Once again. Her faith was tested in His farther refusal to her pleadings, when He said, “It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and cast it to the dogs.” Somehow her quick woman’s instinct perceived a way up what had seemed to be the unscalable path of Christ’s refusal. If she had no claim on Him as Messiah, was He not something more? Was He not Lord and Master? Did not deity blend with humanity in that nature, which, whilst His voice repelled her, yet fascinated and attracted her? It would almost seem as if the Holy Spirit whispered, “Accost Him as Lord;” “Touch Him on the side of His universal power;” “Speak to Him as Son of Man.” So she acted upon His suggestion, and, throwing herself at His feet, said, “Lord, help me.” To this appeal Christ gave answer that seemed churlish enough. But the bitter rind encased luscious fruit. The nut had only to be cracked to disclose the milk, sweeter than that of the cocoanut in the desert waste. He compared the Jews to children, Himself to bread, and this woman to a dog. But for the word “dog” he used the tender diminutive, which was not applicable to the wolfish, starving animals that prowl and snarl through the streets of Eastern towns, but was used for the little dogs brought up with the children in the home. Now, hope once again sprang up in her heart. Jesus had talked about dogs, and little house dogs, the playthings of the children. He said it was not proper to cast the children’s bread to dogs. If by children he meant the “sheep of the house of Israel,” then she must belong to the household after all.
She was quick to see her opportunity. “Truth, Lord!” she exclaimed, “Yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table!” When she said that, her lesson was learnt. In her former reply she had given the Lord His right place; in this she took her own as a little dog. You are not a child of Abraham’s stock! Truth, Lord. You are a Syro-Phœnician, and, for that reason, doubly unfit to be called a child! Truth, Lord. All I do for you must be of grace, and not of merit! Truth, Lord. She admitted all and accepted His most discouraging statements concerning herself. But, after the worst that can be said about dogs, they “eat of the crumbs.” All these seeming objections are in favor of her request. She only wants a little crumb of His mercy, which will take nothing from others.
Jesus could stand such pleadings no longer, and he answered and said, “O, woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt.” She had come for crumbs, but the Lord handed to her the key of the storehouse, and said, “Have your way, go in and help yourself to all its stores.” She would have been content with the crumbs that fell beneath the table on the floor, but she finds herself seated at the table itself, and feasting like a daughter of the king on its rich and bountiful provision. No longer a dog, she proves herself to be one of those other sheep which shamed the lost sheep of the house of Israel by docility and purity and grace.
This woman had many graces. She had wisdom, humility, meekness, patience, perseverance in prayer; but all these were the fruits of her faith; therefore, of all graces, Christ honors faith most. The perseverance of this woman may well be considered as every way calculated to teach us the power and efficacy of faith, and the greatness of her faith consisted in this, that in spite of all discouragements she continued her plea. Many a blessing has been lost out of our lives just because we lacked these graces of the soul.
CHAPTER IX.
Womanhood During Our Lord’s Judean Ministry.
The Sisters of Bethany—Their Characteristics—Not Good, But Best Gifts—The Extravagance of Love—Salome’s Strange Request—Her Fidelity—Joanna—The Poor Widow’s Gift—How Estimated—The Saviour’s Words of Peace.
The sisters of Bethany, Martha and Mary, come to our view three times during our Lord’s Judean ministry. The first view we have of them is recorded in Luke x, 38-42, where these sisters entertain our Lord after a long, weary day’s teaching. The second is recorded in John xi, 1-46, and relates to the sickness and raising from the dead their brother Lazarus. The third is the anointing of Jesus by Mary, the account of which is found in Matt. xxvi, 6-13; also in Mark xiv, 3-9, and John xii, 1-8. Though these three events are each distinct, yet a careful study will discover a close connection between the deep, underlying truths in each, the attitude taken by Jesus, and the results in the circumstances of everyday life.
A great deal has been said and written about these sisters of Bethany, some regarding Martha at fault, while others think Mary did not do the right thing to leave her sister do all the work. It is related of three theologians that they were talking together about these two women, and at last made their discussions concrete by questioning each other as to which of the women they would like to have married. The first said he would rather take Martha, to have his home looked well after; the second said he would much prefer to have married Mary, the tender and the loving; and the third, who had been silent up to this point, said, “I should like Martha before dinner and Mary after.” We think there is a great deal in this statement. There are excellencies in each, and it is impossible for us to do without our busy Marthas in our homes and churches, but we must remember at the same time that our Lord’s estimate is that Mary had chosen the better part which was not to be taken from her.
The location of Bethany is most picturesque and charming. It is scarcely two miles from Jerusalem, yet, by its situation on the south-eastern side of a lateral spur of Olivet, is completely hid from view. Here, amid the olive yards and fig orchards, lived this happy family in comfortable circumstances, and, we think, were possessed of considerable property, and ranked well among the learned and affluent. Jesus had been slowly journeying from Galilee down the east borders of Samaria to Jerusalem. Those who are familiar with that journey will remember how replete it was with incidents, wayside sermons, parables and miracles. At length, late in the afternoon, we may well believe, He arrived at Bethany weary with the long journey, exhausted by the labors which attended it, and glad to get away from the multitudes which thronged Him. That there should be some stir in the pious household at the coming of such a guest is perfectly natural, and that Martha, the busy, eager-hearted, and no less affectionate hostess, should hurry to and fro with somewhat excited energy to prepare for His proper entertainment, is not to be wondered at, for, in all probability, she had had no information of His coming, and along with Him twelve disciples to be provided for. The wonder is she was as self-contained as she was.
There can be no doubt but Martha was a good housekeeper. She kept everything straight, clean and neat. And when Jesus came, it upset her somewhat, and she ran out into the kitchen, at the back of the house to get the supper; not a single thing must be left undone, everything must be there. She is so eager about it, coming in and out of the little guest-chamber where the Master is sitting, hurrying here and there with this one thought in her heart, that the Lord must have her best, nothing must be left unturned to give Him comfort. And, of course, there is a good deal of excitement and possible anxiety. The disarranged furniture is hastily put to rights, the table had to be freshly laid with clean white cloths, and the dining-room made presentable, for it must be remembered Christ did not come alone. He had a group of twelve disciples with Him, and such an influx of visitors would throw any village home into perturbation. Then, no doubt, the day’s labor had been a good appetizer. The kitchen department that day was a very important department, and probably Martha had no sooner greeted her guests than she fled to that room. No doubt she was a good cook. Mary had full confidence that her sister could get up the best dinner of any woman in Bethany, for Martha was not only a hard-working and painstaking woman, but also a good manager, ever inventive of some new pastry, or discovering something in the art of cookery and housekeeping.