James shared that this passage disturbed him as he prepared for the message this week. He was raised, as were so many, thinking that Jesus was perfect and this passage counters that. He shared that people wanted to argue about this passage after the early service based on how he shared it. He invited us to stretch ourselves and see what He would have us learn through this passage, through what some could say was Jesus’ mistake. We all make mistakes and it is how we deal with them afterwards that defines us.
He shared that he was initially against using a clip from Mean girls, but in the end, he decided that it was perfect. The main character, Katie, made a huge mistake and is left to deal with the consequences. When most people are tempted to run from their mistake or make excuses for it, “Katie” was willing to face it and rectify it to the best of her ability. Thanks Hannah (James’ daughter) for the recommendation and for being insistent (daughter’s do know best).
What would the world look like if we did something about our mistakes? If we took the responsibility and made them right? James asks this question and I think we have an example in Jesus. It’s okay to admit we were wrong and to make it right. In fact, it is better than alright.
In this passage, it is still early on in his ministry, Jesus’s focus is on the Jewish people who were anticipating a Messiah. We see through the rest of the Gospels and New Testament that Jesus came to make salvation possible for ALL, but that is not his response in this passage. He couldn’t be bothered by this woman who was not of Jewish decent…if it wasn’t for what we see in the rest of the Bible, where would that leave us??? According to this story we are all dogs. The thing is, this woman who is likened to a dog in this story, is the only one to recognize him for who he is and she calls him “Lord.”
He heals her daughter and we can take this lesson to heart. We don’t know why Jesus couldn’t be bothered by her and we don’t know why he didn’t actually go see her, we can only speculate that. What he does do is clear: he never again turns down a gentile. This unnamed woman may have played a role in stretching the Son of God’s understanding of His message. What a thought. Can you imagine?
James then talked about how people can be scared to accept that they are wrong and I have also seen how scared they are to risk telling another that they are wrong. Why are we all so afraid to correct another in love. After all, that is love and we learn to be better through that love. We should take a cue from that woman and not be afraid to call it like it is. We should take a cue from Jesus and accept correction and examine ourselves, acting accordingly.
We can all argue if we choose, but isn’t it far better not to? There are so many other ways to be enlightened and to enlightened others as we are called. It takes wisdom to be able to accept that sometimes, even if we think others are wrong, not saying anything or accepting them where they are at and moving on with them, can be an incredibly powerful statement. It can be so hard to this, but it is so true that the spirit can work far better than we can.
Wow, thank you God for giving James the eyes and heart to examine and share this passage. Thank you Jesus for being a savior who we can relate to and for showing us the way (in so many ways).
Tags: Worship by Erika
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