When Grace Crosses The Line

Grace doesn’t stop at the line, because God’s love has already crossed it.

Sermon Title: WHEN GRACE CROSSES THE LINE

Sermon Text: MARK 7:24-30 (ESV)

Sermon Series: BREAD AND BLINDNESS: DO YOU SEE WHO HE IS?

By: PTR NESTOR SY

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Sermon Notes:

MARK 7:24-30 NIV

24 Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret. 25 In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an evil spirit came and fell at his feet. 26 The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter. 27 “First let the children eat all they want,” he told her, “for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.” 28 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “but even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” 29 Then he told her, “For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.” 30 She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone. 

Grace doesn’t stop at the line.

THE DISCIPLES DRAW THE LINE

MATTHEW 15:22-23 NIV

22 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession.” 23 Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”

“urged”
Greek: erótaó
Imperfect Tense = repeated action.

We don’t set up barriers to keep people out; we set them up to keep ourselves in.

The moment we start deciding who’s worthy of God’s grace, we’ve forgotten how we got in ourselves.

The mission isn’t threatened by messy people; it was made for them.

THE WOMAN APPROACHES THE LINE

MATTHEW 15:24-26 NIV

24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”
25 The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.
26 He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.”

Jesus wasn’t shutting her down, he was drawing her out.

MATTHEW 15:27 NIV

27 “Yes, Lord,” she said, “but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”

She didn’t demand a seat at the table, she just asked that the crumbs fall her way.

Don’t leave the line too soon.

Sometimes the obstacle is actually the opportunity. Sometimes the barrier is actually the doorway.

JESUS CROSSES THE LINE

Grace doesn’t stop at the line, because God’s love has already crossed it.

If Jesus was willing to cross the line, why wouldn’t we?