Jesus Is In the House! Reflections on Mark 7:24-37

September 02, 2012 by Alyce McKenzie

Continued from Page 1

So strong was her desire for her daughter's healing that she dared to match wits with Jesus. "Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs."

"Then he said to her 'For saying that, you may go—the demon has left your child'" (Mk. 7:29).

But she still has the trip home, step by step, praying something like, "I believe, help my unbelief. I believe, help my unbelief."

She still has the trip home toward the final scene that would never have happened if Jesus had not gone to Tyre, if someone had not let her know Jesus was in the house, and if she had not had just a crumb of faith to persist in making her request.

But Jesus had come to Tyre, and Jesus was in this house, and someone did bring him to her attention, and she did have faith enough to persist, and he did grant her request.

And so she opens the door, almost afraid to push it open, tempted to stay on the stoop. If this homecoming is like every other one, she knows what to expect before she even enters the dark, cool house from the heat of the day.

Yet, so far no slashes, no shards, no screams. She steps slowly into the bedroom, pushes the curtain aside—no sound of limbs thrashing on the bed. She steps in to stand next to the bed. There lies her little daughter, her eyes closed, her little face finally peaceful, and her body at rest. She opens her eyes and smiles up at her mother who, as she sits down next to her daughter on the bed, and sees that the demon is gone.

"She went home, found the child lying on the bed and the demon gone" (Mk. 7:30).

Condensed and adapted from a sermon delivered in Perkins Chapel September 30, 2009.

Sources Consulted

Kenneth Collins, John Wesley: A Theological Journey (Abingdon Press, 2003)

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About Alyce McKenzie

Alyce M. McKenzie is the George W. and Nell Ayers Le Van Professor of Preaching and Worship at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University.

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