Today's Gospel

God Knows a Champion

Welcome back to Radical & Relevant, where we are exploring the genius of Jesus' teachings in the gospel and looking for a word or phrase or an idea each day that the Holy Spirit stirs within you to anchor our day in the Gospels. Today's reading is from the Gospel of Matthew 15, 21-28. Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyra and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman from the region came out and cried, "Have mercy on me, O Jesus, son of David. My daughter is severely possessed by a demon." But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him saying, "Send her away, but she is crying after us." And Jesus answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." And he answered, "It's is not fair to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." She said, "Yes, Lord. Yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the master's table." And Jesus answered her, "Oh woman, great is your faith, be it done for you as you desire." And the daughter was healed instantly.

Fabulous reading. Fantastic reading. Why? Because Jesus appears to be being outrageously cruel to this woman. He would not survive five seconds in a woke culture. It's like she is begging him, "Lord, have mercy." And he's saying, "No. I just came for the lost sheep of the house of Israel." And she has not given up. And why is Jesus so obtuse? So, I think people would say cruel? Why is he in a-- she is in agony. Why is he the way he is? Because he knows her faith. And he wants to teach everyone else, particularly the Jews, a lesson. He knows her faith. He knows he can push. It's like a great coach knowing how far to push each player.

A great coach knows he can push a champion further than he can push other players. He knows if he pushes other players that hard, he will break them. But he knows a champion. He can push harder. He can push further. And this is Jesus here. He knows he can push this woman. He wouldn't hurt somebody, wouldn't break the bruised read. We read that. So he knows her strength. He knows her faith. He knows he can push her. And he does, and she comes up just in a phenomenal exercise of faith. What is your faith? How's your faith? Maybe it's time for a go for a physical checkup. Maybe go for a mental checkup. It's time for a faith checkup. Have a great day and remember, do not just be yourself. Be the very best-version-of-yourself, all that God created you to be.