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me to the world to save all who would accept Him。
The woman urged her case with increased earnestness； bowing at Christ's feet； and crying； 〃Lord； help me。〃 Jesus； still apparently rejecting her entreaties； according to the unfeeling prejudice of the Jews； answered； 〃It is not meet to take the children's bread； and to cast it to dogs。〃 This was virtually asserting that it was not just to lavish the blessings brought to the favored people of God upon strangers and aliens from Israel。 This answer would have utterly discouraged a less earnest seeker。 But the woman saw that her opportunity had come。 Beneath the apparent refusal of Jesus； she saw a compassion that He could not hide。 〃Truth； Lord；〃 she answered； 〃yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table。〃 While the children of the household eat at the father's table； even the dogs are not left unfed。 They have a right to the crumbs that fall from the table abundantly supplied。 So while there were many blessings given to Israel； was there not also a blessing for her？ She was looked upon as a dog； and had she not then a dog's claim to a crumb from His bounty？
Jesus had just departed from His field of labor because the scribes and Pharisees were seeking to take His life。 They murmured and complained。 They manifested unbelief and bitterness； and refused the salvation so freely offered them。 Here Christ meets one of an unfortunate and despised race； that has not been favored with the light of God's word； yet she yields at once to the divine influence of Christ； and has implicit faith in His ability to grant the favor she asks。 She begs for the crumbs that fall from the Master's table。 If she may have the privilege of a dog； she is willing to be regarded as a dog。 She has no national or religious prejudice or pride to influence her course； and she immediately acknowledges Jesus as the Redeemer； and as being able to do all that she asks of Him。
The Saviour is satisfied。 He has tested her faith in Him。 By His dealings with her； He has shown that she who has been regarded as an outcast from Israel is no longer an alien； but a child in God's household。 As a child it is her privilege to share in the Father's gifts。 Christ now grants her request； and finishes the lesson to the disciples。 Turning to her with a look of pity and love； He says； 〃O woman； great is thy faith：
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be it unto thee even as thou wilt。〃 From that hour her daughter became whole。 The demon troubled her no more。 The woman departed； acknowledging her Saviour； and happy in the granting of her prayer。
This was the only miracle that Jesus wrought while on this journey。 It was for the performance of this act that He went to the borders of Tyre and Sidon。 He wished to relieve the afflicted woman； and at the same time to leave an example in His work of mercy toward one of a despised people for the benefit of His disciples when He should no longer be with them。 He wished to lead them from their Jewish exclusiveness to be interested in working for others besides their own people。
Jesus longed to unfold the deep mysteries of the truth which had been hid for ages； that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs with the Jews； and 〃partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel。〃 Eph。 3：6。 This truth the disciples were slow to learn； and the divine Teacher gave them lesson upon lesson。 In rewarding the faith of the centurion at Capernaum； and preaching the gospel to the inhabitants of Sychar； He had already given evidence that He did not share the intolerance of the Jews。 But the Samaritans had some knowledge of God； and the centurion had shown kindness to Israel。 Now Jesus brought the disciples in contact with a heathen； whom they regarded as having no reason above any of her people； to expect favor from Him。 He would give an example of how such a one should be treated。 The disciples had thought that He dispensed too freely the gifts of His grace。 He would show that His love was not to be circumscribed to race or nation。
When He said； 〃I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel；〃 He stated the truth； and in His work for the Canaanite woman He was fulfilling His commission。 This woman was one of the lost sheep that Israel should have rescued。 It was their appointed work； the work which they had neglected； that Christ was doing。
This act opened the minds of the disciples more fully to the labor that lay before them among the Gentiles。 They saw a wide field of usefulness outside of Judea。 They saw souls bearing sorrows unknown to those more highly favored。 Among those whom they had been taught to despise were souls longing for help from the mighty Healer； hungering for the light of truth； which had been so abundantly given to the Jews。
Afterward； when the Jews turned still more persistently from the disciples； because they declared Jesus to be the Saviour of the world；
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and when the partition wall between Jew and Gentile was broken down by the death of Christ； this lesson； and similar ones which pointed to the gospel work unrestricted by custom or nationality； had a powerful influence upon the representatives of Christ； in directing their labors。
The Saviour's visit to Phoenicia and the miracle there performed had a yet wider purpose。 Not alone for the afflicted woman； nor even for His disciples and those who received their labors； was the work accomplished； but also 〃that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ； the Son of God； and that believing ye might have life through His name。〃 John 20：31。 The same agencies that barred men away from Christ eighteen hundred years ago are at work today。 The spirit which built up the partition wall between Jew and Gentile is still active。 Pride and prejudice have built strong walls of separation between different classes of men。 Christ and His mission have been misrepresented； and multitudes feel that they are virtually shut away from the ministry of the gospel。 But let them not feel that they are shut away from Christ。 There are no barriers which man or Satan can erect but that faith can penetrate。
In faith the woman of Phoenicia flung herself against the barriers that had been piled up between Jew and Gentile。 Against discouragement； regardless of appearances that might have led her to doubt； she trusted the Saviour's love。 It is thus that Christ desires us to trust in Him。 The blessings of salvation are for every soul。 Nothing but his own choice can prevent any man from becoming a partaker of the promise in Christ by the gospel。
Caste is hateful to God。 He ignores everything of this character。 In His sight the souls of all men are of equal value。 He 〃hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth； and hath determined the times before appointed； and the bounds of their habitation； that they should seek the Lord； if haply they might feel after Him； and find Him； though He be not far from every one of us。〃 Without distinction of age； or rank； or nationality； or religious privilege； all are invited to come unto Him and live。 〃Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed。 For there is no difference。〃 〃There is neither Jew nor Greek； there is neither bond nor free。〃 〃The rich and poor meet together： the Lord is the Maker of them all。〃 〃The same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him。 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved。〃 Acts 17：26； 27； Gal。 3：28； Prov。 22：2； Rom。 10：11…13。
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Chapter 44
The True Sign
〃Again He went out from the borders of Tyre； and came through Sidon unto the Sea of Galilee； through the midst of the borders of Decapolis。〃 Mark 7：31； R。 V。
It was in the region of Decapolis that the demoniacs of Gergesa had been healed。 Here the people； alarmed at the destruction of the swine； had constrained Jesus to depart from among them。 But they had listened to the messengers He left behind； and a desire was aroused to see Him。 As He came again into that region； a crowd gathered about Him； and a deaf； stammering man was brought to Him。 Jesus did not； according to His custom； restore the man by a word only。 Taking him apart from the multitude； He put His fingers in his ears； and touched his tongue； looking up to heaven； He sighed at thought of the ears that would not be open to the truth； the tongues that refused to acknowledge the Redeemer。 At the word； 〃Be opened；〃 the man's speech was restored； and； disregarding the command to tell no man； he published abroad the story of his cure。
Jesus went up into a mountain； and there the multitude flocked to Him； bringing their sick and lame； and laying them at His feet。 He healed them all； and the people； heathen as they were； glorified the God of Israel。 For three days they continued to throng about the Saviour； sleeping at night in the open air； and through the day pressing eagerly to hear the words of Christ； and to see His works。 At the end of three
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days their food was spent。 Jesus would not send them away hungry； and He called upon His disciples to give them food。