David Bahn – Reflections

They say you are known by the company you keep. But you can also be known by the company you join.

The Canaanite woman is in good company: a group of mothers and their children, a woman seeking justice, and any other number of people who have been told, “Don’t bother Jesus with your problems.” The disciples rebuked the mothers who were bringing their children to have Jesus bless them. The unjust judge would not give justice to the woman. The disciples wanted to send the 5000 away at the end of a day of teaching. But each of these persisted. Each of them went away with a blessing.

Matthew 15:21-28

And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. ²²And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” ²³But he did not answer her a word.

And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” ²⁴He answered,  “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” ²⁵But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” ²⁶And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” ²⁷She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” ²⁸Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.

Perhaps you’ve been told not to trouble Jesus with your problems. Either it’s not worth bothering him, or the problem is too far outside the bounds of Christ’s cares. Maybe you feel as though you’ve got less than a dog’s chance of getting the help you seek. But in some way or another you’ve been told not to bother Jesus.

If there’s one truth we need to embrace it’s the truth of everyone’s desperate need for God. We may be blind to many of our needs. We may not realize the depth of others’ needs. But we’re all in worse shape without Christ than we might think. But because of God’s great love for us he has called us his children. He has made us his covenant people. And his kingship is over all who call on him in faith.

We see glimmers of this treasure when a child is healed, or a woman is welcomed to Christ’s table, or a man repents and believes the Good News. We’re in good company, we who look to Jesus as the source of all we truly need and rejoice to see his grace at work in our lives.