Hi, Zane.
We have some interesting weather again—a kind of inversion going on between here in the valley as compared with the mountain ski areas. It’s 37 degrees here and 50 degrees at Timberline. Crazy. It’s like it’s Winter here and Spring on the mountain.
I plan to do a bit of milling before we attend a celebration of life for a good friend—Jim Bennett.
Hope you have a good and proper day. Love and prayers—Tua/Ray.
What is involved in this particular healing? Processing that question and answering correctly can only add further evidence to the huge pile of data that confirms JESUS IS GOD. There is, in my mind, no other reasonable explanation for the miracle.
I’m not sure how significant it is that this woman was a Gentile—or that Jesus, at first, appeared to join in the contempt that traditional Jews had toward Gentiles. It’s at least interesting to note that the first words Jesus speaks concerning her are, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel” (v. 24). Then when she pleads her case before Jesus He drops scathing prejudice-sounding words on her—“It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs” (v. 26). Wow! That would most likely trigger an angry reaction from most of us. It makes Jesus sound like a “racist.” But there is something special going on in the mind and spirit of this lady that Jesus had to know about. It caused her to initiate her request with, “Lord, Son of David” (v. 22)—verbiage which can only mean that she recognized Jesus as the Messiah—her only hope—and she would not be easily dissuaded.
If this lady’s diagnosis of her daughter’s condition was correct—“My daughter is suffering terribly from demon possession” (v. 22)—then the condition was not entirely physiological. Therefore it’s not just a matter of correcting matter—it’s a matter of eradicating spiritual evil. In order to do that, it only makes sense that superior spiritual power is required. Be reminded that Jesus later states in no uncertain terms, “All authority (power) in heaven and earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18). “ALL” is a lot. In that case, I guess it should be no big surprise as to HOW Jesus healed this girl and evicted the demon(s). It was by remote control!—that is, she (with her demon cargo) was not even there in front of Him—yet He had power to have those creeps kicked out from a distance—out of sight. He may never have even physically seen this girl.
To be sure, Sovereignty is not limited by distance—or, for that matter, by any other barrier that limits us. So you and I are wise and blessed to embrace His limitlessness—right here where we are in time and space. All we need do is persevere in recognizing our desperate need along with His all-sufficiency. He must not only be THE Messiah, but MY Messiah. He is not just A shepherd, He is “MY SHEPHERD—therefore I shall not be in want” (Psalm 23:1).