Christ is always there

Mark 4:24-27 has a very interesting story. To paraphrase, Jesus is teaching and a foreign woman, (not Jewish) begs for help with her daughter. It seems her daughter is possessed by a demon and is doing her harm. Jesus is hesitant to help. He informs the woman that he was sent to focus on the Jews, not everyone else. In fact, he used the analogy of food being served to the children, and not the dogs. The woman pointed out that even the dogs can eat the crumbs. This woman’s response was so impressive that Jesus healed her daughter.
As I look at that interaction between the foreign woman and Jesus, I come to realize that I too am a foreigner. Jesus came initially to get the Jews back on track with God. His ministry was to the Jewish nation. Thus, he was called to focus on his people.
But if we look back at the book of Genesis 22:18, God tells Abraham that all the nations on earth will gain blessing by Abraham’s offspring. I mention this because it has so much to do with the Mark story.
According to the standards of the day this woman was less than human. She was not Jewish, and she was female. She had no rights, and no protector. But she had one thing that many people do not have. She had a desperate hope.
Let’s face it, her approaching Jesus was a last-ditch effort. It was within the rights of the followers to have her stoned to death for being so bold. (Believe it or not this is still a practice in many mid-eastern countries today). To boldly approach and talk to a man who is not your relative can be a death sentence even today.
But for Jesus, it was a teaching time. This woman was so desperate, she was not leaving until her plea had been worn out. Her daughter was her world, and it was crashing down. She wasn’t going to stop. For her it was all or nothing. Jesus saw this, and responded with, “for saying that you may go-the demon has left your daughter”
What does that tell us? It tells us that no matter what, if we call out to Christ, he will save us. There is no sin that can stand between us and Christ if we are repentant and ready to receive. Christ offers hope and salvation to all who will believe. Even an infidel Syrophoenician can call out to Christ and be saved.
This means that salvation can be ours if we only ask. If you are wondering in a world of hopelessness, then my friend, hope is at the door. Christ offers hope, we just need call out his name and believe.
Many times, it feels like we are at the end of our rope. We too often believe we are alone with nowhere to go. The foreign woman shows us that we can always go to Christ.
Now that is Good News.
Just a thought.
Shalom my friends. See you in church.
Rev. Kent Wilfong is the pastor at the United Methodist Church, Doniphan/Neelyville.