Then Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon, when he heard that they had anointed him king in place of his father, for Hiram had always been one who loved David. - 1 Kings 5:1
Welcome! It is so good to be with you all this morning as we worship the Lord Jesus Christ together. Last week we took a break from our series on “The Miracles of Jesus” to observe our annual fall revival. It was such a wonderful event, and my spirit was greatly encouraged and refreshed. I trust that those who were able to attend were blessed as well.
Today we will continue our series where we left off 2 weeks ago. Jesus and His apostles have just come back across the Sea of Galilee. In fact, Jesus walked on the water across much of the sea and enabled Peter to walk on the water briefly. Jesus also calmed the windstorm and instantly transported the disciples’ boat(s) to shore.
This morning we will discuss 2 more occasions during which Jesus performed miracles. They are recorded in both Matthew and Mark. We will use Mark’s version as our primary text. I’ve titled this message “Many in Gennesaret and a Demon Possessed Girl” and these are the 28th and 29th miracles on our list,
I. TOUCHING HIS GARMENT (Mark 6:53-56; Matthew 14:34-36)
Jesus and the disciples came ashore at Gennesaret. They tied their boats off and got out. The people immediately recognized Jesus and began spreading word throughout the region that He had come. As people found out, they brought those who were sick to Him so that they would be healed. Whether in the towns, villages, or countryside, the afflicted were being carried to Jesus for healing. If they merely touched the fringe of His garment they would be cured.
Gennesaret was the name of both a town and a small, fertile plain. The town was located about 3 miles south of Capernaum along the edge of the Sea of Galilee. The town of Gennesaret was located on the plain of Gennesaret, which was situated on the northwest corner of the Sea of Galilee spanning from Capernaum to Magdala. In fact, another name for the Sea of Galilee is the Lake of Gennesaret. The name Gennesaret means “garden of the prince”. Jesus performed many miracles in the town of Gennesaret and throughout the beautiful region (or plain) of Gennesaret.
The miracles Jesus performed on this occasion were healing miracles. Scripture says that they were accomplished by touch, as those who were sick touched Jesus’ clothes. These miracles took place publicly with many witnesses. Jesus performed them as yet another display of His deity and revelation of His identity as the Son the God.
II. A MOTHER’S PLEA (Mark 7:24-26; Matthew 15:21-23)
Jesus and the apostles traveled to the land of Phoenicia, just to the northeast of Galilee, and came into the ancient city of Tyre on the Mediterranean coast. He quietly entered a house, hoping to escape notice, but a local woman heard that He was in town. She came and found Him, and then began to plead with Him to heal her little daughter who was demon possessed. This woman was a Gentile - she was a Greek of Syrophoenician descent. Matthew’s gospel adds that Jesus’ disciples urged Him to send her away because she was shouting at them.
Jesus had gone to the land of Phoenicia in hopes of finding some rest and escaping the multitudes. However, His reputation as a healer and miracle worker had made its way there also. When it became known that He was present, this desperate mother sought Jesus out. As for Tyre, it was a fortified city that had been in existence for centuries, since before the Hebrew children arrived in the Promised Land during the days of Joshua (Joshua 19:29). It was an important port city. Today Tyre and most of Phoenicia is located in the country of Lebanon.
The Phoenicians were predominantly Gentiles. Jesus didn’t go there often, as it was outside the borders of Israel. However, He did refer to its cities when addressing the Jews. He strongly rebuked certain cities in Israel for demonstrating less faith than the people of Tyre and Sidon, which were both prominent cities in Phoenicia (Matthew 11:21-22; Luke 10:13-14).
III. THE LORD’S COMPASSION (Mark 7:27-30; Matthew 15:24-28)
Jesus spoke to the pleading mother saying, “It is not good to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” She replied, “Yes Lord, but even the dogs eat from the crumbs of the children’s food which fall on the floor.” Amazed by her faithful answer, Jesus cast the demon out of the woman’s young daughter and told her to go home. When she arrived, she found her little girl lying on her bed completely healed.
