Mark 7:24-30, The Syrophoenician Woman's Faith

24 And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon [heading north to Gentile territory on the Mediterranean shore in modern day Lebanon]. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden. [Jesus seems to be looking for another respite.]  25 But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. [This would remind any scriptural Jew that Elijah, in roughly the same territory, had worked a miracle for another pagan woman.] 26 Now the woman was a Gentile [same as the widow of Zarephath whom Elijah helped], a Syrophoenician by birth [meaning a native of the area]. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. [As no husband is mentioned, we can assume she is a widow too. It is the need of her child that brings her to Jesus. It is fitting that both widows receive God’s help as he cares especially for widows and orphans.] 27 And he said to her, “Let the children [the Jews] be fed first, for it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.” [Jesus is likely quoting a popular proverb, but we must not dismiss the fact that Jews used the abusive term “dogs” for Gentiles. Yet, that does not mean he meant it that way. Instead, we can see that he is testing her to see what lowly position she might take in order to win healing for her daughter.] 28 But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs.” [She passes the test! To Jesus the answer did not demonstrate the depth of her wit but of her faith in him—a faith to which he gladly responded. Her statement, while recognizing Jesus’ primary mission to Israel, recognizes that others should share in the blessings of Israel as God promised Abraham. If she is only a dog, then at least let her have the rations of a dog!] 29 And he said to her, “For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.” 30 And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone. [In using this story of the faith and healing miracle of a Gentile mother and daughter, Mark clearly appeals to his Gentile audience. Also note that this girl has been healed from a distance. We too can pray for healing from a distance.]

[This remarkable story led Thomas Cranmer to write one of the most poignant Anglican prayers found in the Book of Common Prayer:

We do not presume to come to this thy Table, O merciful

Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in thy manifold

and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather

up the crumbs under thy Table. But thou art the same Lord

whose property is always to have mercy. Grant us therefore,

gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of thy dear Son Jesus Christ,

and to drink his blood, that we may evermore dwell in him,

and he in us. Amen.]