The Demon & The Dog

00:00:00 Speaker 1: Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved. Romans ten thirteen. Gracious Lord, we thank you for the promise that every one who calls on your name will be saved. Your love knows no boundaries. Your grace extends to all who seek you. We are in awe of your mercy, and we call upon you now, trusting in your saving power in moments of doubt and fear. Remind us of the hope that we have in You. Save us from our troubles, our sins, and our despair. Fill us with the assurance that you are near, ready to rescue and redeem. Help us to live in the confidence of your salvation. Sharing this hope with others so they too may call upon you and be saved. In Jesus name, we pray Amen. Thank you for praying with me to day. You're listening to the Jesus Podcast, Remain here for a dark story about Jesus and demons. If you've gleaned anything from this podcast, we'd love it if you left a review and shared it with a friend. Elijah ran through the orchard as her mother, Josephine, gathered grapes from the ground. She rifled through the rotting fruits to find the few that were still good enough to sustain the pair. She had fought against the struggles of poverty for many years, and now found peace in the quietness of gleaning the fields as her daughter played in the crunching leaves underfoot. It wasn't elegant work, but the mother had placed her pride aside long ago. Herrigo had been rep placed by her profound affection for her daughter. Josephine shifted her basket from one hip to the other as she spied her daughter sneak off down another row. She could hear her childish giggles carrying up through the thick branches of the trees, and smiled as she began to hum to herself. Alia's innocent mischief was like a song to the tired mother's heart, giving her the energy she needed to press on through the day. 00:02:31 Speaker 2: Don't go far, my love. 00:02:33 Speaker 1: Josephine called out with a soft chuckle, knowing that Eliah needed the comfort of the nearness of her mother as much as she needed the comfort of the nearness of her daughter. Josephine worked through the heat until her basket was nearly full. She stretched her stiff back and closed her eyes. The warm breeze enveloped her face as beads of sweat cooled on her brow. She opened her eyes as she wiped her face with the corner of her dress. She called out for Elia in preparation to return home, but she heard no reply. 00:03:10 Speaker 2: Elia, hurry back, my precious girl, it's almost time for supper. 00:03:15 Speaker 1: The lack of response didn't worry her. She was used to her daughter's playfulness, but her heart began to panic when she didn't hear the telltale sign of Elia's laughter. 00:03:28 Speaker 2: ELIEA, please, it's time to go. Don't worry your mother like this. 00:03:34 Speaker 1: Josephine heard the rustling of leaves a few yards off. A young child scream shot up through the orchard. Josephine dropped her basket to the ground as apples rolled in every direction. She bolted toward the direction of the cry, feeling as though her legs were moving faster than her feet could keep up with. She broke into a small clearing and saw Eliah lie on the ground. Her hair was strewn about her face as she lie in a pile of brown leaves. The dirt had been kicked up like Eliah had been caught in a fight. Before her fall, Josephine ran to her daughter and stroked her cheek. She pressed her head against Elia's chest. She could hear the faint beating of a heart. She gasped a sigh of relief, but fear was far from gone for the concerned mother. She called to Eliah as she laid in her arms. The girl didn't move. Josephine gently shook her daughter, as though trying to stir her from a deep sleep. She began to shake her harder. Eliah's limp body shook like a rag doll. Hope began to drain from her face. Josephine shrieked with all of her might, hoping some one would comb and rescue her daughter. As Josephine began to sob, a raspy breath of air glided over Elia's lips like she was trying to speak. 00:05:09 Speaker 2: My baby, please, wake up. Please. 00:05:14 Speaker 1: Elia's dress was soaked with her mother's tears. As Josephine continued to caress her hair, Elia's eyes sprang open. She began to breathe heavily, panting like a dog. Her eyes remained open but appeared lifeless as the little girl stared off into space. Her neck snapped as she shot a penetrating glare at Josephine. The girl strained for air and tried to talk again. She could hardly muster up a groan. Then her body began to convulse as her limbs contorted in unnatural directions. Josephine rapped Eliah in her arms, binding her movement like a straight jacket. She continued to sob as she lifted her daughter from the earth and began running to the town. Josephine banged on every door in desperation. She begged anyone who was willing to listen to help her. 00:06:15 Speaker 2: You must help, please, I beg of you my daughter she's unwell. 