Jesus – Page 4 – Praying Pint

34. “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”

Matthew 17:24 When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax went up to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the tax?” He said, “Yes.” And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others?” And when he said, “From others,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself.”

Matthew 3:15    But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.

Matthew 22:21   They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

Romans 13:6-7    For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing.  Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

This was a tribute or payment of a peculiar kind, being half a shekel, (that is, about fifteen pence,) which every master of a family used to pay yearly to the service of the temple: to buy salt, and little things not otherwise provided for. It seems to have been a voluntary thing, which custom, rather than any law, had established. Peter is asked for this tax and he is going to ask Jesus about it, but Jesus spoke first. “What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others?” Do they ask of this tax from people belonging to their family or of people not belonging to their family? The obvious answer is, of those not belonging to their family. This tax was for the purpose of the use of the house of God – the temple. Jesus being the Son of God would therefor be free from any obligation of paying this tax. Rather than give these people occasion to say He was disposing the temple and its service, and as well teaching His disciples to do the same, He sends Peter on a fishing trip.

How illustrious a degree of knowledge and power did our Lord here discover! Knowledge penetrating into this animal, though beneath the waters; and power, in directing this very fish to Peter’s hook, though he himself was at a distance! How must this have encouraged both Peter and his brethren in a firm dependance on Divine Providence! “Jesus chose to provide this tribute-money by a miracle, either because the disciple who carried the bag was absent, or because he had not as much money as was necessary. Further, he chose to provide it by this particular miracle, rather than any other, because it was of such a kind as to demonstrate that he was the Son of the Great Monarch worshipped in the temple, who rules the universe. Wherefore, in the very manner of his paying this tax, he showed Peter that he was free from all taxes; and at the same time gave his followers this useful lesson, that, in matters which affect their property in a smaller degree, it is better to recede somewhat from their just rights, than, by stubbornly insisting on them, to offend their brethren, or disturb the state.” — Macknight.

33.z. “Let these words sink into your ears”

Matthew 17:22 As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.” And they were greatly distressed.

Mark 9:30-31    They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know,  for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.

Luke 44  “Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.”

Matthew 16:21    From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.

Mark 8:31    And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again.

Luke 9:22     saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”

Mark 10:33-34   saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles.  And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.”

Luke 24:6-7    He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee,  that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.”

Luke 24:26     Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?”

Jesus, knowing of His betrayal, beatings, mocking, rejection, and suffering to death on the cross, chose to bear all of this for your salvation and redemption. Willingly He took on all the sins of man, past and future so that those who would believe in Him would have eternal life.

John 3:15 “that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.”

I fear there will be many who believe Jesus was the Son of God and that He died for sinners, but they have never trusted Him for the forgiveness of “Their Sins”. They believe who Jesus was but it has no effect on their lives or in their heart. This shallowness is a one-way ticket to eternal hell. Oh, that these souls would see they are without hope apart from complete humble surrender, belief, trust, and reliance in and on Jesus Christ. There are a good number of people who live good lives, do good things, and say kind words but have never felt the need to completely trust in Jesus Christ. They have looked at their lives and concluded they are good enough to inherit eternal life by the way they have conducted their lives. Nothing could be further from the truth. The goodness of one’s life will never equal eternal life. It is only when any and all self-centered reliance is recognized and discarded as a filthy rag that a person will see the fullness of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice, salvation, and redemption. There is not a single person who does enough good or is good enough to stand before God in their good works that are done apart from first being fully committed to believing, trusting, relying, obeying, and following Jesus Christ. Now is the time of salvation. Now is the time to repent. Now is the time to believe in the salvation and redemption found in and through Jesus Christ alone. Turn away from any and all thoughts of being good enough and cast all your hope and trust in the work Jesus Christ did on the cross for YOUR sin.

