Biblical Text: Matthew 15:21-28

If I had a list of passages, that on face value, you could leave out of scripture, then this would be on it. A woman in distress comes to beg Jesus for her daughter’s healing. His response is not just discouraging, it sounds offensive. This does not seem like the Jesus of the Gospels. But it is in scripture, and if we are committed to understanding Jesus well, we must think carefully about what he meant.

It’s clear that Jesus understands his mission first and foremost as a mission to the Jews, to ‘the lost sheep of the house of Israel’ (v.24). In Jesus’s world, this was nothing new. Jesus might be the son of God, but while on earth he is limited by his human form, and in that form he is focused on preaching to the Jews first. He will not be distracted by that.

But, that is not the whole story. In Genesis we read that Abraham was called apart by God, in order that through him the rest of the world might be blessed. He was blessed to be a blessing. Jesus doesn’t deny that, he embraces it. And…it seems this Syro-Phoenician woman understands the trajectory of the Abrahamic covenant better than the disciples. Because as they want to get rid of her, she has faith that blessing includes her, and she will not leave till that blessing is given to her daughter.

We know, because we have the rest of Matthew’s gospel, that it ends with the ‘Great Commission,’ as Jesus sends his followers out to preach the gospel everywhere. And we also know, because we have the rest of the New Testament writings, not to mention 2,000 years of history since, that the gospel will catch like wildfire amongst the Gentiles (i.e. anyone who isn’t Jewish). But the woman doesn’t know that. She has faith, and that faith brings healing for her daughter.

There’s a short quote that did the rounds online a few years ago: ‘If not now, then when.’ It serves as a welcome reminder that often, the best time to act, is now. Why do we wait around for the perfect time, when what is needed is action? Similarly, it’s like the difference between looking at a bad situation and asking, ‘why?,’ when we could be looking to what could be, and ask ‘why not?’

But it strikes me this is not the way forward as Christians. Instead, we can look at what we believe will be, and ask ‘why not now?’ I think that’s partly what Jesus is getting at in the Lord’s Prayer. We pray, desire, and work for, his kingdom to come on earth, as it is in heaven. Why not now?

And that is exactly what the Syro-Phoenician woman does. She sees a mere glimpse of what will be, God’s blessing poured out on all peoples and nations, and she asks, ‘why not now?’ And she humbly, and boldly, asks the Son of God to make it so. May we have such humility and boldness before our Lord and saviour.