She Knew What to Do
– Matthew 15:21-28
Dear Christian friends. Professor John Schuetze wrote a book a while back called Angels and Demons. That book described what demon possession looks like and the effects of what it does to a person. It’s pretty scary actually. The things he describes in this book would most likely shock you. Superhuman strength, bad language, violence…. Now, imagine a person who you love dearly is demon possessed. They are not themselves. Seeing them in this state would be absolutely heartbreaking for you.
That is the situation we find this mother in today in our gospel lesson. Imagine the torment of having your daughter you love use “extremely foul language,” become violent with superhuman strength, become especially rebellious at any mention of Christ and show the many other signs of demon-possession. As a parent you feel for your child when they are sick. It is hard to imagine a sickness more awful than this. So what can a mother do? What did this mother do? She put her faith in that special person prophesied in God’s Word who would come through a special nation, Israel. She put her faith in that person also known as the Messiah, the Son of David, the Lord.
Please notice the way she addressed Jesus at the time she met him. Jesus was on the way to her country to find some needed rest. ‘Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me.” There is a large comparison here to the woman at the well in Samaria. Both were non-Jews. And yet both these women were deeply concerned in that Messiah promised to Israel. Naturally they had lots of questions. Was it really true that a descendant of King David would be born in Israel and that he would be the Lord and Savior of the world? The sad thing is that many Israelites, God’s chosen people, took little interest in this question. The Pharisees were busy trying to build their way to heaven through good works, and Sadducees doubted whether there was a god who would call all people to a day of judgment. These two groups failed to appreciate the truth of the ways of the living God as they are revealed in Scripture.
And they really had no excuse. God’s Word came to them and all people through the inspired prophets of Israel. That Word also revealed that because of Abraham, God had honored Israel, making it the cradle of the Messiah, the Savior of a world of sinners. Yes, it’s interesting that while many in Israel had little interest in what was clearly revealed to them, we find Gentiles such as the Samaritan woman at the well, the centurion, and this Canaanite woman all deeply interested in God’s promise to Israel and the world of sinners. And what really encourages us is that none of these three came to the conclusion that they were left out just because they were not Jews. They remembered and took to heart the ancient promise as it was given to Abraham. It spoke of blessings to Abraham and his descendants but it also promised blessing to ALL who would turn to the hope of Israel. So now the eternal life saving question….. Was Jesus of Nazareth that hope? Was he the Messiah? Happily, the Holy Spirit gave them hearts that believed and tongues that confessed that true faith.
“Lord, Son of David,” is the way the Canaanite woman addressed Jesus. You see…. she recognized in Jesus both man (Son of David} and God (Lord). She also knew that only God could give her that victory over Satan who now controlled her daughter. Our text tells us that Jesus quizzed her further and she passed. She demonstrated for all who were there and for us how solid her faith was. Jesus said to her, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” But do see what happens? She was not put off. She didn’t give up. She was not a “shallow” believer. She knew that God’s plan did honor Israel in many ways but it did not exclude her or her daughter nor does it exclude any sinner. She knew and was confident that even those crumbs of grace that a little pet dog loves to lick up, would be enough for her. “Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, ‘Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.’ He answered, ‘It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ she said, ‘but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.'” (Matthew 15:23-27)
And now follows a word of praise that Jesus gave to only two people in the entire New Testament Scripture. Very often Jesus scolded people for their lack of faith, but only two people received commendation for great faith – and, believe it or not, both were Gentiles! The one was the centurion whose son Jesus healed and the other is this Canaanite woman. Listen to our Savior’s gracious praise. “Then Jesus answered, ‘Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.’ And her daughter was healed from that very hour.” (Matthew 15:28)
The centurion was in a battle with death. His son was dying. This Canaanite woman was in a battle with Satan, himself. Both turned to Jesus in faith and he gave both of them victory! What a simple and beautiful lesson for us all!
Do not give up, even if engaged in a battle with death and Satan. Do not stop your prayers for his grace and power. Don’t stop clinging to all the promises of his love and salvation as they are revealed to us in Scripture. Never, for a moment, fear that you are somehow left out of the loving embrace of God’s grace.
We may not have to fight such a fierce battle as this woman with a daughter possessed by Satan. Nevertheless, we can have joy and happiness and comfort knowing that, with Jesus as our Lord, we are ready even something as bad or as difficult as that.
We all face challenges and difficulties in our lives. Lots of uncertainty especially a while ago with COVID. And even in the present with the next week coming up and the hot temps and other “weekly” things. Thinking about the future and those we know going through chemo or radiation. How’s that going to turn out? But we have our God who is stronger than any virus or disease that can cripple us. He defeated Satan. He defeated death. So, let’s all pray that Jesus keep us strong, even amidst the uncertainties we all face. She knew what to do. We do too. Amen.
