The Story of Jesus According to Mark, Pt19: Go For the Gold!

 

October 13, 2024          NOTES NOT EDITED
The Story of Jesus According to Mark, Pt 16:  “Go For the Gold”
Mark 7:24-30

SIS – Don’t settle for crumbs when God wants to give you a crown, but always do your very best and seek to achieve the very most you can out of life with the gifts and talents God has given you.

We just “suffered through” 2024 Summer Olympics held in Paris, officially known as the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad. I say “suffered through” because the opening ceremonies were an abysmal, immoral display of “wokeness,” complete with a Drag Queen show and gay mockery of the Lord’s Supper. This fiasco led to millions tuning out of these international games. I was one who never watched an event.

Prior to this Parisian Disaster, the Olympic Games have been known as the pinnacle of all sporting events. And, the highest prize in these greatest games has been (excluding the Olive Leaf Crown of Rome) the Gold Medal. Thousands of athletes in hundreds of sports from hundreds of nations send they very best in hopes of bringing home a gold medal, or multiple gold medals. No athlete, worthy of that title, goes to the Olympic Games with the goal of getting a participation trophy—also know as a Silver or Bronze Medal.

All my life I have heard people, mostly parents, say regarding children and youth sports:  “It doesn’t matter whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game.” That philosophy usually exists only in the minds of parents—mostly parents with a child participating that . . . well, just ain’t that good. This phrase sounds so right—but I think it is so wrong. 

I used to take a vote before every season during our little league team’s “orientation.” In the crowd listening while I outlined our goals for the coming season were parents and grandparents of the children.  I would say to the team:  “This year, our primary focus is on having fun. Now, let me ask you, ‘do you have more fun when you win or win you lose?”

I never had any child answer they had more fun when they lost.

My point is not to suggest that a Gold Medal makes a person anymore special to God. My point is:  we should always do our very best and seek to achieve the very most we can with the gifts and talents God has given us.  We should never accept crumbs when God wants to give us crowns. 

The Apostle Paul, toward the end of his life, repeated this teaching of seeking to get everything out of life that life has to offer.  He said to Timothy,

2Tim. 4: ⁶ The time for my departure is close. ⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ There is reserved for me in the future the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day.

My point is this: play hard, play fair, and play to win. Playing to win in life means we never settle for crumbs when God wants to give us a crown. And make no mistake about: God has a crown waiting for every faithful follower.

This morning, we are going to see Jesus teach a young Mom this very important lesson about life:  “Go For the Gold!”  Never settle for crumbs when the Lord wants to give you a crown.”

One of the saddest parts of my ministry comes from seeing people who could do so much more, have so much more blessing, and bless so many more people, but they stop too soon and sell out too cheap—they settle for crumbs when they could have crowns.

Let’s read about this teaching together:  MARK 7:24-30.

Three statements about this text will help us understand better what it means to “Go for the Gold” in life, from a Biblical perspective.

1.  As many miracles happen when we DON’T get what we want,
     as when we DO (24, 28)

Look carefully at verse 24: 

²⁴ He got up and departed from there to the region of Tyre  and Sidon.  ^c He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it, but He could not escape notice.

Mark is vague about the exact location of the point of departure, but makes it clear where Jesus was heading.  The last mention of where Jesus was ministering was around the Sea of Galilee in what is northern Israel.  Tyre and Sidon are Gentile cities (now modern Lebanon) about 25-30 miles northeast of Galilee.  This would have been a significant journey into a land where Jesus should have been relatively unknown—being a heavily Gentile region. These are two powerful cities Israel never completely conquered when entering the Promised Land. They are still fighting there, even as we speak.

Jesus “wanted” to rest. The text makes that very clear. But, Jesus did NOT get what he wanted look at verse 25: 

²⁵ Instead, immediately after hearing about Him, a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit  came and fell at His feet.  ²⁶ Now the woman was Greek,  a Syrophoenician by birth, and she kept asking Him to drive the demon  out of her daughter.

Make note of the fact that even the Lord Jesus Christ while He walked this earth as a man, did not get everything He wanted.

Observe now in verse 29 what the Greek woman wanted.  I’ll read verses 26-28 to provide the context for verse 29:

²⁶ Now the woman was Greek,  a Syrophoenician by birth, and she kept asking Him to drive the demon  out of her daughter. ²⁷ He said to her, “Allow the children to be satisfied first, because it isn’t right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” ²⁸ But she replied to Him, “Lord,  even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”

This is a play on words highlighting the antagonism between Jews, who were known as God’s chosen people, and Gentiles who were considered by the Jews to be “dogs,” a very derogatory term because dogs were scavengers and therefore unclean. The Greek Mother was very much aware of her lack of standing being both a gentile, AND a woman. And, to add insult to injury, Matthew points out that she was a Canaanite, who were considered more wicked than the typical gentile.  But, she sought the help of Jesus anyway.

