| |
Columba Comments...
Short reflections written by members of our
congregation
6 September 2009
Back to
index
Scripture: Mark 7.24-37
Exploration
The story of the
Syrophoenician woman in Mark’s Gospel is unique and remarkable. The
first striking thing is that Jesus is in Gentile territory. Tyre and
Sidon were some 60km north of Galilee. It is inexplicable that a Jew
would go into that territory. But Jesus did. It is symbolic of
Jesus’ acceptance of Gentile people, his breaking down of the Jewish
barrier between clean and unclean people.
It may also be symbolic of the anticipated unity of Israel—the north
should have been a part of Israel, but had become separated through
civil wars.
The next striking thing is that Jesus refers to the woman as a dog.
This is an insult, like calling a person a pig. Jews refer to
Gentiles as dog. The term used for dog here is more like ‘puppy’, so
there is a softer edge to it. Could it be like an affectionate
comment to our child, “You little devil!” The point is, it is not
taken as an insult by the woman.
Next comes a comment that makes it clear the Gospel is open to
Gentiles. Even ‘dogs’ share in the grace of the Kingdom. Jesus does
not cut off the Gentiles from God’s saving power.
The Jews reject Jesus, and that become the opportunity for the
Gentiles. The woman symbolically stands for the Gentile world that
has eagerly grasped the living bread that the Jews rejected and
threw away.
How Jesus treats the deaf man stands in great contrast. He takes him
aside, showing compassion. He treats him not as a category of
person, a blind man, a sinner, but as an individual in need, and
responds accordingly.
The common factor in both stories is that Jesus went outside custom
to welcome otherwise rejected and ostracised people.
Jesus could not get away from the crowds. They followed him not as
Lord and source of abundant life, but as entertaining miracle
worker. They proclaim he has done all things well—we hear echoes of
the creation story, but they won’t follow him to the cross, will
they.
Trevor Burt
Questions for Reflection
- Who are the modern day ’gentiles’ that Christians tend to
reject?
- Do you have faith enough to persevere as the woman did?
- People follow Jesus for all sorts of reasons. What do you gain
by being a follower of Christ?
- What steps can we take to welcome people who are outsiders to
church or society?
- How far are you prepared to follow Jesus?
Back to
index
|
