CHILDREN AND CRUMBS

It took courage to argue with Jesus, even if it was courage born of desperation and the feeling that she had nothing left to lose. Jesus and His disciples were traveling to the north of Galilee when this Greek woman begged Jesus to heal her daughter—to drive out the demon that possessed her. Jesus’ harsh reply has been explained in various ways, but to the disciples and to the woman herself, it seems that His response was not unexpected.

Perhaps it took courage to make the initial request, but it took more courage to persist and offer a retort that was both bold and self-deprecating at the same time.

It is possible that she sensed a tone in Jesus’ answer that invited such a witty rejoinder, something that we cannot read in the bare words on the page.

But she returned His barb in a similar tone, insisting that even the crumbs of Jesus’ attention and power would be sufficient to accomplish her request.

We can imagine Jesus smiling at her response.

“For such a reply,” he said, “you may go; the demon has left your daughter” (Mark 7:29). He honored the woman’s response with His answer to her request and assured her that she would find her daughter well by the time she returned home, which she did. Arguments with Jesus did not often end well for the other party, which is why taking Him on could only be an act of courage, foolishness, or meanness. In this case, it was born of courage.

This woman was not trying to score a point or undermine Jesus. She was so desperate for her daughter to be healed that she was willing to confront this strange, foreign teacher, appealing to His generosity or pity and not afraid to risk ridicule or failure.

In doing so, she helped Jesus teach His disciples a lesson about faith, courage, and the more inclusive and compassionate kingdom He was inaugurating.