Welcome: The family of Zion welcomes you as we worship the Lord today. We encourage children to worship with us. However, if you need to leave with your child, there is a nursery room to the right as you exit the sanctuary. The rest rooms are located in the hallway between the sanctuary and the fellowship hall. Visitors, please sign our guest book to the right, just outside the sanctuary. We’re glad that you are here and pray that through our worship the Lord grants you peace.
W h a t T h i s S u n d a y i s A b o u t
A CHURCH FOR ALL PEOPLE
“All are welcome!” Is that true at our church? Historically, it rarely is true. In the gospels, the average Jewish person would have thought it odd, even offensive, if someone who wasn’t an Israelite walked into their place of worship. Taking it a step further, some of the Jewish religious leaders would imply that church was meant for those who zealously followed religious customs and traditions. Those were “good church folk.” So church was meant for people of the right heritage and who behaved the right way. What about us? Is it conceivable that a stranger could walk into our church and for some reason you would ask yourself, “What is someone like that doing here?” Or, just perhaps, you are asking that question about yourself? “There are some seemingly godly people here. I’m not like them. Do I really belong?”
Today, Jesus shows us that God wants church to be for all people. All of us—regardless of age, ethnicity, gender, or social status—have the same problem of sin. And we all have the same Savior. Therefore, anyone who comes to Christ’s Church and cries out, “Lord, have mercy!” is more than welcome.
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ORDER OF WORSHIP……………………………………………….……………….p. 207
HYMNS: 914 – 855 – 768 – 860
PRAYER – Gracious God, in Christ you bring people from near and far into the fellowship of your church. Open our eyes to see your saving plan, and move us to embrace all who seek your salvation so that we may rejoice together at the banquet of your love; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
PSALM FOR THE DAY…………………………………………………………………….67
FIRST LESSON – Isaiah 56:1,6-8 (pew Bible p. 525) – God in his grace calls the Gentiles into his presence and makes his Church a house of prayer for all nations.
SECOND LESSON – Ephesians 2:13-22 (pew Bible p. 827) – In the face of Jesus’ test a Canaanite woman demonstrates great faith, proving that God’s Church is meant for all people.
SERMON…………………………………………………………….…Matthew 15:21-28
“SHE KNEW WHAT TO DO”
Lessons for Proper 15
FIRST LESSON – Isaiah 56:1,6-8
Salvation for Others
56 This is what the Lord says:
“Maintain justice
and do what is right,
for my salvation is close at hand
and my righteousness will soon be revealed.
. . . . .
6 And foreigners who bind themselves to the Lord
to minister to him,
to love the name of the Lord,
and to be his servants,
all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it
and who hold fast to my covenant—
7 these I will bring to my holy mountain
and give them joy in my house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and sacrifices
will be accepted on my altar;
for my house will be called
a house of prayer for all nations.”
8 The Sovereign Lord declares—
he who gathers the exiles of Israel:
“I will gather still others to them
besides those already gathered.”
SECOND LESSON – Ephesians 2:13-22
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
GOSPEL LESSON –Matthew 15:21-28
The Faith of a Canaanite Woman
21 Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”
23 Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”
24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”
25 The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.
26 He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”
27 “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”
28 Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
WELS CONNECTION – The WELS Connection for August will be shown after the service today.
NEXT SUNDAY – Next Sunday we will celebrate Proper 17 at 9:00 with fellowship at 10:15. The readings will be: Jeremiah 15:15-21 / Romans 8:18-25 / Matthew 16:21-26.
SPA TIME – We’re going to try something a bit new. Every third Sunday of the month after the service will be SPA time. This stands for Sunday Pastor Availability. Pastor will be available until 10:40 when he leaves for Marshfield. If anyone needs to talk about things or church business outside of meetings need to be discussed, this would be the time. People can, of course, discuss things with Pastor before or after the service anytime but the third Sunday would be a specific time set apart each month to do that. There will be no Bible Class then on the 3rd Sunday.
AUGUST FORWARD IN CHRIST AND MEDITATIONS – These are available in the Narthex.
THE WEEK IN REVIEW– Last Week’s Worship Attendance: Members-26; Guests-18 / Communion-37 / Fellowship-Bible Class – 26 / Sunday’s Offerings-$1,454.00
THOSE WE REMEMBER IN OUR PRAYERS – Barbara & Larry Long; Liz & Roger Lisenby; Greg Miller; Russ Perry, Deb Hunt’s father, in hospice care at home; Patsy Mickelson (Jane’s mother); Khendra Murdock; Norine Richardson.