How would you want to be remembered?
If you’d ask one thing that comes to mind when people hear your name, what would that be?
Matthew 15 tells us about a story of a mommy who came to Jesus to ask for help because her daughter was demon-possessed. After their conversation, His commendation was that she had “great faith.”
There were only 2 that Jesus commends having great faith: this Canaanite mom and the centurion.
What characterized this woman’s “great faith?”
DESPERATION
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.” (Matthew 15:22)
This mom came to Jesus crying. Not only was she crying out to Jesus, she called out unto Jesus using a messianic title, “Son of David.”
She must’ve been really desperate. Number 1, she was a Gentile. Canaanites were not ordinary enemies but ancestral enemies of the Jews. Number 2, she was a woman. Women could not readily approach men those days. Number 3, she used a title only Jews would know about Jesus. She must’ve heard it somewhere and she was hoping it would open to door for some type of help.
PERSISTENCE
After saying what she said, the Bible says that Jesus didn’t say a word. He remained silent.
What do you do when God seems silent?
You’ve prayed. You’ve fasted. You’ve claimed all the Bible verses in line with your situation and yet, still no answer from God.
To make matters worse, the disciples tell Jesus to just send her away because she keeps bugging Him.
She was persistent.
The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said. (Matthew 15:21)
I would’ve probably given up. With resentment, I would’ve walked away from the scene.
But she didn’t.
She didn’t come to Jesus on the basis of merit but on the basis of mercy. She cries out to Jesus and asks for help. No arguments. No justifications. Just a simple cry for help.
Because of this response, Jesus grants her wish.
He commends her as having “great faith.”
God is never moved by need. He is often moved by faith.
A faith that simply seeks mercy, God will honor.
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