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A Bible Study Course on the Gospel of Christ according to MARK
PART 4 - Jesus' Great Miracles in Galilee and its Surroundings (Mark 3:7 - 8:26)
14. Jesus and the Syro-Phoenician Woman (Mark 7:24-30)MARK 7:24-30 Man without God sometimes behaves like an animal, filled with lusts and hatred. On the contrary, God created us first in the image of his glory, and made his love a measure for our life. But where man leaves God and opens himself to unclean spirits, there he satisfies his natural body with unclean thoughts. Evil desires possess and prompt him to do what he does not want, so that he becomes like a dangerous, yelping dog. An educated man could not believe it himself until he had seen people behaving like pigs in their lusts, and like wild beasts in deadly wars. Jesus came to Lebanon fleeing from the Jews who tried to kill him because he made clear to them that without a new heart as sinners they were impure and awaiting judgment. God sent his Son first to the sinful, reprobate Jews, according to his promise to their fathers. But many followers of the Torah refused Christ’s call, crucified him, and became hardened against the Holy Spirit. Then God opened the door of salvation to the Gentiles and called all nations to his fold. A poor Lebanese woman believed in Jesus’ power and mighty love. She confessed his glory, and worshiped him. Like other people, her heart was unclean, but guided by the Holy Spirit, she came humbly to Christ. She accepted the reprimand of Jesus. Seeing immediately that those chosen from the Gentiles were more willing than the Jews to receive the kingdom of God, and that the Holy Spirit humbled those prepared for salvation among the Gentiles, Jesus responded to the woman’s faith, He commanded the evil spirit to go out of her suffering daughter. Do you know the importance of those moments in the history of world-wide salvation? The Lebanese woman is one of the first people among the Gentiles to acknowledge the true God. She had prepared the way for the power of God to the dwell in us. Would you humble yourself as she did? Today, the gospel of Christ has spread all around the world. Whoever confesses his hidden sins before God, inherits eternal life, and joins the family of God. All those who believe in Christ, Jews or Gentiles, live today in the new covenant where Christ accepts all the lost and the unclean, purifies them with his blood, and fills them with divine love and the power of peace. Are you growing spiritually, or do you lack faith? PRAYER: O Father, we confess in our hearts we are like beasts led to anger and hatred of others. Forgive us the evil which dwells in us, and fill us with the love, purity, and patience of your Son, that we may forgive others, and consider ourselves the least in the fellowship of brothers. Deliver our friends and relatives from pride, that unclean thoughts may leave them and your Holy Spirit may dwell in them. Amen. QUESTION:
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