33.y. “Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Matthew 17:14 And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to him and, kneeling before him, said, “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he has seizures and he suffers terribly. For often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. And I brought him to your disciples, and they could not heal him.” And Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me.” And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”

You have to wonder if the disciples felt a hesitation concerning their own ability, and this is the reason they lacked faith. It is the bane of every person to infuse and confuse faith with their own ability. Faith alone, period. Not faith plus my ability – faith alone. It is hard to surrender or cause to die those feelings of reliance in (and on) self, and even more so when the object or desire of our faith relies solely on the will and grace of God alone. We read the rebuke by Jesus to the disciples and their true desire to understand why they could not cast out the demon from this man’s son. “If you have faith like the grain of a mustard seed” (very small – about 10x the width of a human hair). Jesus is saying, faith, when it is set apart from all earthly and self ability can accomplish anything and everything – in line with God’s sovereignty, purpose, and will. As I write this I also wonder how this true “faith” is grown, flourished, and applied. I believe it is when a person continues to grow in their walk with Jesus Christ. Day by day they continue to die to self and learn to yield and rely upon God alone. As we continue to seek and desire to honor and glorify Jesus Christ in all we think, say, and do it is then our faith in self-reliance dies and Jesus reliance grows. Scripture says God can do more than we ask and much more than we can imagine. Faith (no matter how small that pure faith is) in Him alone who is limitless will accomplish God’s will and purpose. We must also leave room in our faith for God’s will and His timing. The three friends of Daniel said, “Oh King, our God is able to deliver us from your decree of being thrown into the fiery furnace, but even if He does not we will not bow down to your statue.” There are times I am sure our faith is pure and in line with God’s Word, but is not in line with His will, purpose, and timing. In these times we must be content with our prayer being in the hands of our Creator.

33.w. “And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun”

Matthew 17:1 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.” And the disciples asked him, “Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” He answered, “Elijah does come, and he will restore all things. But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.

The Transfiguration of Jesus. (Mark 9:2-13; Luke 9:28-36.) This mysterious event was intended primarily to confirm the faith of the three apostles who were to have the chief hand in founding the Church. The Lord had just announced his future sufferings and death. This prediction had been a grievous blow to Peter, and doubtless to the others also. He had stumbled at the cross, and had brought on himself a stern rebuke for his slowness and worldliness. So to comfort the chosen three under the thought of what awaited their Master, they were shown a glimpse of the glory which he has in heaven; they saw the Law and the prophets yielding subjection to him; they heard the voice of the Father announcing his Sonship. Henceforward they might take courage under all circumstances; the cross would be no infamy or disgrace – would open the way to victory and glory. Here was a foretaste of the blessedness of heaven – to be with Christ and his saints in his kingdom. Such was the Transfiguration to the three witnesses. To the world, when in due time it was made known, it taught lessons of the Incarnation, the resurrection of the body, the glory that shall be the portion of the righteous. (unknown)

Moses and Elijah: Remarkably, these two Old Testament persons appeared and spoke with the transfigured Jesus. Moses had lived some 1400 years before; Elijah some 900 years before; yet they were alive and in some sort of resurrected, glorified state. It is fair to think that these two particular persons from the Old Testament appeared because they represent the Law (Moses) and the Prophets (Elijah). The sum of Old Testament revelation came to meet with Jesus at the Mount of Transfiguration. (Guzik)

From this we see: “Saints long departed still alive; live in their personality; are known by their names; and enjoy near access to Christ.” (Spurgeon)

“If the Father says, ‘This is my Son,’ observe the graciousness of our adoption! With such a Son the Lord had no need of children. He did not make us his children because he needed sons, but because we needed a father.” (Spurgeon)

“Though the apostles saw ‘Jesus only,’ they saw quite sufficient, for Jesus is enough for time and eternity, enough to live by and enough to die by…O look to him, and though it be Jesus only, though Moses should condemn you, and Elias should alarm you, yet ‘Jesus only’ shall be enough to comfort and enough to save you.” (Spurgeon)

33.u. “So as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God”

Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.

