Approaching Jesus
Mark 7:24-30
Main Idea: Through bold faith Jesus receives and feeds the unworthy.
I. The Problem (7:24-26)
Relational/Cultural Strife
Jews and Gentiles
Men and Women
II. The Parable (7:27-28)
“In Jesus’s day the Jews often called the Gentiles dogs because they were ‘unclean’. Is what Jesus says to her just an insult, then? No it’s a parable. The word parable means ‘metaphor’ or ‘likeness,’ and that’s what this is. One key to understanding it is the very usual word Jesus uses for ‘dogs’ here. He uses a diminutive form, a word that really means ‘puppies’… Jesus is saying to her, ‘You know how families eat: First the children eat at the table, and then afterward their pets eat too. It is not right to violate that order. The puppies must not eat food from the table before the children do.’”
-Tim Keller
Acts 10:25-35 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.” And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered. And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me.” And Cornelius said, “Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’ So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.” So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.
Luke 18:13-14 “…‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
“We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.” -Tim Keller
III. The Product (7:29-30)
This account impacts three different audiences: The woman, the child, and the disciples
The Woman
The Child
The Disciples
