Don’t Allow Any Obstacle to Stop You from Boldly Pursuing Jesus

In Mark 7:24-29, we meet a Syrophoenician woman.  The gospel of Mark tells us a few things about this woman.  She is a mother and a Gentile.  These identities may have weighed her down, but she was in need of Jesus.  She had a difficult situation that she knew only Jesus could help her with.  Let’s look at how she boldly pursued Jesus despite all her obstacles.

She was a woman.  In Mark 7:25a, the New Living Translation tells us, “Right away a woman who had heard about him came and fell at his feet.”  Though the details about the cultural perspective of woman was not stated in this particular passage, what we may know is that women were not looked upon as very significant during this time.  However, despite her role as a woman, this did not stop her from seeking Jesus for help.  She knew that her child was sick and only Jesus could help her.  Instead of allowing her identity as a woman stop her from approaching Jesus, we are told in Mark that she fell at Jesus’ feet. 

Secondly, we read in verse 25b, “Her little girl was possessed by an evil spirit….” This tells us that she is a concerned mother.  As a mother, we can get so busy caring for our children, the housework, our job, and serving our husband. We are exhausted, tired, and beaten up. How can we ever make time to approach Jesus and ask Him to intervene in our struggles! You see, the Syrophoenician did not let motherhood be an excuse for her to meet her Savior.  She knew that He was her only hope.  No matter how desperate her child needed her, she knew that she needed Jesus, because He was her only hope.  Though our role as mothers may fill our schedules throughout the day, may we find quality time to pursue Jesus our Savior.    

Lastly, her ethnicity did not prevent her from going to Jesus.  In the gospel of Mark, Jesus said to the woman in verse 27, “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.”  Being in her shoes, some of us may have given up on pursuing Jesus and turned away. However, she did her research about Jesus.  In the gospel of Matthew 15:22, she pleaded with Jesus, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David!” She replied in Mark 7 verse 28, “That’s true, Lord, but even the dogs under the table are allowed to eat the scraps from the children’s plates.”  She knew she wasn’t a Jew, but with a humble heart, she let go of her pride in order to receive what she needed Jesus to do for her.  Some of us may feel too privileged or too lowly in our own culture, stopping us from going to Jesus. This woman knew about Jesus and believed that Jesus was her answer.  Jesus, in verses 29-30, replied to her, “‘Good answer!’ He 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.”  She received, because she boldly pursued Jesus.

Though our identity as a woman, a mother, and a Hmong woman may make our pursuit of Jesus impossible, don’t give up. Continue to boldly seek Jesus and approach Him to intervene in our lives. May the story of the Syrophonencian woman encourage us to pursue Jesus so His love and healing can come into us and our family.

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Mai Doua Xiong (N. Kx. Leej Koob Xyooj)

Mai Doua Xiong (N. Kx. Leej Koob Xyooj) serves alongside her husband, Kx. Leej Koob Xyooj, at Emmanual Alliance Church in Galesville, WI. Together they have served in ministry for over 9 years. They have three beautiful children aged 14, 11, and 8 years old. Currently, Mai Doua is homeschooling all three of them, going on their 7th year. She praises God for strength and wisdom as she disciples her children and homeschools them. In her spare time, Mai Doua enjoys reading, playing volleyball, and traveling with her family. May God bless all of you!