1 Peter 4:2    so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.

John 12:25     Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

Acts 20:24    But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

Job 27:8   For what is the hope of the godless when God cuts him off, when God takes away his life?

Luke 12:20    But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’

Mark 8:37    For what can a man give in return for his soul?

The cross wasn’t about religious ceremonies; it wasn’t about traditions and spiritual feelings. The cross was a way to execute people. Everyone knew that the cross was an unrelenting instrument of death. The cross had no other purpose. We have done a pretty good job in sanitizing and ritualizing the cross. “Cross bearing does not refer to some irritation in life. Rather, it involves the way of the cross. “Denying self is not the same as self-denial. We practice self-denial when, for a good purpose, we occasionally give up things or activities. But we deny self when we surrender ourselves to Christ and determine to obey His will.”

Human nature wants to indulge self, not deny self. Death to self is always terrible, and if we expect it to be a pleasant or mild experience, we will often be disillusioned. Death to self is the radical command of the Christian life. To take up your cross meant one thing: you were going to a certain death, and your only hope was in resurrection power. (Guzik & Wiersbe)

Death is a friend no one wants but is always no more than one heartbeat or breath away from every single person born. We may deny it is with us at all times. We deny it has a time of its choosing to end our earthly life. We see it as a friend very close to others but not close to us. As hard as we may try to mask death’s inevitable fate for us we still will die and face eternity. Jesus is saying that death is coming to all and while we are still breathing you can choose to live life for eternal life or eternal death. Choosing to follow the way of the cross to death means a person dies to self continually. They have set their hearts, minds, and souls on repenting of sin, humbly surrendering, following, trusting, obeying, and relying on Jesus Christ alone. Nothing this world has to offer is greater than honoring and glorifying Jesus Christ in all that think, say, and do. The way of the cross would seem like a burden to those who see it as taking away from this life. But, to those who have chosen it, to them it is life worth living, eternal life, and their heart is more than comforted in this. They find what others deem as a burden, it is has given them peace, love, joy, hope, courage, power, and a place of refuge from the very moment they were born again.

Death comes to all and routinely gives no warning to its arrival. But, when it comes, eternity is waiting and it is here where God’s final judgment occurs and either eternal life or eternal torment is the result of the choice being made the living side of death. Choose to repent of sin, humbly surrender, follow, obey, trust, and rely on Jesus Christ for there is no other way to eternal life.

Upon death, no one can stand before God and claim they are worthy of eternal life because of their good works or anything else they have done. No one can say I did it my way and did not need Jesus Christ, nor did I need to burden myself with the way of the cross, nor can they say I went part way in following the path of the cross when it suited me. Scripture is clear, no one will find lasting peace, joy, love, hope, courage, power, and a place of refuge – eternal life – without surrendering this life and taking up the way of the cross through Jesus Christ.

33.t. “Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”

Matthew 16:21 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

1 Corinthians 15:3-4    For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,  that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

Luke 24:46    and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead,

Mark 10:32-34    And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him,  saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles.  And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.”

Acts 2:23-32   this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.  God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.

Romans 8:5-8    For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.  For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.  For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.  Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

“The ‘must’ of Jesus’ suffering lies, not in unqualified determinism, nor in heroic determination (though some of both is present), but in willing submission to his Father’s will.” (Carson)

We can be sure that Peter was not aware that he spoke for Satan, just as a moment before he was not aware that he spoke for God. It is often much easier to be a tool of God or of the devil than we want to believe. Jesus exposed how Peter came into this satanic way of thinking. He didn’t make a deliberate choice to reject God and embrace Satan; he simply let his mind settle on the things of men instead of the things of God, and Satan took advantage of it. Peter is a perfect example of how a sincere heart coupled with man’s thinking can often lead to disaster.

