Basic Questions

1. Identify as completely as possible the person in need (e.g., age, ethnic origin, religion, gender, social status).
   Daughter of a canaanite woman who addressed Jesus as the Son of David.

2. What was the immediate, obvious need?
   The daughter was suffering from demon-possession.

3. Who took the initiative in effecting the healing?
   The person in need? Others? Jesus?
   How was it expressed?
   The woman asks Jesus for mercy.

4. Describe the actions or process leading to the healing; that is, what was said (e.g., questions, requests, commands) and what was done (e.g., approaching, following, touching, publicly/privately), and by whom?
   The woman asks Jesus for mercy.
   Jesus is silent. His discples urge him to send her away.
   Jesus says he was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.
   The woman kneels and asks again for help.
   Jesus says it's not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs.
   The woman says even dogs eat crumbs that fall from the masters' table.
   Jesus tells the woman she has great faith and heals her daughter.

5. Did the person in need or someone else verbally express faith? Non-verbally? Describe how and by whom faith was in involved in this healing.
   The woman expressed faith. She persisted until Jesus healed her daughter.

6. What were the evidences that the person was healed?
   The demon left her daughter.

7. What were the reactions to the healing?
   Doesn't really say.

8. What in this narrative led Jesus to minister healing to the person in need?
   The woman's faith. (Matt 15:28)

Digging Deeper

1. In light of what has just happened in the preceding verses, why do you think Jesus travels from Gennesaret to Tyre, a distance of nearly 100 miles, over mountainous roads?
   Before this Jesus fed the 5000 and walked on water. His fame for healing was spreading fast. He may have done this to avoid the crowds seeking healing.

2. How does the Canaannite (Syro-Phonoecian) woman address Jesus? Matthew says she "knelt" before him, i.e. prostrated herself, pleading. What do these say about her? What do these say about Jesus?
   The woman recognised Jesus as the Son of David - the Messiah. She believed in Jesus' ability to heal. She knelt before Jesus showing humility.
   News of Jesus' healings spread fast. Crowds of people were seeking Him.

3. What does she ask him to do? Why "help me", instead of "help my daughter"? What might be the feelings of a mother (or father) be who, for years, has looked after a sick child? Does she do or say anything to suggest that she was desperate? If so what?
   The woman asks "Have mercy on me." Helping the daughter would also help the mother. As a mother she was desparate to help her child.

   Have you experienced times when your healing prayer was on of desperation? What was the result?
   You can always feel Jesus' presence and love with you at that moment.

   If you were the woman today, how would you describe your daughter's condition?
   Today the condition may be described as mental illness.

4. Why do you suppose, Jesus was initially silent?
   

   Why did the disciples urge Jesus to send her away? For Jesus sake? For her sake? For their sake? Because she was a Canaanite? What does this tell us about how we might respond to requests for healing prayer? About how we should respond?
   Crowds of people were seeking Jesus - making it difficult for Jesus to accomplish other things that are equally important. This means we really have to rely on the Holy Spirit to show us how to use our time and how to prioritise it.

5. How many times does the mother implore Jesus to heal her daughter? What does this tell you about intercessory prayer?
   3 times - as many as needed to get an answer from Jesus. Intercessory prayer may need to continue until Jesus answers. Persistence is important.

6. Jesus' remark that it isn't good to take food for the children (the Jews) and throw it to the dogs (Gentiles) seems a bit harsh. Is Jesus toying with her? Playing word games? Testing her? Why make such a remark?
   This may be to show that Jesus is for all. This teaching would go against the jewish teaching.

   How does the woman respond? Is she dissauded? Why not?
   The woman isn't dissauded. She can't give up - she loves her child and knows Jesus is the only answer.

7. Jesus tells the woman that her faith is great. What ingredients of "great faith" does the woman demonstrate?
   The Canaanite woman continued to ask until she received an answer - she refused to give up. She was motivated by love.

   Must these always be present?
   No, but they encourage an environment of healing.

   How much faith is shown by the one being healed? Who has the most faith in Jesus' healing power?
   The daughter isn't even present. The mother is the one who won't give up.

8. At the last, how is the daughter healed? Why do you think Jesus ultimately ministers to the daughter?
   The daughter is healed without being present. Jesus heals because of the woman's faith and persistence. (Matt 15:28)

   Do you think it would have been possible for Jesus to heal someone over the telephone? Is it possible for you to do that?
   Luke 1:37     For nothing is impossible with God.

9. What lesson(s) have you learned about healing from this account?
   Read     A Pattern for Persistence A Pattern for Persistence
       Why Is Perseverance Important to God? Why Is Perseverance Important to God?

   Don�t give up in the face of silence. The Lord�s silence should not always be taken as refusal of a request.
   Ignore the negative remarks of others.
   No one deserves God�s blessings, but He answers those who seek Him in humility.
   Stand firm. The Canaanite woman continued to ask until she received an answer. Persistence is important.

   Luke 1:37     For nothing is impossible with God.