Note for 20250117

The Gospel of Jesus Christ

According to Mark

Read Through The Bible

“As it Happened” Bible Reading Plan

Day 062

Numbers 18 to 20

Part 47 - Mark 7 - A Short for Christ

The Audio Version of today’s note

The House of Bread · Voice Note for 20250117 - TheGospelofJesusChrist-Part47-Mark7-AShortforChrist

Mark 7:24-37 KJV

[24] And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but he could not be hid. [25] For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet: [26] the woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter. [27] But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs. [28] And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs. [29] And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter. [30] And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed. [31] And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis. [32] And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him. [33] And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue; [34] and looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. [35] And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain. [36] And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it; [37] and were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.

https://bible.com/bible/1/mrk.7.24-37.KJV

A Short for Christ

I am a little "caught off guard" with the title too. But, I am sure that is what I am supposed to title this. A healing and deliverance in two separate coasts; the area of Tyre and Sidon, and then the area of Decapolis (meaning Ten Cities) in Galilee.

Who are the children that Jesus speaks of to this Syrophenician woman, and why does He compare her to a dog? For that answer, we go to the same moment, but by the account of Matthew.

Matthew 15:24 KJV

But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Not everyone knows how much debate this verse has brought. You see, we know of Israel by today's standards. There are two considerations that we must look at, before we can even answer the question of why Christ compared her to a dog. The specific words, "the house of Israel" coupled with "the lost sheep" convinces me that Christ is speaking of the lost tribes of the Northern Kingdom of Israel that was once ruled over by the likes of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. These tribes of Israel, were those that were separate from Judah, The House of Judah, after King Solomon passed away. At that time, The House of Jacob, was split in two, that was referred to by "The House of Judah" and "The House of Israel." You can go read how the House of Israel "became" lost sheep in 2 Kings 17. Even of the replacement that came into that area by the Assyrian people. In this and the account of Matthew, it is stipulated that this woman was a Syrophenician woman. Hence, those that came into the area, instead of The House of Israel.

This verse cannot fully be understood without knowledge of what happened before in that area. You have to know of the Syrians, which comes from the Asyrians and of the Phoenicians that used to be settlers of the area of Tyre and Sidon. Today we speak of Lebanon and Syria, of whom we have seen in recent months, that they are at war with Israel.

"The Short for Christ" heading of this note is thus this: that in a short reply by Christ, He tells this woman that He knows who she is and where she comes from. Even how she is a mixed person, between the people of Assyria and the Phoenicians. In that, He confirms that she is not a descendant of Jacob.

It is here where Mark's version helps us a little too. Where Christ says "let the children be fed first," there is somewhat of a hint that He came to these Lost Sheep first, and that the gentiles will benefit later. For while Jesus' ministry was focussed on (what appears by this comparison) the children of Jacob, He later sends out His disciples to publish the Gospel to every creature. A "dog" is a creature too.

Mark 16:15 KJV

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Now you know that it is not by me that these words come. For I am but a man, incapable of bringing the Word together like this. If God can do this by me, He can do this in you. Did GOD not speak to Balaam by a donkey? If this woman is like a dog, then I am like a donkey. If you thought this note would be short by the title, so did I.

Now we can look at the next account here in our reading in more detail, but for today it is simply to mark a difference between these two accounts. See, Decapolis was in the region of Galilee, where Christ did much of His preaching. If He, according to His own words, were sent to the lost sheep of the House of Israel, then who do you think may have lived in that area? Now, interesting, when Peter is recognised as one that was with Christ at the House of the High Priest when Christ was taken away for trial before the Crucifixion, in the Book of John; they call him a Galilean, even though he spoke as one who comes from Galilee. There is an apparent disdain for the Galatians by the Jews. Almost as if they were seen as dogs. Don't you know that the Jews, who are of The House of Judah, had disdain for those of the House of Israel for going after false idols, abandoning the GOD of their forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob?

In a short for Christ, by what He said, we can learn all these things. That Christ knew even the history of the peoples. Where they came from. It even gives us a hint to Ezekiel 37, as one prophesying over dead bones; that they will come together. It will then do you a great service to go and read about when the Spirit was poured out on Pentecost; how there were a great many people, from all over, all hearing the gospel being preached in their own tongue.

Before Jesus ascended to Our Father in Heaven, He had an interaction with Peter. He asked him, "Simon Peter, do you love Me?" This he asked Peter, three times. Do you remember Christ's instruction when Peter answered that he does? "Feed my Sheep." Who was given to Christ as an inheritance? According to Paul, who are the children of Abraham? You see, in Christ Jesus, we are no longer these creatures, be it dogs or donkeys; but by adoption, we can now be called the Children of the Living GOD, for our faith in Jesus Christ. The Faith of Abraham, was accounted to him as righteousness. What about our faith in the Son of GOD?

So, now, we do not have to be like dogs eating crumbs that fall from the table, but we can sit down at the table, as one of the children of GOD.

In short, Christ said a lot in parables. When those "shorts" are heard in full, much is revealed. Is it not Christ Jesus that appeared to (then Saul) Paul on his way to Damascus, which is now in the state of fallen, just as Prophecy foretold? And don't you know that this note here is still in "shorts" too?

I am taught in my inner room, no man can lay claim that he taught me these things. Neither can I lay claim to it, for you cannot teach that which you do not know. If I can be taught like this, then you can be taught like this, by The Holy Spirit of GOD that is poured out in us. The Holy Spirit testifies of the Word, and the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ our Lord, testified of the Holy Spirit that He would pray our Father to send. But, as it is with any relationship, you have to spend time with that person, Jesus Christ in this case, by the Holy Spirit and the Word of GOD that was kept for us unto this day, in a codified way. That is a gift of GOD, the very Word He gave to find a dwelling place in us.

This is in short of that which you may have in more, but, it will require some of the time you may have previously assigned to build your own kingdom up in this world. Shall you then make a name for yourself, or praise the Name above all names?

Selah, Shalom (In Short)

The House of Bread

Verse of The Day

From the YouVersion Bible App for Saturday the 18th (Expanded from verse 7)

Proverbs 3:7-14 KJV

[7] Be not wise in thine own eyes: Fear the LORD, and depart from evil. [8] It shall be health to thy navel, And marrow to thy bones. [9] Honour the LORD with thy substance, And with the firstfruits of all thine increase: [10] So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, And thy presses shall burst out with new wine. [11] My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; Neither be weary of his correction: [12] For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; Even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. [13] Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, And the man that getteth understanding. [14] For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, And the gain thereof than fine gold.

https://bible.com/bible/1/pro.3.7-14.KJV

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