Unprecedented Faith
Mother’s Day – “A Mother’s Faith”
Matthew 15:21-28
Watch on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ot1sJYi6LUs
In line with our overall theme this year, “Unprecedented,” and our current series, “Unprecedented Faith,” I’d like to talk with you this Mother’s Day about a mother’s unprecedented faith as found in God’s word.
Robert Ingersoll, also known as “The Great Agnostic,” arrived in a town to give a series of lectures. Two college students attended his talks, and one of them said, “I guess he knocked the props out from under Christianity, didn’t he?”
The other said, “No, I don’t think he did. Ingersoll didn’t explain my mother’s life, and until he can explain it, I will stand by my mother’s God.”
There will always be people who doubt what the Bible says and Christianity, but the one thing they cannot doubt or argue against is a changed and renewed life.
A poem by Luke Easter describes the difference between a strong woman and a woman of strength.
o A strong woman works out every day to keep her body in shape,
but a woman of strength kneels in prayer to keep her soul in shape.
o A strong woman isn’t afraid of anything,
but a woman of strength shows her courage in the midst of fear.
o A strong woman won’t let anyone get the best of her,
but a woman of strength gives the best of herself to everyone.
o A strong woman walks sure-footedly,
but a woman of strength knows God will catch her when she falls.
o A strong woman wears the look of confidence on her face,
but a woman of strength wears grace.
o A strong woman has faith that she is strong enough for the journey,
but a woman of strength has the faith that in the journey, she will become strong.
What sets the two apart, that is, what distinguishes a strong woman from a woman of strength, is Faith.
Today, I want to share with you a woman of strength, a mother of faith, and there’s something about her story that resonates with all of our lives, both men and women.
Her name is unknown, and I like that because it could be any one of us. There are many stories of faith from the Bible where we meet similar people—like the Samaritan woman at the well, the widow who gave her mite at the temple, or the Publican who entered the temple with the Pharisee but stood in the back, pounding his chest, realizing how unworthy he was before a holy and righteous God. The stories go on, such as the Good Samaritan or the Prodigal Son.
I guess what I’m trying to say is that people don’t need to know our names to make a difference in others’ lives or in the community. Our problem is that we want people to know who we are, but really all they need to know is that we’re followers of Jesus and children of the living God, and that through our godly example and speech, we’re pointing them to Jesus.
But speaking of influence, there’s really no one more influential than a mother.
Throughout history, most of our spiritual leaders have been heavily influenced by their mothers.
Consider Susannah Wesley, mother of John and Charles Wesley, the founders of the Methodist denomination. Their names and the Methodist denomination might never have made history without this devout woman. Her example guided them as they grew up.
She was a woman of strength, a woman of strong faith and prayer, and with 17 children, she had to be. Not only did she pray daily for each one, but she also took an hour each week with every child to discuss spiritual matters. Is it any wonder that John and Charles Wesley were used by God to bring revival to England and America?
Solomon, whose wisdom spans the ages, said not to forsake a mother’s teaching (Proverbs 1:8; 6:20).
Abraham Lincoln said, “All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my mother.”
What a blessing a godly mother is, and how powerful her prayers are.
The mother we’re focusing on today isn’t considered a woman of great faith, nor is she someone whose sermons have been named after. She was simply a mother who loved her daughter. When she found no one and nothing that could help, she turned to Jesus.
Read Matthew 15:21-28
Her faith is evident in how she arrived. Let’s examine her approach to faith.
This woman was desperate. I can imagine she contacted almost everyone to seek help for her daughter. She probably went to Jewish healers, priests, and rabbis, but they wouldn’t have anything to do with her because of her background, which was a barrier to reaching her goal. But not Jesus; that wasn’t His way. Still, He made sure she knew about them to reveal her faith.
“A woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, ‘Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.’ But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, ‘Send her away, for she cries out after us.’ But He answered and said, ‘I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’” (Matthew 15:22-24 NKJV)
By what we’ve just read, what were these barriers that she had to overcome by faith?
During this time, women weren’t considered equal to men; in fact, in that culture, as well as in many others today, they were seen as no more than property. In Judaism, women weren’t allowed on the main floor of the synagogue but had to stay either outside or in balconies looking through lattice to see what was happening. Additionally, they couldn’t hold any kind of religious office.
But it was Jesus Christ who changed all that. His teachings transcended culture, lifting women out of darkness and servitude, and giving them both hope and a future.
In that day, women weren’t even permitted to learn about God, and if they did, it was seen as a sin. However, when Jesus taught, both men and women were present to hear His words, and some women were regarded as disciples— not part of the twelve, but followers.
In his teaching on divorce, Jesus upheld a woman’s dignity by teaching that they were not property to be discarded, but that they were equal to men. We also see that women played prominent roles in the New Testament, from Anna the prophetess who blessed Jesus, to Mary and Martha, the Samaritan woman, Mary Magdalene, along with Lois and Eunice, mother and grandmother of Timothy.
