And Jesus answered, with Love!...the Wayfarer 5/18/14

And Jesus answered, with Love!
5/18/14

“Then Jesus answered and said unto her. O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.”

(Matthew 15:28)

Jesus was constantly asked for his assistance, for healing, for guidance, for prophecy, even positions of greatness and authority in the kingdom which he preached was yet to come. He was asked by the multitudes continually for that assistance and guidance, and healing. He was asked by his disciples for enlightenment, and to share the same gifts that He possessed, and for a portion of his glory not even understood by them as they asked.

Here, we find a Canaanite woman asking for his help with a daughter’s possession, asking his mercy on both herself and that daughter.

Those disciples would have sent her away, after all, she was a Canaanite, not even of their own people, not of their own peer group, not to be given any consideration whatsoever, but to be ignored and sent away.

They counseled Jesus to do just this, to send her away, because she made such a scene in front of their own people, embarrassing those disciples, and taking attention away from their own requests and wants that, in their minds and hearts came first, last, and only of the Master.

When Jesus answered them, and her, it was with love, as was each answer given each request made of Him:

“But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

(Matthew 15:24)

On first blush, this would seem to be a denial of this poor woman’s request, a statement that it was only the Jew that counted when parceling out the miracles and love which he preached and proved over and over.

The woman was persistent, and more importantly recognized the need to worship Him, and DID SO! Then she continued with her pleas.

“But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs.

And she said, Truth, Lord, yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their master’s table.

Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

(Matthew 15:26-28)

Because that woman had faith, because she chose to worship Him, Jesus answered with love.

The 15^th chapter continues with Jesus coming in to Galilee, and the great multitude that gathered around him there bringing their blind, dumb, maimed, and the many other infirmities that were in need of being healed.

Jesus answered that multitude with love, giving that healing, allowing the dumb to speak, the lame to walk, the blind to see, and granting each request with love.

Take careful note that this in turn prompted those gathered to glorify the God of Israel, as they had no doubt, but faith alone about where these blessings had come.

Next, recorded in this chapter, is the miracle of the seven loaves and fishes. This miracle is often preached in view of the power that Jesus held, and holds, but seldom preached in view of the reasoning behind the performance of that miracle.

“Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way”

(Matthew 15:32)

That multitude did not ask for physical nourishment as given by food, what they sought was something far larger than being fed merely another meal. They sought the larger blessings they knew to be given when asked, the miracles that only Jesus could give them by healing any and all defects of body and spirit.

Jesus saw the NEED for that physical nourishment that was created through the faith that kept them constantly there, neglecting that physical nourishment, choosing instead the spiritual nourishment that was being given through both the healings and through the message preached to them as He did so.

Jesus answered that need as well, with love, with compassion for their needs.

He gave of himself totally, withholding nothing good from them, to include what little food was available to Him and the disciples, blessed that food, and multiplied the blessing of that food so that it was available to all of them, not just those few closest to Him.

Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.

And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.

And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him and offering him vinegar,

And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.

And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost thou not fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”

(Luke 23:34-43)

Even from the cross, Jesus answered with love!

Take note, however, that those answers were not given only to those who had also proved that they were worthy of that love.

Those answers of love and forgiveness were given even to those who crucified Him.

None was worthy of that love, none was righteous enough to have earned that love, but it was freely given to any and all who was willing to accept that love.

It was that very love that was denied and denigrated by the Pharisees and Sadducees, and scribes and lawyers, but accepted by the common publican, that led to that crucifixion, led to the denial of the greatest gift ever given by God to man, led to the availability of that love through that crucifixion to all of mankind, and not the Jew alone.

It is still that love, with which Jesus answers those who, like that woman, that poor Canaanite, realize that they are not worthy of that love, and cannot be worthy of that love by virtue of themselves, but ask for that love anyway, accept it willingly comprehending the reason for Christ having been sent and crucified, and most importantly resurrected to continue the provision of that love through His intercession on behalf of men who remain unworthy when measured in the eyes men, but fully worthy when measured in the eyes that see only the heart and soul of those who have heard and comprehended his message of redemption through repentance, believed that message, accepted that love given and accept the requirement to share that love as was given in the single commandment left us by Him.

It is with love that Christ answers those who come to him. It was love that brought Him to us to live among us, leaving for a time the power and glory that He held and Holds once more and for eternity.

It is with love provision is made to prepare us a Way through having been given His Truth that we may inherit that promised Life, by simply accepting that message He preached, and that commandment left us.

It is that love that he came to bring the world, in place of the condemnation that was and is being accepted in place of that love.

It is that love to which we are to aspire, not to grant any worthiness, not to gain any acceptance, not for financial gain or fame of our own, but simply to show others that it continues to exist, and to meet the requirement of the Great commission, not just left those closest disciples who walked with Him during His ministry, but, also left us as a requirement, if we are to claim to worship in Spirit and in Truth.

Each of the teachings found in the gospels was given with that love. Each holds importance in light of that love. Each may only be understood, followed, and truly obeyed with that love.

Jesus answered with love… How do you answer?

I remain yet and still, His humble servant, nothing more than were those publicans and “sinners” to whom he brought his message of redemption through repentance, myself a self-recognized  simple sinner, but one saved by the grace of God, through faith in that love that was given in answer for that repentance given, and, that must continue to be given, with that recognition of my own lack of worthiness, rather than assuming any righteousness of my own, but in total recognition of His righteousness alone, proven by that love, and the sacrifice made for me by HIM to make me worthy when I stand with Him at my side before the throne of that grace!

I remain also the soldier called into service, called into action as is required by that love, comprehending that that love when held requires action that must follow to be of any effect. I pray, not only for that love to continue to be given, but also to be able to give that love as well.

2 Timothy 1:12 King James Version (KJV)

¹² For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Amen and Amen
the Wayfarer