マタイによる福音書15:21-28 Matthew 15:21-28,

When Jesus was on earth, his saving work was done mainly in the region of Galilee, where he grew up, and in the region of Judea, where the city of Jerusalem is located. Both Galilee and Judea were territories of the nation of Israel in Old Testament times. However, for a little while, Jesus went abroad to do his saving work. This was in Tyre and Sidon, a region to the north of Israel. The regions of Tyre and Sidon are in the south of what is now the country of Lebanon. Jesus went to that region and spent a short time there.

The sea-facing region of Tyre and Sidon were very prosperous in Old Testament times because of trade. However, to the Israelites, it was a foreign country inhabited by people who did things contrary to God’s teachings. A woman called Jezebel, daughter of the king of Sidon, married Ahab, king of Israel, and became his wife. And she did many evil things that were contrary to God’s teachings. She worshipped idols that were not the true God, killed people who had not sinned, and took other people’s land. Probably even in Jesus’ time, there were many bad things going on in the region that were contrary to God’s teachings. However, even in this region, there was a woman who sought salvation from the true God. Her daughter was suffering from being possessed by a demon. When she heard that Jesus had come, she came to seek his help. She must have heard somewhere that Jesus has the power to cast out demons and save people.

The woman cried out for help, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” But Jesus gave no answer. Then the woman followed Jesus, shouting the same thing. The disciples, troubled, said to Jesus, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” Jesus said to this woman, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” “The lost sheep of the house of Israel” are those who are Israelites but have fallen away from God. This means that first of all Jesus had a mission to save the Israelites who had fallen away from God.

But the woman did not give up. She came and prostrated herself before Jesus and said, “Lord, help me.” Then Jesus said, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” By “the children” he meant the people of Israel, and by “the dogs” he meant the foreign people. He probably meant that it is not good to save the foreigners before saving the people of Israel. Now, what did the woman say when she was told this? Did she say, “If you speak to me so coldly, that’s enough!” and left angrily? No, she did not. She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” What a patient and humble woman! When Jesus heard this, he said, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And the woman’s daughter was healed instantly and saved.

After Jesus died on the cross, he was resurrected. He then ascended to heaven, poured out the Holy Spirit from heaven and sent his disciples to all nations. Now Jesus offers salvation to all nations who seek it. When we, too, are suffering, let us not give up but persevere and seek Jesus’ salvation like this woman of Canaan.