Now, the words of Jesus sound pretty harsh and discriminatory if you read it in most English texts. But, Jesus was not at all harsh.  He did not use the typical Jewish derogatory term for a gentile which meant, “a dog.” A wild adult dog was called, “kūnōn.” Jesus used a diminutive term (version of word meaning little) for dog which means, “puppy.” That word is, “kunarion.” So, Jesus was very kind and gentle, and the woman obviously picked up on it because she boldly continues the verbal exchange. Jesus was inviting conversation.

The term “children” refers to the Jews, and is a preferential position in the household compared to the “house pets.” Israel, the Jews, are God’s ONLY favored nation—in the past, in the present, and into the future until the very day that all of God’s children, Jew and Gentile make a final entrance into the Kingdom of God in heaven.  THAT IS A SERMON IN ITSELF. 

For this message, I want to focus on what the women was willing to accept.  Look at verse 28:

²⁸ But she replied to Him, “Lord, 
even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”

She had no hope or expectation of gaining favored status with the God of Israel. She knew her place in life. She was just desperate. Desperation had reduced her to a beggar and she was willing to have just a “few crumbs” like the “house pets” eating from the floor.

Take notice.  Just as Jesus did not get what He wanted, the Greek, outcast, Cannanite woman did not get what she wanted. At least not at first. Initially, she didn’t get the healing for her daughter that she sought, but notice what she did get: Look at v28:

 (NIV84) 28 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “but even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” Compare this to  Romans 11:13–17

(NIV84) ¹³ I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I make much of my ministry ¹⁴ in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. ¹⁵ For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? ¹⁶ If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches. ¹⁷ If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root,

Through Israel, the Jewish Messiah, Gentiles become part of God’s family. She wanted crumbs—just a healing. She received the “Crown of Salvation.”  She received so much more when she didn’t get the miracle she initially sought!  She approached the Lord Jesus Christ with great humility willing to accept whatever He was willing to give—which she hoped would at least be a crumb—and she received a “MIRACLE.”

Jesus did not get what He wanted—which was some much needed rest; and the woman did not get what she wanted—just a few crumbs of physical healing. Instead, she received an “eternal miracle.” We’ll see later, God even added a blessing to that!

Never settle for crumbs when God wants to give you a crown.

Another statement we can make to help us come to a life-changing understanding of what it means to “Go for the Gold” in life is this:

2.  truth is more powerful than tradition (26-28)

As I just mentioned, Jewish tradition declared that gentiles were as unclean as dogs.  Last week, we learned that the religious leaders of the Jews, the Scribes and Pharisees, had distorted the Word of God, or the Law of God, by adding hundreds of man-made traditions, such as meticulous, ceremonial hand-washing.

Jesus declared to the Pharisees, as we read last week: (verse 7:9)

You completely invalidate God’s command
in order to maintain  your tradition!

In this story, Jesus expands upon the idea that “tradition completely invalidates the grace of God” by intentionally engaging in a conversation with a gentile, Cannanite woman.  The strict tradition of the Jews—and remember Jesus was a Jew—would absolutely forbid Jesus to have anything to do with this woman.

In this present story, expanding upon the confrontation Jesus had with the Pharisees when He demolished their traditions by declaring that nothing “external” is unclean, Jesus demonstrates the power of truth has over tradition.

The woman knew full well that the tradition of the Jews meant she was “unclean” and had no hope of receiving anything from a Jewish man—much less the Lord, or Messiah. 

But, here’s the important twist in this story: she didn’t go to the Pharisees, or any other “religious” leader, she went to the Lord, Himself.  Verses 25 and 26 say,

a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit  came and fell at His feet. 

Not the religious leaders! Never seek in religion what you can only find through Jesus Christ.

Two elements in these verses tell us much about this woman.  One, she was a humble woman.  One, The Word says, she fell at Jesus’ feet. She was a humble woman. Two, she was a persistent woman.  The Word says, “she kept asking Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.”

The word for “kept asking” is in the imperfect tense, which all my Latin students understand, means it is a “continuous” action.  She didn’t just make a request—she kept begging for Jesus to do something.

Why would she “beg” Jesus to drive out this demon and not seek some religious leader steeped in false traditions.  The key is in the first part of verse 25:  “after hearing about Him [ei. Jesus].”

The fame of Jesus as a healer and as one having authority over demons had spread to northern territory of Tyre and Sidon.  All kinds of religions, and religious traditions, were practiced in Palestine.  Yet, what religious traditions could not accomplish, the Lord of Truth, Jesus Christ could.

Truth is more powerful than tradition.  This was the theme of our text last week, and it is continued in our text this week.  I’m hoping you are beginning to see that “religion traditions have nothing to offer you but religious crumbs!”

Another statement that comes to mind when I think of the Lord’s teaching about never accepting crumbs when God wants to give you a crown is:

3.  Words are powerful (29-30)

(CSB) ²⁹ Then he told her, “Because of this reply [logos, word of faith], you may go. The demon has left your daughter.”