And this is brought out in the Bible, which says that within God’s church there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, because we are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28)
And here, Jesus praises the Canaanite woman for her remarkable faith.
So not only was she a woman, which was a barrier for her to overcome by faith, but she also faced a double challenge: she was a Gentile.
To receive the blessings associated with being a child of God, one traditionally had to be Jewish. Salvation was accessible only through conversion to Judaism. But here she was, a Gentile woman. Why on earth did she think Jesus would notice her, let alone bless her and heal her daughter?
It was her great faith. Just like the Roman centurion who came to Jesus asking Him to heal his servant, this woman approached Jesus seeking the same, and, in their responses, Jesus praised their faith — surpassing even that of the Jews, who should have known better.
This was something that the disciples didn’t understand either. They told Jesus to send her away, but Jesus doesn’t see through the lenses of gender or racism, only through the lenses of faith.
And so, whatever barrier we may face, remember that faith in Jesus surpasses that barrier and will bring us answers to prayers along with deliverance.
Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NKJV)
And so, through faith in Jesus, we can also become overcomers and surpass these barriers.
When Jesus said He had only come to the Jews and not to the Gentiles, that would have ended most conversations. But she didn’t leave. Instead of hanging her head in dejection and walking away, she stood her ground and continued to seek His help by faith, even when He again rejected her request with an apparent slight, she persisted in her efforts.
“Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘Lord, help me! But He answered and said, ‘It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.’ And she said, ‘Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.’” (Matthew 15:25-27 NKJV)
Persistent means refusing to give up or surrender. It means to keep going despite any obstacles or interruptions to the goal. We need this persistence in our faith because Satan will throw everything he can at us to stop us from reaching the goals God has given us.
Jesus shares a parable about persistent faith. It’s called “The Parable of the Persistent Widow.”
In a town, there was a judge whose ego grew too big. He believed he was all that and that no one could argue with him. He thought his judgments were always right, and the people had no choice but to accept his verdicts.
It seems that most people did, except for this widow. She kept returning to him day after day, seeking justice.
It says, “And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’” (Luke 18:3 NIV)
This was something that was the judge’s responsibility according to God’s word, and something that God is quite firm about. The Lord said, “Cursed is anyone who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow.” (Deuteronomy 27:19 NIV) God also says, “Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless.” (Zechariah 7:10a NIV)
And so I believe it’s safe to say that the widow had God’s word to rely on, and she stood firm. Through faith in God and His word, she persisted, and in the end, she was rewarded. The judge said, “Because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.” (Luke 18:5 NKJV)
It’s this same persistent faith that Jesus tells us we need.
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8 NKJV)
Jesus uses the present imperative in Greek, conveying our need to keep asking, seeking, and knocking.
We need to continue asking, and we will receive. We need to keep seeking, and we will find. And we need to keep knocking on heaven’s door; it will be opened, and we will receive the fullness of what we ask for and seek after.
And this is the faith we observe in this Canaanite woman. She kept going. After what seemed like a rejection, she cried out, “Lord, help me.” And even when it felt like a rebuke and an insult, she still kept at it.
You see, Jesus wasn’t being mean or racist; rather, He was testing her faith, much like He tests our faith. He wanted to see if she had the faith to believe despite everything that was stacked against her.
And because of her faith, she was commended and rewarded.
“Then Jesus answered and said to her, ‘O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.’ And her daughter was healed from that very hour.” (Matthew 15:28 NKJV)
Not only did she have the faith to overcome the barriers lined up against her, but she also persisted in faith. Finally, we see the last aspect of her faith
“Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘Lord, help me!’” (Matthew 15:25 NKJV)
The phrase is that she literally prostrated herself by faith as one would prostrate, that is, they would bow before a ruler or king.
Now notice her prayer, “Lord help me!”
Honestly, there isn’t a more powerful prayer because we’ve realized that neither we, the world, nor any program or method can help—only the Lord can. So, like this mother, we need to come and bow down in worship to Jesus, because nothing or no one else will suffice.
She worshiped Jesus, not only in her approach but also in her cry. She called Him Lord, which means more than someone who’s in charge, but someone of supreme authority, indicating that Jesus is no less than the Lord God Himself.
Further, by calling Jesus ‘Lord,’ she recognizes that she no longer wants to control her own life or live on her own terms. That kind of life has only brought disaster, and her daughter’s condition proves it. She now wants to give Jesus full control.
Conclusion
So, this mother’s faith not only saved her but also healed and saved her daughter. It’s the same faith that can make a difference in our lives and in our family’s life as well, because as the Bible says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV)
And so, this woman shows us a path of faith that we can follow in our lives. So today, let us come to worship Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, through faith.
