Monday 18 November 2024
He said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” (v. 27)
Background
Many of us struggle with the way Jesus responds to this woman, it can feel harsh, insensitive and rude to equate her daughter with a dog. Yet the passage is potentially significant for two other reasons. First, it can be interpreted as Jesus being changed by the woman’s argument. We don’t see that anywhere else. Secondly, we see Jesus responding to the strong faith of someone who is neither male nor a Jew (just as John's Gospel tells of a woman meeting Jesus at the well in chapter 4).
It’s interesting how hard some commentators work to explain away the rudeness, saying things like: “It was a very different culture and time”. I struggle with that as I remember finding it very hurtful (and weird) when a boss responded to a request for help with “I don’t keep a dog and bark myself” (for context see here).
It’s widely thought that Mark wrote his gospel for an audience of Gentile (non-Jew) Christians (probably in Rome). Including this potentially offensive story for that audience is therefore significant and it's worth looking beyond the offence without needing to minimise it.
Beyond that first response by Jesus maybe the power of this story is how he responds to a challenge with three pieces of good news. First, there is enough of God’s grace, mercy and transforming power to go far beyond the chosen people of Israel. Second, it's safe to challenge and question Jesus. His response is to listen and respond in love not to condemn. Third, there are ways in which God changes and adapts to circumstances and our responses. Paul would describe this as God working for good in all things (Romans 8:28).
To Ponder:
- Do you feel safe challenging or questioning Jesus? What are your experiences of this?
- Most of us live in a culture that's quite different from the Jews of the time of Jesus. Does this story feel relevant and good news for our time and culture?
- Is it more important for you to see God as being constant, or changing?
Bible notes author: The Revd Dave Warnock
Dave is the Methodist minister in Wythenshawe, part of the Bramhall and Wythenshawe Circuit. From September 2025 he will be sailing around the world for five years encouraging connections between sustainability and faith. See Sustainable Sailing.