully divine. He was God in the flesh and thus Jesus was the God of all races.
Q In a way, was talking to Jesus the same as talking to God?
An = Yes, therefore this is an example of prayer. Some people call this form of prayer, Intercession, meaning praying for others.
Q How much do you think the average person’s prayer life is taken up with this type of prayer? What percentage?
An = Some Christians today, spend little time praying for others. That could mean one of two things. First, it could mean that they do not love those around them meaning that they do not love as much as this pagan woman did. Second, it could mean they do not think praying would help.
>>>> Have someone read Mark 7:27
Q What was Jesus saying to her? Had He agreed to heal her daughter in 7:27?
An = Comparing the woman to household dogs amounted to a rude refusal. Children stood for the disciples and dogs stood for her and her child. He was saying: “no”.
Note: Jesus acknowledged the privileges of Israel and that the Gentile’s time had not yet come! >>>> Have someone read Romans 1:16; 2:9, 11. All races are welcome to God; all peoples are welcome to God, even the unclean.
>>>> Have someone read Mark 7:28
Note: The woman may not have understood this, but His refusal was intended to spark a renewed appeal (see Matthew 15 which shows her making four appeals). However, her continued effort displayed her real heart. Instead of being insulted or discouraged she persisted.
Q Can one believe it is impossible to get to God? Is it easy to get to God?
An = It seems, at least in this case, you had to want it badly. The text seems to be saying that God will answer you when you seek Him with all your heart.
Q Why did she persist with this seemingly arrogant Jew?
An = She loved her child. She persisted and so with clever wit. Chrysostom says she practiced “high self command” and His refusal revealed the treasure within her – namely her faith (Chrysostom, pp. 322-323). She was not only witty but aggressive. Notice, His response to her aggressive behavior….

V. Faith Overcomes Obstacles: Mark 7:29-30.
>>>> Have someone read Mark 7:29-30.
A. What this reveals about Jesus and therefore God.
Q Did Jesus mind being pushed?
An = No, He did not. Notice, however, she did it with wit and humility.
Q Was Jesus a legalist? Is God a legalist now? Will God change His world wide plans to accommodate an exception?
Q How can we be like Jesus in this regard?
An = >>> Turn with me to Romans chapter 1:16. Romans 1:16 shows us His stated policy. It was not His time to deal with the Gentiles yet. His plan was to deal with the Jews first, and at that moment He and His men needed rest. It was not His plan to disrupt their rest, or His agenda, to deal with some pestering non-Jewish woman. It was not her time yet.
Q Is the heart of God greater than His policies?
An = He knew when to make exceptions and how to do it without losing sight of the policy and the reason behind the policy. Many times we, in religious organizations get set on a policy, even a good policy, and it becomes the enemy of real theology.
Q What is theology?
An = Theology is thinking about God and real theology is thinking correctly about God.
Q Can our policies, and our perceived need to stay in control by means of our policies, force us to act towards people in a manner that is contradictory to God’s own nature?
An = In the name of God we can violate the heart of God. God is not a legalist. He is the One who loves the world, and His policies are designed to do just that. He never lets the policies get ahead of the goal.
B. The Contrast between the Unclean and the Clean.
Q Was the woman’s faith remarkably different than both the religious authorities and the disciples?
An = Let’s turn to Mark 6:52 for the disciples and Mark 7:8 for the religious leaders.
>>>> Have someone read Mark 7:8.
Note: The religious leaders often let go of the commands of God to do the self-contrived traditions of men. It is proper and necessary at times to have good traditions, but they must always be submitted to God. We are not to submit God to our traditions.
>>>> Have someone read Mark 6:52.
Note: The disciples often got too tired and when pushed would harden their hearts. Their faith often went cold. The disciples were portrayed as real, normal human beings.
C. The Intentionality of God.
Q Did the woman get to Jesus? Did she get Jesus to answer her prayer?
An = She saw her child healed. There are often obstacles to finding God. Many times they are racial or social obstacles but if we really want to push through to Him, Jesus can be found. However, once the woman got an audience with Jesus…
Q Did Jesus seem to be the biggest obstacle? Does it almost seem as if Jesus Himself, made it hard?
An = It appears the obstacle was in Jesus’ attitude. At First, Jesus deliberately refused to help this woman.
Q Why did Jesus Christ act this way?
An = I believe it was to develop her faith, and her love. Obstacles can come from God. God’s intention for us is to come to Him, but we must come by faith and with effort. Therefore, we must come on His terms or it will not do much good.
This woman was from the wrong side of the tracks. She was an unclean Gentile, but she loved her daughter and persisted with God until she got her wish. Jesus said she had faith. She seemed to be a quicker learner than the disciples in Mark 4:35-41.
Q So what does the Gospel of Mark have to say to people who sense they are far from God?
Q Why is this story here? What is its main point?[:]