It's the Crumbs for Me

“It’s the Crumbs for Me”
By Pastor Alli Munsey
May 9, 2021

A Gentile Mother’s Faith

He got up and departed from there to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it, but he could not escape notice. Instead, immediately after hearing about him, a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit came and fell at his feet. The woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth, and she was asking him to cast the demon out of her daughter. He said to her, “Let the children be fed first, because it isn’t right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” But she replied to him, “Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” Then he told her, “Because of this reply, you may go. The demon has left your daughter.”

• Mark 7:24-29 (CSB)

Mark 7:24-29 tells the story of the Syrophoenician woman who desperately wanted Jesus to heal her sick daughter. At first Jesus rejects her and tells her he has come for Israel, not for her people, but she is not discouraged. As she tells him the crumbs from his table will be plenty for her, Jesus responds by agreeing to heal her daughter on account of her faith.

At first, it can seem that Jesus responds harshly, which is contrary to the nature and character of who we know Jesus to be. Some theologians believe that Jesus had a glimmer in his eye when he responded this way because he knew the well of faith that was inside of this woman. He knew her ability to push past a response, and he was telling a bigger story. 

Here is a woman who was not even supposed to be in the vicinity of Jesus. She was a Greek woman, and Jesus was teaching the Jewish people. She threw herself at his feet and pushed past the pain of the offense of his response. Jesus said your reply has made your daughter whole and healed. 

Sometimes our response is more important than the questions asked. In humility, we have to push past the seasons where we are not seeing the things that we prayed for and the things we have asked for. We have to push through in faith and understand that the crumbs, if Jesus is in it, are just as fulfilling as the bread. If we learn anything from this mother, we learn about persistent prayer. She was persistent. She pressed through the pain and offense. In all humility, she postured herself before Jesus. She had the attitude that if Jesus was in the crumbs, it is just as fulfilling as the bread. 

The crumbs are enough. We don’t need the whole loaf of bread or even to sit at his table. Her need was met, and our needs will be met. We are here with our dreams, requests and desires. We need to believe with the woman that the crumbs will be enough, that what Jesus has will be enough. This woman was able to overlook the offense of Jesus’ response in order for her daughter to be healed. We have to hold on to the crumb Jesus has given us--the word, dream, or promise. When we persist with prayer, Jesus will show up supernaturally. 

From this woman, we know that our response matters, and she was blessed because of her persistent prayer. Proverbs 19:11 NLT encourages us to overlook offense. Often we get blocked in our prayer life, and our faith, because we have held onto offense. We can get discouraged in seasons when we are not seeing what we are believing for, but we need to be persistent because Jesus is more than just a miracle worker; he is our Lord and our savior. We have the honor and the privilege of being in his presence. When we don’t see what we are believing for, his presence can help us hang on. We can let our gratitude for who he is fill us to get us through.

When he formed us in our mother’s womb, he had a destiny and a purpose for us. When we tap into who we are in Christ, we can understand the purpose that he has for us. When we feel like we are lacking, Jesus has everything that we need. We don’t have to have all of the answers, but we can be consistent in what we do know. When we stand before Jesus, the things that we sow into eternity are what matter. 

Oftentimes, when we are in lack we listen to those voices that talk down to us. Those voices are not from God. The way Jesus deals with us is through compassion. The Holy Spirit is conviction and correction, a loving truth that causes us to go another way. The enemy's way of speaking to us is through condemnation, shame, and accusation. We do not have to accept the voice of the enemy because he will always look to accuse and condemn. When Jesus talked to the woman at the well in John 4, he spoke to convict and not to condemn. He invited her to new life and living water.

Purpose and a meaningful relationship with Jesus are more important than temporary status and happiness, but when we pursue purpose and meaning, happiness will follow. When we live on purpose, the crumbs will be as good as the bread. Jesus can do amazing things in our lives when we are fully devoted to him.  

Reflection/Discussion Questions: 

1. What have you been praying for that has not yet manifested, and are you persisting in prayer?

2. In what area are you lacking, but you know that Jesus is sufficient to fulfill your lack? 

3. What crumb, word or dream has God given you?

4. How can you refine your response to the season of waiting on his promise to come to pass?