Such are the battles we will face each day – keeping our mind set on things above (heavenly) or allowing distraction of things of this world to attract our attention (earthly). Obviously, there is a difference, but how can a person know if their actions, words, and thoughts are heavenly (Jesus Christ-glorifying and honoring) or earthly and of little to no value? How much of our days are we humbly seeking and desiring to be led, directed, guided, and focused on hearing the quiet whispers of the Holy Spirit? How much of our days are we hungering for understanding and knowledge of His Word so that we might grow in this understanding and knowledge and honor and glorify Him in all we think, say, and do?

It is so easy to get our heavenly focus clouded by things of this world. It only takes a blink of our eye; allowing an unholy thought to linger in our mind, allowing our eyes to linger and cause us to lust, allowing our tongue to boast, allowing greed in our heart, allowing pride a place in our heart, allowing busyness to pull us away from God’s Word, allowing prosperity to keep us from reliance on God in all things, allowing physical or relational or material trials to take our eyes off of Jesus Christ and things heavenly, and in a moment and without notice our focus is changed from heavenly to earthly. Faith, hope, trust, and reliance on Jesus Christ alone do not depend on worldly circumstances or conditions. It is this solid foundation that allows us to navigate this life with discernment, patience, hope, love, joy, peace, courage, obedience, and most of all assurance in eternal life. Satan’s attacks will never be announced. We must be ever mindful of our sinful nature and how easily Satan can influence our focus and changed it from heavenly to earthly.

Keep in His Word and with this thought every waking moment; In all the words I speak, all the thoughts I have, and all the actions I take, let them be honor and glory to Jesus Christ.

33.s. “But who do you say that I am?”

Matthew 16:13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

This is the question placed before all who hear of Jesus; and it is we, not He, who are judged by our answer. In fact, we answer this question every day by what we believe and do. If we really believe Jesus is who He says He is, it will affect the way that we live. (Guzik)

“Our Lord presupposes that his disciples would not have the same thoughts as ‘men’ had. They would not follow the spirit of the age, and shape their views by those of the ‘cultured’ persons of the period.” (Spurgeon)

Whom do you say I am? as for those men, it is no great matter who they say I am; but of great moment and consequence are your sense and confession of me. Such who have long sat under a Gospel ministry, or who have been long in the church and school of Christ, it is expected of them, that they should know more of Christ than others; and should be come to a point about his person and office, and be ready to make a confession of their faith, and give a reason of their hope in him; and especially such who are, or are to be preachers of Christ to others: these ought to be well acquainted with him, who, and what he is; they should have no doubt, nor hesitation in their minds, about him, but be fully satisfied concerning him; and be free, and open, and ready to declare what they know and believe of him. (Gill)

What is it in our lives that demonstrates and confirms our answer to the question, “But who do you say that I am?” If our answer is, Redeemer, Savior, Son of God, and Hope of my Salvation, then our lives will shine bright of the hope, joy, peace, and love that we find in Him. We will think, speak, and do things much differently than the cultural and social norms that we live in. It is not the crosses we wear around our necks, bible verses we hang on our walls, or bibles we sit on our tables, (though these certainly are rightly done) but it is in our intentional choice to always seek and desire to honor and glorify Jesus Christ from deep within our hearts, minds, and souls in such a way that all we think, say and do is for this singular purpose alone.

33.o. “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.”

Matthew 16:1 And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” So he left them and departed.

Luke 20:23    But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them,

Luke 12:54-56    You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

Acts 2:40    And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.”

Luke 11:29-30   When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, “This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.

“It is an extraordinary phenomenon to find a combination of the Pharisees and Sadducees. They stood for both beliefs and policies which were diametrically opposed.” (Barclay) Yet for all these differences, Jesus brought them together. Not in a good way – they came together in opposition to Jesus, but they came together nonetheless.

Show us a sign was their request. They had heard of and seen the lame, deaf, mute, blind, and sick healed right before their eyes and still said, “show us a sign”. Asking for a sign indicates they knew who Jesus claimed himself to be and they rejected not only what He said but what they had witnessed Him doing.