Words can harm or help, hold back or move forward, bring cursing or blessing.  Words are powerful.  A popular aphorism appeared in Benjamin Franklin’s Poor Richard’s Almanac. It said, “the pen is mightier than the sword.” This saying has appeared many places since it was first coined in 1839 by an English playwright.

♦ This motto appears in the school room illustration on page 168 of the 1st edition of M. Twain's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer; 
♦ Woodrow Wilson's 1916 U.S. presidential re-election campaign;
♦ In the 1989 film Batman, the insane criminal known as The Joker uses the phrase in a darkly literal sense, after wielding a fountain pen like a dart to wound a rival crime lord;

♦ A recurring GEICO commercial uses the phrase as a question, "Is the pen mightier than the sword?" It shows a ninja wielding and brandishing a sword with elite skills; an amateur defeats him by signing (with a pen) a package for a taser, with which he then shoots the sword-wielder.

♦ In the 1989 film "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.”

 

The phrase is much older than even the English playwright in 1869. Assyrian sage Ahiqar, who reputedly lived during the early seventh century BC, coined the first known version of this phrase. One copy of the Teachings of Ahiqar, dating to about 500 BC, states that "The word is mightier than the sword."

 

For thousands of years, at least, man has recognized the power of the word, written and spoken.  If man’s word is so powerful, consider the power of the someone speaking the Word, or truth of God.

 

This is exactly what brought about the miracle for the Cannanite woman.  Look in verses 29-30:

 ²⁹ Then He told her, “Because of this reply, you may go. The demon has gone out of your daughter.” ³⁰ When she went back to her home, she found her child lying on the bed, and the demon was gone.

The original Greek word translated “reply” is the word, logon.  Literally Jesus, “Because of your WORD,” it was done.  What “word” is Jesus referring to?”  Look again at verse 26:

“she kept asking HIM.” 

The whole exchange between the woman and Jesus focuses on her relentless pursuit of gaining what she needed from Jesus Christ—her word, or words, were a testimony of absolute faith in Jesus Christ, believing that He alone could meet her need.  AND HE DID!

The most powerful words we will ever speak are words confessing “surrender to and absolute trust in Jesus Christ.” It is interesting that the word Jesus uses here to describe the woman’s faith in Him, is the same word John the Apostle used to describe Jesus.  John 1:1 says,

In the beginning  was the Word [logon] and the Word [logon] was with God, and the Word [logon] was God. 

When we confess with our words that Jesus Christ is Who He says He is—the Word Who is God—then our words have miracle-working power. 

So much of what comes out of the mouths of Christians are not words demonstrating our absolute faith in Jesus Christ. We speak words of defeat, and we are defeated. We speak words of despair, and we are hopeless. We speak ugly words and we are ugly.  We speak judgmental words and we are judged.  The Bible says that in that Final Day when we stand before God  (Matthew 12):

³⁶ I tell you that on the day of judgment  people will have to account  for every careless word they speak.  ³⁷ For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

This woman, could have accepted a few religious crumbs and never received the miracle of a crown.  This woman, because of the ruthless tradition of the Jews, could have accepted that tradition and fell into despair over her child. Instead, she spoke words of faith! She reminds me of what the John said in the Book of Revelation:

“they overcame by the blood of the Lamb, and the word of their testimony.” (Rev. 12:11)

Words are powerful – words of faith are eternally powerful.

This event in the life of the Lord teaches us to “never accept crumbs when God wants to give us crowns—always Go for the Gold!” 

CLOSE: Too often in life, we get a negative attitude and settle for far less than what God wants for us, and wants to do through us. Too often, a negative attitude causes us to “settle for crumbs when God wants to give us crowns.” I recall reading this week about a young paratrooper who recently joined the Army. All his life he became accustomed to things going wrong. He just expected it. He never expected anything good to happen to him in life. He was about to take his first jump. All the new paratroopers were given clear instructions. First, jump when you are told to jump. Second, count to ten and pull the ripcord. Third, in the unlikely even the main chute doesn’t open, pull the reserve chute. Fourth, when you get down a truck will be waiting to take you back to the base. The plane reached the jump site. One by one the troopers jumped as told. This young recruit was the last to jump. He counted to ten and pulled the rip cord. Nothing happened. He pulled the reserve chute. It, too failed to open. Being accustomed to things going wrong in life he said to himself, “Great! I’ll bet the truck won’t be there either!”

The Gentile Mother could have given into the circumstances of life and settled for a few crumbs of healing for her daughter. That would have been enough for her—before she met Jesus! Jesus elevated the woman’s attitude and raised her expectations. She received more than she could have ever imagined. Instead of crumbs, she received a CROWN!

That is truly an amazing and inspiring story that illustrates what Jesus was trying to show the Cannanite woman.

Never settle for crumbs when God wants to give you a crown.
Always—Go for the Gold!