The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1906-05-23
Sunday-schoo1.

THE GENTLE WOMAN'S FAITH
June g. 1906. Mark vii. 24-3O.
GOLDEN TEXT.
Great is thy faith; be it unto thee even as thou
wilt.'-Matt XIV. 81
DAILY HOME READINGS.
M-Mark vii 24-3O Th.-Mark vii. 1887
T.-Mark vii. 1-19 F.--Mark viii 10
W.-Nark vii. 1923. S-Matt xvii 1921.
S.-Matt XIV. 21-31.
few weeks after our last lesson, and about
the middle of the third year of Christ's ministry
comes our lesson of the Syrophenician woman's
faith After the feeding of the five thousand Christ
stayed in the mountains for quiet prayer. His dis
cipes returning across the caught in
storm. Jesus came to them walking upon the
water and Peter made his attempt to do the same
After this return to Capernaum he stayed there for
a few weeks; and his discourse aroused the intense
opposition of the Pharsees They could not I'M
derstand the spiritual nature of his teaching.
They rebelled against the standard of heartpurity
which he set up because it condemned their lives
His disciples who left him were offended at his
rebukes to those that followed him merely to see
miracles and enjoy their fruits; and also at his
refusing worldly authority and power.
On account of this opposition and his great need
rest, he and went into the borders OF tyre
and Sdon the capitals of Phenicia and seaport
towns. The borders probably the mountain
spurs between the high region of Galilee and the
plain of Phenicia. He would have no man know
it, for he stunning crowds; but he could not
be hid, in this heather country
But straghtway a woman in need sought his
HELM This woman was a Greek-speaking GENTLE
a Syrophenician by nation; Canaanitish woman
that is a descendant of Ham. She represented the
descendants of Shem and Ham by descent, and OF
Japheth by language and civilization, and so was
"a sort of eDitome of all the races of mankind"
But all the barriers of strangeness in race re-
ligion and nationality did not prevent her from
seeking help in her great longing for relief for
her child from this renowned stranger. And she
found that all that to Christ in faith mo
more strangers and foreigners. but felowcit
zens But ''He answered her not a word" Jesus
silent to a sufferers cry seems almost unthinkable;
it was his test to a faith he knew there
There was another test to her faith in the oppo-
sition of the disciples who sought out Christ and
asked him to send her away. stronger test still
when Jesus said unto her, Let the children first
be filled: for it is not meet to take the chdren's
bread and cast it unto the dogs" How finely she
met that test! She knew that dogs got their hun
ger satisfied with the bread thrown from the table.
She would accept his analogy, and beg for the dogs
portion.
She received exceeding abundant1y." as every
soul does who trusts him. We could almost envy
her. Not her JOY when she found the devil gone
out, and her daughter laid upon the bed" but the
joy of having brought satisfaction to the heart of
Jesus by letting him do his best for her.
We learn from her the value of humility. per-
sistence, patience and faith. But that glimpse of
the gladness of Jesus not being shut out from
doing great things for soul by unbeef is worth
everything to
Faith is just knowing Jesus If you know by
simple trust in him his love for you, you bnot0
matter how otherwise it may seem, that he is
always doing the best that an infinitely wise, low
ing goldman do