Cultural Expectation: Mark 7:24-26
Some decisions are too great for culture to hold them. Some lessons are so large they surpass the boundaries of culture. Some needs are so massive that even cultural expectations shouldn’t get in the way.
Having told the disciples that what is on the outside does not defile us, Jesus journeys to Tyre and Sidon. This was a Gentile region, largely Phoenician – or more generically Canaanite – in heritage. Jesus marches into the territory of the people who wrestled against Abraham, Joshua, and David.
Historically speaking, it gets worse. When Rome came to Phoenicia, the Phoenicians opened their arms to Rome and embraced their authority. They welcomed trade with Rome and saw Rome as a means to procure wealth. The region prospered so greatly under the Pax Romana that not long after Jesus’ life historians declared there were no longer any Phoenicians in Phoenicia, only Romans. These people were the epitome of Gentile.
Jesus comes to the region because He is still looking for alone time with His disciples. After sending them out, they’ve been bounced all over and harassed by the crowds. There has been no time for mentoring. Jesus hopes this Gentile environment might grant Him the time His disciples need with Him.
The religious elite of Jesus’ day would have worried about being defiled in Tyre and Sidon. Jesus isn’t worried. His need is great. The lesson He wants to teach His disciples is great. Jesus isn’t about to let the expectations of His culture get in the way of what the disciples need to learn.
Enter the Syrophoenician woman. Jesus cannot hide even within the Gentile culture. His power is known in Tyre and Sidon. These non-Jewish Roman-loving people are every bit as fascinated by Jesus as His own people.
The woman comes before Jesus. She knows the score. She knows she has no right to come before this powerful Jewish teacher. She also knows that Jesus’ culture tells Him that He shouldn’t be around her. Yet, this doesn’t stop the woman. Like Jesus, she’s willing to cross cultural boundaries to get what she needs.
She believes the only way she’ll reliably get Jesus’ attention is to beg. She falls upon Jesus’ feet. She’s not Jewish, she knows Jesus shouldn’t give her the time of day, but she still comes to beg. Her faith in Jesus’ ability to heal her daughter is greater than the division between His culture and hers. The Syrophoenician woman is great because she’s willing to put aside the expectations of both her culture and Jesus’ culture and meet Jesus where she is. Some decisions are too great for even culture to hold them.
