13: Healing in Gentile Towns (Mark 7:24 – 37)

Jesus has broken their traditions derived from their misinterpretation of the purity law (Lev 11). A wrong application of the purity law was their alienation and hostility against the Gentiles. Then, Jesus visited the gentile region and healed them. 

πŸ‘‰ Read Mark 7:24 - 37

Q1. What was the Syrophoenician woman’s faith?

ANS: She humbled herself to be called a dog. She thought that only crumbs of Jesus’ power and grace were enough to heal her daughter.

Even crumbs of your grace are enough for me!

“I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God

    than dwell in the tents of wickedness.” (Ps 84:10)

“It is not right to take the children’s bread and to throw it to the dogs.” Jesus might have meant that becoming children of God is more important than being healed. It meant, ‘Do you want a blessing as children of God? Believe the gospel and become His child!’ 



Q2. What did Jesus say when he healed the deaf-mute? And its meaning?

ANS: Ephphatha (Be opened)

It is not understandable with our medical knowledge. However, the proclamation of the Creator makes all things happen. 

When His words are proclaimed in our hearts, His Kingdom will start in our hearts of chaos.

Decapolis means ten (deca) towns (polis). These Gentile towns are located to the east of Galilee Lake.



Q3. Find expressions that show Jesus didn’t want people to focus on healing rather than the gospel. (three)

ANS: verse 24, verse 33, verse 36.

Even in the gentile towns, Jesus forbade spreading the news of his healing miracles.



Q4. People were (                  ) astounded and said, “He has done (                 ) well.”

ANS: completely, everything

Jesus makes everything in your life be recovered and healed and, thus, brings the peace of God, Shalom.



Pharisees’ rejection of Jesus for the sake of human traditions makes a contrast with the confession of faith of a Gentile woman. Who is ready for the Kingdom of God?


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

25: ‘Tell us plainly’ vs ‘The Father and I are one.’ (John 10:22 – 42)

As Jesus announced the Father and Jesus were one, the Jewish leaders tried to stone him. πŸ‘‰ Read John 10:22 - 42 Q1. Why did the Jewish leaders not believe in Jesus? Answers πŸ‘‰ They refused to believe in Jesus, for they were not Jesus’ sheep. ‘you refused to believe.’ This tells their willing refusal.  Note that Jesus Himself doesn’t call Himself the Messiah. Instead, He called Himself the One sent from God. He focused on doing the Father’s works and proclaiming His words. From Jesus’ works, they could have concluded that He was the Messiah sent from God. But they refused to admit it. Instead, they asked Jesus to admit His identity as the Messiah plainly, which Jesus wouldn’t do. Q2. They asked Jesus if He were the (           ). But Jesus claimed that the (          ) and He are one. Because of this, they condemned Him of (             ) and tried to stone Him. Answer πŸ‘‰ They asked Jesus if He were the ( Christ ). But Jesus claimed that the ( Father  ) and He are one
Read more

26: Other Laws concerning human life (#6 no murder) (Deut 21:1 – 22:8)

The command ‘do not murder’ should be extended to its full measure and completeness. They needed to remove the guilt of unresolved murder, keep the dignity of the female slave, respect the patrilineal inheritance, and preserve various lives. πŸ‘‰ Read Deuteronomy 21:1 - 22:8 When a homicide victim is found, and no one knows the murderer, the elders of the nearest town must do a ritual of atonement through the death of a heifer. What is the purpose of doing so? (7-9) If you had made your female slave your wife, you can divorce her but not (             ) her. For a man with two wives, if his less-loved wife’s son is the firstborn, let him inherit the (            ) portion. He should not show favoritism according to his affection for one of his wives. When a son doesn’t listen to his parent, he is like a glutton and (             ). Why should they not leave the corpse on the tree of execution overnight? When you see someone’s lost possession, do not (           ) it. You must not re
Read more

35: I am the True Vine. You are the Branches (John 15:1 – 17)

Image
The vine tree analogy so vividly illustrates our relationship with Jesus. As the branches of a vine share the life of the vine, we share and live from Jesus’ life. πŸ‘‰ Read John 15:1 - 17 Q1. Why do we need to remain in Jesus? (2, 4) Answers πŸ‘‰ To bear fruit. God takes away any branch that doesn’t bear fruit. We might debate the security of salvation: do we lose our salvation if we bear no fruit? However, it is better to focus on how to bear fruit rather than how to get salvation.  “You are clean already.” It would refer to a born-again status, a rightful relationship with the Father, one who bathed (13:10). John uses the imagery of cleanness for salvation. In the OT bible, one should be ritually clean to stand before God.  When we believe Jesus’ gospel, we are reconciled with the Father. Though sinners, we can approach God by Jesus’ blood. The pruning (lit. cleaning) (2) of our life is to make us bear more fruit. “Remain”: You should stay, not stop by. No plant produces fruit
Read more