Jesus Changes His Mind



The Canaanite Woman

After reading from  Matthew 15:21-28 New International Version, Pastor Jerry began his sermon with the illustration of a determined mother, Joyce Milgaard. 

She was a gritty strong-minded mother who fought for 20 years to secure her son David’s release from prison after he was wrongfully convicted of rape and murder.  After so long a time, new technology and DNA proved that her son, David was not guilty and he was eventually set free. 

Today we consider a woman in the Bible who loved her demon possessed daughter unconditionally and with persistence she cried to Jesus for help.

Jesus spent a good deal of his ministry in Galilee, but he was tired and needed to get away where he hoped he was not so well known.  Jesus knew his time was drawing close so He and his disciples ventured into Canaan where no respecting Jew would go. 

There he was recognized by a Gentile mother who shouted and screamed for mercy, because she needed a miracle for her demon possessed daughter.  

Jesus ignored the woman and would not answer her.  Finally Jesus almost rudely stated that he was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.

In desperation the woman came and knelt before him, “Lord help me, because my daughter suffers terribly,” she cried.

Jesus replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

“Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”

Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.

Pastor asked, “What are we make of this?”

1.     The woman symbolizes missions endeavor because God desires the entire world to be saved.

2.     This was a TEST.  A test of faith in the face of a hopeless situation.

3.     There was a refusal to give up and to NOT "let be what will be."

4.     It was a time of awakening and a time to receive answers.

Jesus changed his mind and became open to consider the women and heal her daughter.

God still does the impossible and the Holy Spirit supports us with His presence.

Jesus changed His mind and wonderful things happened.

We may be set in our ways and perhaps we should consider our future and what is God asking of us as a people.  Perhaps we should change our mindset and reach out in new areas and new ways.

Is God asking us to consider others who may not be like us, or even smell like us?

When our minds become transformed (changed) then Jesus can do marvelous things as He works and moves along side us.