The conversation between Jesus and this Gentile woman seems a bit strange. What do children’s food and dogs have to do with anything? As most of you know, my wife and I are currently raising our 16 month old twin grandsons. Everyday we feed them 3 meals - breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We also have 2 indoor dogs. Whenever we put the boys in their high chairs, the dogs come and stand close beside. They gobble up anything the boys drop on the floor, whether accidentally or on purpose! Sometimes, if the boys aren’t hungry or don’t like what we are serving, the dogs get a pretty nice meal.
We must understand that Jesus was speaking metaphorically. He was saying that He had been sent to proclaim the gospel and perform miracles for the children of God, namely the nation of Israel, not for the dogs, referring to other Gentile nations. Hearing this, the woman answered with a metaphor stating that even the dogs (the non-Jews) could benefit by eating the crumbs (hearing the message and receiving the miracles) that fell from the children’s table (the Jews). In essence she was saying that while they were not Jesus’ primary audience, she and the Gentiles could still be blessed by His ministry. Jesus was impressed by her humility and faith.
This miracle was an exorcism. Jesus did not actually go visit the little girl. He simply willed the demon to be cast out of her and told her mother to go home. When she did, she found her daughter demon-free. We will classify the method of this miracle as “willed and obeyed”. Jesus performed this miracle out of compassion for the Syrophoenician mother and her daughter and to affirm her faith.
CONCLUSION
I find it interesting that the disciples encouraged Jesus to send the Gentile woman away, but made no objection to Him healing crowds of Jews in Israel. It would seem that they did not yet understand the full scope of Jesus’ mission. While it is true that He came to the Jews, He came for everyone. Jesus was sent to redeem any and all who would believe upon Him, regardless of their ethnicity, social status, or any other such factor (John 3:16).
As we will see in the coming weeks, Jesus’ visit to Phoenicia would be followed by a return trip to the Decapolis. This is yet another Gentile region adjacent to Galilee. As you may recall from earlier in this series, the last time Jesus set foot in the Decapolis He cast a legion of demons out of a crazed man and into a herd of swine. Seeing this, the local citizens urged Him to leave. Let’s hope that His return to the Decapolis is a bit more welcoming. Join us next Sunday and we will find out together.
Welcome! It is so good to be with you all this morning as we worship the Lord Jesus Christ together. Last week we took a break from our series on “The Miracles of Jesus” to observe our annual fall revival. It was such a wonderful event, and my spirit was greatly encouraged and refreshed. I trust that those who were able to attend were blessed as well.
Today we will continue our series where we left off 2 weeks ago. Jesus and His apostles have just come back across the Sea of Galilee. In fact, Jesus walked on the water across much of the sea and enabled Peter to walk on the water briefly. Jesus also calmed the windstorm and instantly transported the disciples’ boat(s) to shore.
This morning we will discuss 2 more occasions during which Jesus performed miracles. They are recorded in both Matthew and Mark. We will use Mark’s version as our primary text. I’ve titled this message “Many in Gennesaret and a Demon Possessed Girl” and these are the 28th and 29th miracles on our list,
I. TOUCHING HIS GARMENT (Mark 6:53-56; Matthew 14:34-36)
Jesus and the disciples came ashore at Gennesaret. They tied their boats off and got out. The people immediately recognized Jesus and began spreading word throughout the region that He had come. As people found out, they brought those who were sick to Him so that they would be healed. Whether in the towns, villages, or countryside, the afflicted were being carried to Jesus for healing. If they merely touched the fringe of His garment they would be cured.
Gennesaret was the name of both a town and a small, fertile plain. The town was located about 3 miles south of Capernaum along the edge of the Sea of Galilee. The town of Gennesaret was located on the plain of Gennesaret, which was situated on the northwest corner of the Sea of Galilee spanning from Capernaum to Magdala. In fact, another name for the Sea of Galilee is the Lake of Gennesaret. The name Gennesaret means “garden of the prince”. Jesus performed many miracles in the town of Gennesaret and throughout the beautiful region (or plain) of Gennesaret.
The miracles Jesus performed on this occasion were healing miracles. Scripture says that they were accomplished by touch, as those who were sick touched Jesus’ clothes. These miracles took place publicly with many witnesses. Jesus performed them as yet another display of His deity and revelation of His identity as the Son the God.
