Welcome to Day 15 of our 40-day devotional titled Journey to the Cross. Today we look at an amazing and sometimes confusing passage in Matthew 15:21-28.

When Jesus left there, he withdrew to the area of Tyre and Sidon. Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came and kept crying out, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely tormented by a demon.” Jesus did not say a word to her. His disciples approached him and urged him, “Send her away because she’s crying out after us.” He replied, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came, knelt before him, and said, “Lord, help me!” He answered, “It isn’t right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” “Yes, Lord,” she said, “yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus replied to her, “Woman, your faith is great. Let it be done for you as you want.” And from that moment her daughter was healed.

Matthew 15:21-28

Sometimes the smallest things can spark a meaningful, unexpected friendship. Small talk as you wait outside of a restaurant. Sharing a similar taste in music. Sometimes even just being at the same location allows a conversation that leads to something profound. The fact is that sometimes we make friends as we travel. It’s not something we plan but happens unexpectedly.

Jesus had an encounter one day as He traveled. Of course, His was not unexpected for Him, but it is unexpected for His disciples. Jesus withdrew from the Pharisees and teachers of Jewish law and went to Tyre and Sidon, Gentile territory. While there, a Canaanite woman came to Him. We have been going through the Old Testament book of Joshua on Sunday mornings and so this detail stuck out to me. As a Canaanite, she is cursed by God. Joshua and the Israelites were supposed to defeat all the Canaanites. But here is this Canaanite woman thousands of years later coming to Jesus. A descendant of Israel’s ancient enemies came to the Jewish Messiah for blessing.

Jesus responded to this woman’s plea in four different ways. First, He was uncommunicative. He simply ignored her. Then He refused her request because she was not of Israel. Then He seemed to rebuke her for continuing to ask Him. Finally, He rewarded her faith. Why did He not answer her plea immediately? One reason is that she, a Gentile, approached Him on Jewish terms, calling Him “Son of David.” Gentiles are not saved by first becoming Jews! There is also a deliberate contrast between Israel’s religious leaders and this Canaanite woman’s genuine, heartfelt response to Jesus. She persistently called on the compassion of God. Having seen ample proof of this dear woman’s heart of faith, Jesus honored her request and healed her daughter.

The Canaanite woman was unlikely to have faith, but instead, she demonstrated more faith than many in Israel. Still today, Jesus comes to unlikely people. He befriends the sick and the sinner. He comes to the lonely, the lowly, and the lost. He greets you with His grace. Christ Jesus meets you where you are and gives you eternal friendship with God. He loves the unlikely and the underserving, and that includes all of us, for every one of us has failed Him. None of us deserve the mercy that He has lavished upon us.

Today as you pray, say something like “Jesus, friend of sinners, you have met me where I am and made me an unlikely friend of God. Thank you for the mercy and grace You pour out upon me each day. Blessed be Your name!”

Thank you for joining me for day 15. Come back tomorrow as we talk about being chosen for a reason.