July 12th, 2013
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Opening Barred Doors

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

Lord Jesus, as You cleansed the Temple, cleanse my heart. I receive Your gift of pardon and seek to live as Your child.

Read Mark 7:24-30

[24] Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret. [25] In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an impure spirit came and fell at his feet. [26] The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter. [27] “First let the children eat all they want,” he told her, “for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” [28] “Lord,” she replied, “even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” [29] Then he told her, “For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.” [30] She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Meditate

“Christians must see themselves as committed to breaking down barriers which prolong human need or prevent the needy from being helped. We must follow the Master more clearly at this point” (Donald English).

Think Further

The taboo in Jesus’ debate with the Pharisees was his freedom to eat with tax collectors and outcasts (2:15-17). Mark now presents Jesus traveling alone to the Gentile “Big Apple”:  Tyre of Syrian Phoenicia (24). In the worldview of the purity system (in Mark’s immediately preceding story), Jesus would be seen as now far from the holy of holies and most liable to contamination by foreigners, demons, women and pagan food. Yet in today’s exorcism, is not Mark’s focus the occasion for something more significant?

Mark intends much more than presenting a woman’s Gentile, pagan identity for Hellenistic readers (26a). In the same way as Matthew appeals to Jews, invoking Israel’s historic antipathy towards Canaanites (Matt.15:22), Jesus’ journey north into Gentile lands for privacy and solitude is Mark’s intentional contrast for many journeys to Galilee for Jesus’ public ministry (24, c.f. Mark 3:8). Unlike Matthew, Mark reports Jesus behind closed doors here, so a Gentile woman, possibly a widow, barging in to converse with a Nazarene rabbi in his quarters is doubly surprising. Mark interjects the word “first” (27) to their repartee, suggesting that Jesus is not yet able to share the salvation bread of the Jews with the unclean (27b). This purity code closes the door to her request, but her feisty retort leads Jesus to open the door for her family (29). Jesus’ onward journey back to Galilee and Jerusalem has more examples of the doors to Christ’s kingdom finally opening to Gentiles of every nation (15:39; c.f. Acts 10; 11:18).

Apply

Ask the Holy Spirit to help you recognize marginalized people around you today. Ponder how you might help your church to welcome all whom Jesus accepts.

Closing prayer

Generous God, I know the ground is level at the foot of the Cross. Guide me to break down barriers society erects and model to the world the difference You make in relationships.

Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.

© 2024 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.

Encounter with God is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.

View all readings

Get ENCOUNTER:

in your email:

in Print:

Become a Member | Visit our store