II. A MOTHER’S PLEA (Mark 7:24-26; Matthew 15:21-23)
Jesus and the apostles traveled to the land of Phoenicia, just to the northeast of Galilee, and came into the ancient city of Tyre on the Mediterranean coast. He quietly entered a house, hoping to escape notice, but a local woman heard that He was in town. She came and found Him, and then began to plead with Him to heal her little daughter who was demon possessed. This woman was a Gentile - she was a Greek of Syrophoenician descent. Matthew’s gospel adds that Jesus’ disciples urged Him to send her away because she was shouting at them.
Jesus had gone to the land of Phoenicia in hopes of finding some rest and escaping the multitudes. However, His reputation as a healer and miracle worker had made its way there also. When it became known that He was present, this desperate mother sought Jesus out. As for Tyre, it was a fortified city that had been in existence for centuries, since before the Hebrew children arrived in the Promised Land during the days of Joshua (Joshua 19:29). It was an important port city. Today Tyre and most of Phoenicia is located in the country of Lebanon.
The Phoenicians were predominantly Gentiles. Jesus didn’t go there often, as it was outside the borders of Israel. However, He did refer to its cities when addressing the Jews. He strongly rebuked certain cities in Israel for demonstrating less faith than the people of Tyre and Sidon, which were both prominent cities in Phoenicia (Matthew 11:21-22; Luke 10:13-14).
III. THE LORD’S COMPASSION (Mark 7:27-30; Matthew 15:24-28)
Jesus spoke to the pleading mother saying, “It is not good to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” She replied, “Yes Lord, but even the dogs eat from the crumbs of the children’s food which fall on the floor.” Amazed by her faithful answer, Jesus cast the demon out of the woman’s young daughter and told her to go home. When she arrived, she found her little girl lying on her bed completely healed.
The conversation between Jesus and this Gentile woman seems a bit strange. What do children’s food and dogs have to do with anything? As most of you know, my wife and I are currently raising our 16 month old twin grandsons. Everyday we feed them 3 meals - breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We also have 2 indoor dogs. Whenever we put the boys in their high chairs, the dogs come and stand close beside. They gobble up anything the boys drop on the floor, whether accidentally or on purpose! Sometimes, if the boys aren’t hungry or don’t like what we are serving, the dogs get a pretty nice meal.
We must understand that Jesus was speaking metaphorically. He was saying that He had been sent to proclaim the gospel and perform miracles for the children of God, namely the nation of Israel, not for the dogs, referring to other Gentile nations. Hearing this, the woman answered with a metaphor stating that even the dogs (the non-Jews) could benefit by eating the crumbs (hearing the message and receiving the miracles) that fell from the children’s table (the Jews). In essence she was saying that while they were not Jesus’ primary audience, she and the Gentiles could still be blessed by His ministry. Jesus was impressed by her humility and faith.
This miracle was an exorcism. Jesus did not actually go visit the little girl. He simply willed the demon to be cast out of her and told her mother to go home. When she did, she found her daughter demon-free. We will classify the method of this miracle as “willed and obeyed”. Jesus performed this miracle out of compassion for the Syrophoenician mother and her daughter and to affirm her faith.
CONCLUSION
I find it interesting that the disciples encouraged Jesus to send the Gentile woman away, but made no objection to Him healing crowds of Jews in Israel. It would seem that they did not yet understand the full scope of Jesus’ mission. While it is true that He came to the Jews, He came for everyone. Jesus was sent to redeem any and all who would believe upon Him, regardless of their ethnicity, social status, or any other such factor (John 3:16).
As we will see in the coming weeks, Jesus’ visit to Phoenicia would be followed by a return trip to the Decapolis. This is yet another Gentile region adjacent to Galilee. As you may recall from earlier in this series, the last time Jesus set foot in the Decapolis He cast a legion of demons out of a crazed man and into a herd of swine. Seeing this, the local citizens urged Him to leave. Let’s hope that His return to the Decapolis is a bit more welcoming. Join us next Sunday and we will find out together.