50 min
Follow Me: Discipleship in Mark's Gospel - A Mother's Mission Secures God's Grace - Week 13 Church In Toronto Sermon Audio
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- Christianity
She was an educated, accomplished woman from the wealthy commercial city of Tyre. Yet she faced a crisis wealth, education & status couldn’t solve—her daughter’s psycho-spiritual affliction of demon possession. In desperation this mother sought out the visiting Healer-prophet—Jesus. Another obstacle arose—her status as an ‘outsider’ with respect to the Jewish people. But, nothing could deter this mother’s mission.
Jesus’ apparent rejection was harsh, yet it contained glimmer of hope; she laid hold of his enigmatic word, perceived its deeper meaning, and used it to leverage her daughter’s deliverance. As a result, she secured God’s grace despite her undeserving position—and that’s the Gospel! Jesus commended her “great faith” (Matt. 15:28) Yes, her faith was great, but it was also “intelligent faith,” not “blind faith.”
What can we learn from this mother’s quest? A lot: The power of a mother’s love. The value of persistent prayer uttered on behalf of our loved-ones. The need to comprehend God’s Word, to recognize our status within it, and to see how God’s promises & provisions apply to us, so we can claim them for ourselves & our loved-ones. That’s “intelligent faith,” which, combined with persistent prayer, is effective in its working (James 5:16).
She was an educated, accomplished woman from the wealthy commercial city of Tyre. Yet she faced a crisis wealth, education & status couldn’t solve—her daughter’s psycho-spiritual affliction of demon possession. In desperation this mother sought out the visiting Healer-prophet—Jesus. Another obstacle arose—her status as an ‘outsider’ with respect to the Jewish people. But, nothing could deter this mother’s mission.
Jesus’ apparent rejection was harsh, yet it contained glimmer of hope; she laid hold of his enigmatic word, perceived its deeper meaning, and used it to leverage her daughter’s deliverance. As a result, she secured God’s grace despite her undeserving position—and that’s the Gospel! Jesus commended her “great faith” (Matt. 15:28) Yes, her faith was great, but it was also “intelligent faith,” not “blind faith.”
What can we learn from this mother’s quest? A lot: The power of a mother’s love. The value of persistent prayer uttered on behalf of our loved-ones. The need to comprehend God’s Word, to recognize our status within it, and to see how God’s promises & provisions apply to us, so we can claim them for ourselves & our loved-ones. That’s “intelligent faith,” which, combined with persistent prayer, is effective in its working (James 5:16).
50 min