If you live in Raymond, you don't get a lesson this week, one of the casualties of the boundary adjustments and the creation of a new ward. The rest of you are probably on Lesson 13.
This is my first "civilian" posting, which was an interesting experience. I had a few ideas and insights as I read, but mostly questions.
Jesus and the disciples had gone up to Tyre and Sidon from Capernaum (about 60km away). Matthew and Mark don't mention the reason for the detour, only that while they are there a Greek woman "besought [Jesus] that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter" (Mark 7:26). Matthew records she "cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on my, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil" (Matt 15:22). She was making enough of a scene the disciples "besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us." (Matt 15:23). "Can't you just help her so she'll go away?"
Christ told the woman, "Let the children of the kingdom (JST Mark 7:26) first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs." Ouch, that seems a little harsh. But the Greek word used here means "little dog" or family pet.
The woman, who seems to have understood what Jesus was saying, replied, "Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs." (Mark 7:28).
Jesus, impressed with her faith (see Matt 15:28) tells her she can have what she wants and her daughter was made whole.
So, was this the primary reason Christ came to the region? Nothing else is recorded of the trip. It seems a long way to go to test the faith of a gentile woman. Was this a primer for the apostles, letting them know the time will come when they will take the gospel to the gentiles?
From the coast of Tyre and Sidon, they traveled to Decapolis, ten cities to the south east of the sea of Galiliee, again largely populated by gentiles. The people had followed the Savior for three days as he healed their sick (see Matthew 15:32-39/ Mark 8:1-10). Four thousand men (not counting women and children) were starting to get a little hungry and Jesus had compassion on them. The disciples pointed out they were in the wilderness and couldn't buy bread, and didn't have enough to feed everyone. Christ took the seven loaves and the few small fish, gave thanks, and broke them. The disciples then distributed them among the multitude, and after everyone was full, they collected seven baskets of left-overs.
Some of my questions:
-Why did he wait three days before having compassion on the multitude? The 5,000 were fed after only a single day.
-Why didn't the disciples just ask for a repeat performance? They had seen him feed 5,000 with only five loaves. Were they afraid to ask for something which seemed so far out of reach?
-Why were there only seven baskets left over? For that matter, why were there twelve baskets left over the first time?
A couple of points I'm taking from these two experiences:
-I need to be more like the gentile woman in my prayers. Her faith and persistence resulted in the desired blessing. My prayers could use a bit more faith and persistence.
-Don't be offended or hurt when the Lord tests my faith. In the scriptures, every time faith is tested a great blessing awaits on the other side, "for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith." (Ether 12:6)
-The multitude followed Christ for three days without eating. What am I willing to give up to be closer to him? A bad habit or two? Maybe a favorite sin?
This is my first "civilian" posting, which was an interesting experience. I had a few ideas and insights as I read, but mostly questions.
Jesus and the disciples had gone up to Tyre and Sidon from Capernaum (about 60km away). Matthew and Mark don't mention the reason for the detour, only that while they are there a Greek woman "besought [Jesus] that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter" (Mark 7:26). Matthew records she "cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on my, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil" (Matt 15:22). She was making enough of a scene the disciples "besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us." (Matt 15:23). "Can't you just help her so she'll go away?"
Christ told the woman, "Let the children of the kingdom (JST Mark 7:26) first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs." Ouch, that seems a little harsh. But the Greek word used here means "little dog" or family pet.
The woman, who seems to have understood what Jesus was saying, replied, "Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs." (Mark 7:28).
Jesus, impressed with her faith (see Matt 15:28) tells her she can have what she wants and her daughter was made whole.
So, was this the primary reason Christ came to the region? Nothing else is recorded of the trip. It seems a long way to go to test the faith of a gentile woman. Was this a primer for the apostles, letting them know the time will come when they will take the gospel to the gentiles?
From the coast of Tyre and Sidon, they traveled to Decapolis, ten cities to the south east of the sea of Galiliee, again largely populated by gentiles. The people had followed the Savior for three days as he healed their sick (see Matthew 15:32-39/ Mark 8:1-10). Four thousand men (not counting women and children) were starting to get a little hungry and Jesus had compassion on them. The disciples pointed out they were in the wilderness and couldn't buy bread, and didn't have enough to feed everyone. Christ took the seven loaves and the few small fish, gave thanks, and broke them. The disciples then distributed them among the multitude, and after everyone was full, they collected seven baskets of left-overs.
Some of my questions:
-Why did he wait three days before having compassion on the multitude? The 5,000 were fed after only a single day.
-Why didn't the disciples just ask for a repeat performance? They had seen him feed 5,000 with only five loaves. Were they afraid to ask for something which seemed so far out of reach?
-Why were there only seven baskets left over? For that matter, why were there twelve baskets left over the first time?
A couple of points I'm taking from these two experiences:
-I need to be more like the gentile woman in my prayers. Her faith and persistence resulted in the desired blessing. My prayers could use a bit more faith and persistence.
-Don't be offended or hurt when the Lord tests my faith. In the scriptures, every time faith is tested a great blessing awaits on the other side, "for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith." (Ether 12:6)
-The multitude followed Christ for three days without eating. What am I willing to give up to be closer to him? A bad habit or two? Maybe a favorite sin?
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