Neither Jew Nor Greek (Not Your Typical Christmas Story)

Neither Jew nor Greek

Not your Typical Christmas Story

Galatians 3:28

   We have been studying about Paul in my Sunday school class.  He is a remarkable man who had a remarkable calling.  He brought the wonderful message of Jesus Christ to the Gentile world.  Being a Gentile girl, Paul is one of my heroes.

    I admitted to my class that on occasion doubts creep in and I have wondered; is this precious gift of redemption really for me?  That Jewish born baby from a Jewish home and Jewish world who grew up to be the pure and acceptable sacrificial Lamb to provide redemption……does it really include me too?

  When I read the words of Jesus in Matthew 15: 21-28, it caused me to wonder.

²¹ Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. ²² A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”

²³ Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”

²⁴ He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”

²⁵ The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.

²⁶ He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

²⁷ “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”

²⁸ Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.

  This does not sound like the Jesus I have come to know.  At first glance it would seem that Jesus was cold and uncaring toward this Gentile woman.  First He ignored her, then He as much as said, “What I have is not for you.”  Then He called her a dog not worthy of what He has. 

   As a Gentile girl needing God’s love I found this incident somewhat disconcerting.  I knew there had to more to this than just what meets the ear here because it doesn’t match up with other scriptures.

  I found some comfort in what I read in Luke 2:25-32

²⁵ Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. ²⁶ It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. ²⁷ Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, ²⁸ Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

²⁹ “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
    you may now dismiss^[a] your servant in peace.
³⁰ For my eyes have seen your salvation,
³¹     which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
³² a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
    and the glory of your people Israel.”

  This good devout man Simeon was waiting for “the consolation of Israel”.   This reminds me of one of my favorite Christmas songs written by Charles Wesley who lived in the 1700’s.

Come Thou long expected Jesus, born to set Thy people free;

From our fears and sins release us; Let us find our rest in Thee.

Israel’s strength and consolation, Hope of all the earth Thou art;

Dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver.  Born a child, and yet a King.

Born to reign in us forever, now Thy gracious kingdom bring.

By Thine own eternal spirit rule in all our hearts alone;

By Thine all sufficient merit, Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

  This Spirit filled man, Simeon, who was waiting for the consolation of Israel says these words upon seeing Jesus:  “Lord, my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.

  Don’t you love the word “all”?  I do. Then he mentions us Gentiles specifically while holding that manger born baby in his arms, “A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles.” Now that makes my heart rejoice.

   

     According to Matthew Henry’s commentary, the interaction between Jesus and the Gentile woman seeking help for her daughter was a glimmer of that light.  He likened it to a down payment of what was to come for the Gentile world.  He points out that her request was for mercy.  She doesn’t claim any merit.  It would seem that the brushing off and seemingly cold words would discourage this woman, but something different happened.  Her faith in who He was rose up and caused her to worship stronger and ask more fervently for His mercy.

  We can clear some things up to help us understand this puzzling story if we ask ourselves some questions.

1. Did Jesus know her need before she ask?  Of course He did.

2. Did He know what her response would be to His silence and His rebuff, and even the put down?  He did.  He knew she would continue in her worship and her plea.

3. How did Jesus commend her?  He praised her faith.  And then this strange incident went viral and became a message to all that it is faith that matters.  Whether you are a Jew or Gentile, man or woman, black or white, it is faith…not something that you deserve….not something that you have earned or strived for…but faith alone.  Not faith in ourselves or what we do but faith in someone else.  Faith in Jesus Christ.

  This baby Jesus born in a manger, this man Jesus who died on a cross, He did all these things for you and for me,  for all people.  Jesus pulled the faith right out of that woman and put it on display.  That is what God wants from us.  Jesus is the Light of the world.  Rejoice in Him and let your light so shine.