Lesson 234: “The Healing Crumb”
Israel was God’s children; the ones God made His Covenant with; the ones that Jesus (the bread of life) was sent to save (Matt. 15:24). This is not to say that God did not offer salvation to everyone since we know though scripture that He did (Rom. 11:11), but this was done in the order of God’s timing and is not included in this story. The Canaanite woman who begged Jesus to heal her daughter was not one of the lost sheep of Israel and she knew this. She was aware that she would be shunned by the disciples and not allowed to speak to Jesus but she crowded in anyway. She acknowledged that He was the Lord, Son of David and cried out to him to heal her daughter that was suffering terribly from demon-possession. Jesus did not answer and the disciples rushed to Him (to tattle as usual) and urged Him to send her away, “because she keeps crying after us”. Just a side note here but don’t you think the disciples were a little high on themselves? Do we get a little high on ourselves when someone asks us to pray for healing? Do we think they are ‘crying after us’? Shouldn’t we be stepping aside so that they might see Jesus as the Healer? Anyway the woman did not give up and knelt before Jesus, crying, wailing, and begging; “Lord, help me”! Finally when Jesus answered it seemed a little harsh! “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs”. We know from scripture that the Jews did not associate with the Samaritans and a Gentile Canaanite was as low as they come in the Jewish eyes and they often called them dogs.
The woman was not easily discouraged, seeing Jesus as the only chance for help for her child. She knew she was not a child in the family of Israel, eligible for the choicest morsels of food, but just as a household dog she could receive only the crumbs that might fall from the master’s table. She was not asking to be put “before Israel” in line for their promised blessings but rather that a crumb of those blessings be “advanced” to her in her time of need. She knew the truth about herself and recognized the truth of salvation when Jesus talked about the sheep of Israel. But when He said the word, ‘dog’ she saw a crumb falling from His table and she snatched it up. She knew the Bread of Life was not offered to her at this time and was not hers to take but had faith that the crumb, which was hers, would be sufficient to heal her daughter. “Then Jesus answered; ‘woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted’. And her daughter was healed from that very hour”! At this time in the bible history, this woman needed to ‘settle’ for a healing crumb! At this time in modern history, Christians need not ‘settle’ for a healing crumb! We have been given the whole loaf! Why oh, why do we slice it so thin? The Bread never runs out! Remember the five loaves of bread that fed the 5000 and “the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over” (Luke 9:12-17). I don’t find anywhere in the scriptures that these crumbs were used. Maybe they are for your healing.
There are more healing crumbs mentioned in scripture. “There was a rich man …at his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus….longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table” (Luke 16:19-22). This beggar was carried to Abraham’s side by angels and received the ultimate healing; the entire loaf. Another woman, a Samaritan, recognized the truth about herself when she heard it from Jesus and rather than being insulted she snatched the crumb. “Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in Him because of the woman’s testimony” (John 4:1-42). There were two people that ask mere man for crumbs and were given everything because of their persistence. The widow who kept asking the king for justice against her adversary and finally “because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice so that she won’t eventually wear me out with her coming” (Luke 18:1-5). Jesus told this parable to show His disciples the contrast between a worldly judge and the eternal Judge who gives justice quickly but adds; “however, when the Son of Man comes, WILL He find faith on the earth” (Luke 18:7-8)? The faith this woman had in her persistence God wants Christians to have in Him. The other was the persistent friend at midnight asking for three loaves of bread to feed yet another friend. He was first told to go away with nothing but because of his boldness he was given all he needed (Luke 11:5-13). “How much more will your Father in Heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him”? Remember the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth and will teach you all things (John 14:17, 26).
Healing is everyone’s that asks and believes! But do not forget to believe (James 5:14, Ps. 118:17, Ex. 15:26)! With the exception of a few, Jesus healed everyone He touched or spoke about and He says; “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name” (John 14:12-13). Why don’t you ask if you are sick? Why don’t you ask for someone that you know that is sick? There is one thing you might need to do before you pray for healing or receiving prayer for healing, and that is to pray that everyone present be of faith and believe in the power of God’s healing. If someone does not believe, put them out of the room! “After He put them all out, He took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with Him, went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her; ‘Talitha, koum!’ Which means, ‘little girl, I say to you, get up”’! An unbelieving, critical spirit can damper a healing prayer and put out the Spirit’s fire (1 Thess. 5:19). Make up your mind whether you want your loved one healed or whether you want to spare your friend’s feelings. In other words; are you trying to please men or God (1 Thess. 2:4b).
Healing is the children’s Bread. Christians are sons and daughters of the King (Gal. 3:26)! Healing belongs to the Christians! However, like the people in these stories, you have to reach out and ask, believing (1 Thess. 5:17, Heb. 11:6, 1 Thess. 2:13, Gal. 3:22). It is possible to be healed by a crumb but you have the whole loaf so why not believe the truth that Jesus speaks (John 8:44, 46). You must recognize the truth about yourself (Ps. 66:18, John 9:41, Ps. 139:23) and know the truth about the gospel (1 John 5:13-15) and this truth will set your free. This includes the freedom from sickness and disease since the truth is that Jesus died on the Cross for your sins and by His wounds you have been healed. Not WILL be but HAVE been (1 Pet. 2:24). Believe this, pray, receive your healing, let the truth set you free; “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:31-36).