In an abrupt interaction, Jesus responded to a Gentile woman who begged him to deliver her daughter from demonic torments. Clearly in distress, she rushed up to Jesus and fell as his feet.

Then he said to her, Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs. Which sounds rather rude, but Jesus hoped to unearth this woman’s faith. She answered him, Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.

Recognizing her clear faith, Jesus responded, For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter. She then ran home to find her little girl lying in bed and demon-free.

Two wonderful truths emerge from this story. First, Jesus opened his arms to all people, Gentiles included. Christianity will spread far beyond Israel to encompass the entire world, good news for you and me.

Second, it only takes a tiny bit of faith for the Lord to work. If you maneuver onto a frozen pond with piddling faith that the ice will hold you, yet the ice is two feet thick, you’ll be fine. If you have all the faith in the world and the ice measures one half inch, you’re headed for a dunking. Faith is not the point—it’s the object of our faith that matters.

Merely a crumb. Doesn’t feel like much, but a sliver of faith can change the world.

Mark 7:24-30

Photo by Yue Iris