Was Jesus having a bad day? Mark 7:24-37

Mark 7:24-37 Gospel reading for Sunday Sept 9th 2012

There's far more to this passage than can be reasonably unfolded in a realistically readable length blog post, so I'll just scratch the surface of a few threads of thinking.

I think it is important to try to give some explanation for what at first impressions is incredibly odd. Jesus' most un-Jesus-like response to this (gentile) woman's request. He appears to be rude, arrogant, derogatory and stand-offish to say the least. The most plausible explanation that I have been able to uncover for this, is that it is all a riddle ... it is Jesus acting out the part of the religious authorities echoing the words and actions that was so typical and strongly associated with their thinking. (The reference to dogs is a typical image used frequently and collectively for all non-Jewish people.) The Jews were very highly opinionated with regard to their own standing with God. As for everyone else, they were 'dogs'. Significantly however at the end of the story Jesus 'raises up' the gentile outcast, highlighting the fact that the kingdom is in fact for all.

A few other interesting questions and threads of thinking ...

1. Why does Jesus even go to Tyre? - it is really on the extreme fringe of the recognized Jewish world.
2. Why does Jesus seek to sneak in un-noticed to a house there?
3. Where are the disciples? Was Jesus travelling alone?
4. The woman has amazing persistence in the face of being initially treated poorly.
5. Another example of Jesus raising up not only a gentile but a woman at that!
6. I'm not sure if it is intentional imagery or not, but it seems that it "only takes a few crumbs" ... reminiscent of the old Altogether song "It only takes a spark to get a fire going."

Perhaps the Gospel writer Mark is emphasizing the fact that Jesus is having a go at the Jewish establishment for their exclusive club mentality, with the chosen few members sitting around enjoying the banquet and having no intention of sharing it (the Word) with others outside of their perceived chosen membership.

May our Lutheran schools be places where all are welcome to the feast, where we 'feed the five thousand', where our doors are genuinely open to all, where social status, 'pedigree' or racial standing are not selection factors. May the Gospel continue to 'inform all activities' of a Lutheran school.

Nev