Think about how God had done 8 wonders/signs in Egypt that rescued them from slavery. Think about how He had water come from a rock, manna from the sky, and birds for meat every day. The Israelites had witnessed God’s power, love, grace, and provision and yet they still did not trust Him to continue. The Bible gives repeated examples of those who saw remarkable signs, yet did not believe.

In Romans, it is also clear men reject God and have no excuse for their rejection. For what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts

No person can claim ignorance. Faith does not require a sign, though many may be given. Faith – believes, trusts, obeys, follows, and relies on Jesus Christ.

33.n. “I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”

Matthew 15:39 Jesus went on from there and walked beside the Sea of Galilee. And he went up on the mountain and sat down there. And great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others, and they put them at his feet, and he healed them, so that the crowd wondered, when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled healthy, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they glorified the God of Israel.

Psalms 50:15 and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”

Luke 17:15-18 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”

Whatever our case is, the only way to find ease and relief, is to lay it at Christ’s feet, to submit it to him, and refer it to his disposal. Those who would have spiritual healing from Christ, must be ruled as he pleases. See what work sin has made; what various diseases human bodies are subject to. Here were such diseases as fancy could neither guess the cause nor the cure of, yet these were subject to the command of Christ. The spiritual cures that Christ works are wonderful. When blind souls are made to see by faith, the dumb to speak in prayer, the maimed and the lame to walk in holy obedience, it is to be wondered at. (Henry)

Medical procedures in our time continue to evolve and fix or lessen a multitude of ailments and prolong life. Here, though, we see lame, deaf, mute, crippled, etc…. are healed by the power of God. There is no truer healing than that which is of God. It was easy to recognize it as the power of God. There was no procedure or surgeries or follow-up visits. They were healed. They glorified God because that is the only explanation for the healing. Fast forward to today. We are not easily given to the thought of being healed by God’s power but rather by medical procedures and doctors experts in their field of medical studies. Who is it that gives the mind of man the ability to learn? Who is it that gives the mind of man new understandings of medical procedures? Who is it that allows the mind of man to understand and apply new science and technology? Far too often man is given credit for what God does and is doing. We do well to always recognize and give glory and honor to God for any and all good things that He has allowed to help mankind.

33.m. “For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy”

Matthew 15:25 But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.

Ephesians 2:12    remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

Daniel 9:18    O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy.

Psalms 145:19    He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.

The woman responded with great faith. She admitted her low estate, and did not debate the issue when Jesus called her one of the little dogs. She did not demand to be seen as a child; but only to be blessed as a dog. Her response is especially meaningful in light of the increasing rejection of Jesus by the Jewish religious leaders. It was as if the woman said, “I’m not asking for the portion that belongs to the children, just the crumbs that they don’t want.” In the flow of Matthew’s gospel, there was more and more that the Jewish religious establishment did not want to receive. These were two faith-filled words: Yet even. She accepted Jesus’ description and asked for mercy despite it – or perhaps because of it. (Guzik)

Take note that the mother prayed “Help me”. Her daughter was afflicted and we would think the prayer would be “Help my daughter”, but this woman, distressed about her daughter, has heard of this Jesus who healed many, and more than likely has attempted every worldly remedy for her condition has taken on this burden of her daughter as her own. It is good for us to continually ask the Lord to help us, as we take from a night’s sleep, as we set out on our day, as we walk into work or other destinations, as we read His Word, as we try to understand and apply His purpose in our lives, and I have to imagine many of us do this more often than not. But, to love and care so deeply for a person that our prayer would seem empty if asked “Help my child” instead of “Help me”, is a one that both shows great love and great faith. To carry the burden of another person so deep in our heart that our prayer is for our help is hard for me to understand even though it is very clear this is just what this mother did. It does bring a scripture to mind; “Love your neighbor as yourself”. We do well to seek this type of love to permeate out of our thoughts, words, and actions as we live to honor and glorify Jesus Christ.