Lesson 96 - Senior
Memory Verse
"He hath done all things well" (Mark 7:37).
Cross References
I Jesus and the Syrophoenician Woman
1. Jesus passes through the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, [MAT:15:21].
2. A Gentile woman cries for mercy, [MAT:15:22]; LMAK:10:47].
3. Her cries are unanswered; the disciples want to send her away, [MAT:15:23]; [JHN:11:6].
4. Jesus says He was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, [MAT:15:24]; [MAT:9:36].
5. She worships Jesus and pleads for help, [MAT:15:25].
6. Jesus tells her the children's bread should not be given to dogs, [MAT:15:26].
7. Her faith and perseverance bring reward, [MAT:15:27-28]; [JAM:1:3]; [1PE:1:7].
II Jesus and the Man Who Was Deaf
1. Jesus comes to the Sea of Galilee by way of Decapolis [MAK:7:31].
2. They bring a deaf man and beseech Jesus to heal him, [MAK:7:32]; [MAT:9:32]; [LUK:11:14].
3. Jesus puts His fingers in the man's ears and touches his tongue, [MAK:7:33-34]; [MAK:9:23].
4. Immediately his ears are opened and his tongue loosed, [MAK:7:35]; [ISA:35:5-6].
5. The people are grateful and say, "He hath done all things well," [MAK:7:36-37].
Notes
The Syrophoenician Woman
We find that in the life of Jesus here on earth He devoted His ministry to the Jews. He said He was not sent but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, but He did not turn a deaf ear to the cry of those outside the fold when they came seeking help. Just as He "must needs" go through Samaria one day, we believe He must needs pass along the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, for in those coasts there was a mother in deep trouble. Her daughter was terribly afflicted by the devil. No doubt that mother had tried every known remedy to relieve her daughter, all to no avail. When she heard of the fame of Jesus and that He was passing through their coast, she must have said in her heart, "I am going to seek His help." Hope sprang up in her heart that her daughter might yet be well. Trouble has brought many a soul to the feet of Jesus. As we listen to the testimonies of the redeemed of the Lord that go forth in our services, we find that most of them came to Jesus seeking a way out of their troubles. Many of them were just as forlorn, just as bound by the devil, as this daughter was. They found that the Gospel has the same power to deliver today as it had two thousand years ago.
A Penitent's Prayer
This woman was called a Canaanite because of the people from whom she descended. Mark calls her a Syrophoenician because of the country where she dwelt. She acknowledged the divinity of Jesus by calling Him Lord. She must have known something of Jewish history, for she calls Him the Son of David. Her prayer was short, but she put her whole life and soul into it "Have mercy on me." That is the substance of the prayer that every sinner prays. It is a penitent's prayer. It never fails to reach the ear of Jesus. He may not answer immediately, as in this case, but He will never turn a penitent soul away.
Perseverance
At first Jesus did not answer her. We may not always get answers to our prayers at once, but this woman's perseverance should encourage us to keep holding on. The disciples wanted to send her away. Many times people do not understand what is in the heart of a penitent soul and would turn him away without help. Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart. Jesus said, "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matthew 15:24). That would have daunted the courage of many people; but the fact that Jesus spoke to her seemed to put boldness into her heart, for she drew near and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, help me." Jesus said, "It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs." How many people in the world today would have become indignant at such a rebuke, and like Naaman the leper, would have turned away in a rage. But, with her courage undaunted, she said, "Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table." That statement brought forth, one of the greatest commendations that ever fell from the lips of the Master: "O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt." Jesus often reproved the disciples because of their little faith. They had seen miracle after miracle performed. This woman, a Canaanite, possibly had never seen a miracle wrought, but in her heart she believed He was the Son of God and had power to help. She persevered until help came. How many times do we fall short of the real glory that would be ours if we would persevere and keep holding on!
"Keep holding on, Keep holding on,
The victory will soon be won;
The longest day will soon be gone,
Keep holding on, Keep holding on."
That very hour the daughter was healed. The Scripture in Isaiah was fulfilled, that He came to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives ([ISA:61:1]). True faith accompanied by repentance brings results every time. The faith of this humble, simple hearted woman has brought to us one of the greatest lessons on faith and perseverance that we have in the Word of God. The more we hear and study the Word of God with an open heart, the more faith will grow in our souls; for by faith we stand ([2CO:1:24]). We walk by faith ([2CO:5:7]), and we live by faith ([GAL:2:20]). In the Book of Hebrews we are told that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen, and that without faith it is impossible to please God. Someone has said that a little faith will get you into Heaven, but that great faith will bring Heaven into you.
Bringing Souls to Jesus
The deaf man recorded in this lesson was helpless and could not hear them tell about the wonderful miracles that Jesus was doing. In his pitiful state he did not know there was deliverance for him. It remained for those who did know to bring him to Jesus. Many people are sick and helpless today, lying on beds of affliction in their homes and in hospitals. They have never heard that Jesus can heal or that there is deliverance for them through His precious Blood. It is our duty to tell them the Story and bring them to Jesus.
Power in Christ's Touch
When they brought this man to Jesus they besought Him to lay His hand on the man. They must have realized the power there was in His touch. We read in I Kings 18:46 that "the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel." The power of that hand upon Elijah made him run faster than Ahab could go in his chariot. When Jesus put His finger in the deaf man's ears and touched his tongue and said, "Be opened," straightway his ears were opened and his tongue was loosed and he spoke plainly.
All Things Well
The multitudes were astonished, but it brought forth from their hearts the statement, "He hath done all things well." When we look back and think of all the things He has done for us, and the way His hand has been over us and guided us, cannot we say with them, "He hath done all things well"? Jesus did not want popularity, and He charged the people to tell no man; but their hearts were overflowing with joy and gratitude and they published it all the more, for it was too good to keep. When His healing power touches our bodies, or His Blood applied to our hearts sets our sinful souls free, joy fills our souls, and it is too good to keep to our selves alone. We want others to know. The word "Gospel" means good news, and we want to tell the world about it.
Questions
1. Where was Jesus at the time of this lesson?
2. To what people was Jesus sent?
3. Of what nationality was this woman who came to Jesus?
4. What do you consider the greatest trait of character she had?
5. How was she rewarded?
6. What was Jesus' commendation of her?
7. How did Jesus heal the deaf man?
8. Since he could not hear, how did he know about Jesus?
9. What did the people say about Jesus after these miracles?