In this series, we will examine the third cycle of the gospel according to Mark (Mark 6:7-8:21), which will conclude the first half of the book. This section focuses on the movement of the gospel.
In this fifth message, a Syrophoenician woman comes to Jesus requesting help for her daughter that is plagued with an impure spirit. Jesus is rude to her, uses a racial slur, and discards her request. Yet, she is persistent, which results in Jesus' change of attitude towards her. What is going on in this dialogue? We must consider how our own prejudices get in the way of the kingdom of God and seek to influence our society towards inclusive love.
