What Jesus Did

Jesus left Tyre and went up to Sidon before going back to the Sea of Galilee and the region of the Ten Towns. A deaf man with a speech impediment was brought to him, and the people begged Jesus to lay his hands on the man to heal him.

—Mark 7:31-32 NLT

Key Thought


Jesus' reputation as a miracle worker is now driving people's reaction to his ministry. He is well known as a healer in Galilee, the region of Tyre and Sidon, and also Decapolis (the area of Ten Towns). Jesus...

 

[The Phoenician woman with the demon-possessed daughter] replied, "That's true, Lord, but even the dogs under the table are allowed to eat the scraps from the children's plates."
"Good answer!" [Jesus] said. "Now go home, for the demon has left your daughter." And when she arrived home, she found her little girl lying quietly in bed, and the demon was gone.


—Mark 7:28-30 NLT

Key Thought


The woman's answer was good — not just because it was clever, but also because she...

 

Since [the woman who asked Jesus to cast the evil spirit out of her daughter] was a Gentile, born in Syrian Phoenicia, Jesus told her, "First I should feed the children — my own family, the Jews. It isn't right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs."
She replied, "That's true, Lord, but even the dogs under the table are allowed to eat the scraps from the children's plates."


—Mark 7:26-28 NLT

Key Thought


Wow! Think how this exchange would come off in...

 

Right away a woman who had heard about [Jesus] came and fell at his feet. Her little girl was possessed by an evil spirit, and she begged him to cast out the demon from her daughter.
Since she was a Gentile, born in Syrian Phoenicia, ...


—Mark 7:25-26 NLT

Key Thought


Are we too proud to beg? Do we have such an elevated view of ourselves that falling on our knees and begging seems beneath us? Are our spiritual issues any less in need of Jesus than this woman's concern for...

 

Then Jesus left Galilee and went north to the region of Tyre. He didn't want anyone to know which house he was staying in, but he couldn't keep it a secret. Right away a woman who had heard about him came and fell at his feet. Her little girl was possessed by an evil spirit, and she begged him to cast out the demon from her daughter.
Since she was a Gentile, born in Syrian Phoenicia, ...


—Mark 7:24-26 NLT

Key Thought


Jesus and his leading followers are still in need...

 

And then [Jesus] added, "It is what comes from inside that defiles you."

—Mark 7:20 NLT

Key Thought


Wow! What a powerful message in today's world where people deliberately expose themselves to so many forms of hurtful images and thoughts. Jesus stressed the importance of being pure — not just in our actions, but especially in our hearts and minds! Let's hear clearly Jesus' demand that we be righteous body, soul, and spirit!

Today's Prayer


Holy Father, my...

 

And then [Jesus] added, "It is what comes from inside that defiles you. For from within, out of a person's heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you."

—Mark 7:20-23 NLT

Key Thought


Sometimes in our quest to emphasize Jesus' concern about our inner being, we accidentally let go of any sense of holy...

 

Then Jesus went into a house to get away from the crowd, and his disciples asked him what he meant by the parable he had just used. "Don't you understand either?" he asked. "Can't you see that the food you put into your body cannot defile you? Food doesn't go into your heart, but only passes through the stomach and then goes into the sewer." (By saying this, he declared that every kind of food is acceptable in God's eyes.)

—Mark 7:17-19 NLT

Key Thought


Once again, Jesus...

 

Then Jesus called to the crowd to come and hear. "All of you listen," he said, "and try to understand. It's not what goes into your body that defiles you; you are defiled by what comes from your heart."

—Mark 7:14-15 NLT

Key Thought


Our words and our actions say it all, don't they?! So let's take seriously our use of language — both what we say and how we say it. Let's also look at our lives and see what our actions say about our loyalty to God. We need to realize that...

 

Then [Jesus said to the religious leaders he had accused of being hypocrites], "You skillfully sidestep God's law in order to hold on to your own tradition. For instance, Moses gave you this law from God: 'Honor your father and mother,' and 'Anyone who speaks disrespectfully of father or mother must be put to death.' But you say it is all right for people to say to their parents, 'Sorry, I can't help you. For I have vowed to give to God what I would have given to you.' In this way, you let...