00:06:20 Speaker 1: But every household was as helpless to cure the little girl as the next. Physically, Eliyah was completely fine, and as a result, there was little anyone could do. Her illness ran deeper, her soul was plagued with an evil that refused to let her go. Dejected, Josephine slowly made her way back home, leaving her hope behind her. She carried nothing more than her daughter's frail body. Each step led her away from the life she once loved. Josephine spent many long nights tending to her daughter. She would press damned claws upon her forehead through violent fevers and hold her down with a firm tenderness when the convulsions started back up. Josephine could feel herself growing helpless with every passing hour. As Eliah slipped into a rare bout of sleep, Josephine reclined in the bed next to her. She sighed and stared out the window at the night sky speckled with shimmering stars. The dazzling array reminded her of stories she had heard as a young girl, stories of the God of the Jews, who had promised provision to his people. Though she was a gentile, she wondered if the god, who was said to be full of love might have some to spare for her and her little girl. 00:07:58 Speaker 3: Jesus's words aren't always easy to hear or understand, but if we're faithful to press in and peel back the layers, we will always find something rich and beautiful. Welcome to the Jesus Podcast. We're spending the first couple weeks in October exploring Jesus's authority over demons. We want Christ's light illuminated during a season when darkness is celebrated. Take a moment today to share this podcast with a friend. We want everyone to be exposed to the power and presence of Jesus. Today, we're diving into a story that might make you raise an eyebrown or two. It's a story inspired by Matthew Chapter fifteen, verses twenty one through twenty eight. It includes a desperate mother, a seemingly unresponsive Jesus, and yes, a conversation about demons. 00:08:48 Speaker 1: Jesus rested in a home in the region of tire and Sidon, enjoying a brief moment of anonymity. He was in the land of the Gentiles, a place where Jewish wish rabbi would never be found. However, Jesus did not follow such prejudiced traditions. He knew that the love of God would eventually reach the nations of the Gentiles. However, for now, his mission was focused on the Hebrews. He had entered the house of a faithful follower, but did not want anyone to know he was staying there. He was content to be alone with his disciples and pour into them the wisdom of God. He needed them ready and prepared for the coming days. However, Jesus's fame had stretched beyond the borders of Jedea. Before Jesus could even raise his feet to rest, the door knocked relentlessly. Jesus walked to the door and opened it softly. A genteel woman stood at the entrance, holding her daughter in her arms. The little girl was stirring and grunting. Her eyes were rolled back, and she screamed at the sight of Jesus, it was clear she was possessed by a demon. The woman fell to her knees, holding her daughter up to Jesus. Tears streamed down her face as she pleaded with. 00:10:28 Speaker 2: Jesus, you are you the teacher from Nazareth. 00:10:33 Speaker 1: Jesus bent down and placed a gentle hand on the girl's clammy forehead. Eliah jerked at his touch and gnashed her teeth violently. She let out a shriek, but Jesus stood his ground. He stood upright and looked intently at Josephine without saying a word. The desperate mother continued with her plea. 00:10:57 Speaker 2: Please, you are set to have power from heaven. Please cast this demon out of my child. I can't watch her suffer any longer. My heart is breaking. 00:11:13 Speaker 1: Josephine broke into sobs, once again, unable to utter another word. Jesus's heart was moved with compassion, but his body remained unmoved in the open doorway, looking down at the woman with a placid gaze. Do not know that I need to feed the children before allowing the puppies a chance to eat? Why would I give the children's food to them? Jesus spoke of his mission to the Jews over the Gentiles. The Jews notoriously referred to Gentiles as dogs, but Jesus chose a more enduring term, puppies. However, the air of separation remained. Jesus questions came off as offensive to the woman, but his talk relayed a message that carried no judgment, just a point of truth meant to help the woman see the complexity of her request. He of course, was referring to his mission toward the Jews before the Gentiles. Still, the woman winced at Jesus's reply. She knew that she was a gentile. There was no escaping for birth. However, deep down she knew her birth did not disqualify her from the grace Jesus offered. She looked up at him and risked pressing the issue. She wasn't pleading for personal gain. Her faith had led her to Jesus and the hopes of seeing her daughter made well. 00:12:47 Speaker 2: That may be so, my Lord, but even the pups are allowed under the table to eat the crumbs that fall. 00:12:53 Speaker 1: Jesus nodded, amazed at the woman's persistence and tact. He knelt down and laid his hand on the girl's head. Again, her gaze would not meet his. She thrashed her head and grunted in her mother's arms. Jesus had come to fulfill the salvation to the Jews first, but in his unrelenting love, he would of course not allow this woman to leave without healing her daughter. He looked at the woman, then back at the girl. For the first time since her her rival. The mother saw Jesus warm smile for your statement. You may leave in peace. The demon has left your daughter. Josephine looked down just in time to see Elia's sparkling eyes open. No longer did she see the lifeless gaze that haunted her dreams. She was staring into her baby's dazzling green eyes, which were sweetly staring back at her. A Liah choked on a cough and tried to lift her head, but her weariness pulled her back down into her mother's arms. 00:14:08 Speaker 2: My baby, oh sweet child, rest your head. You have been through so much. You are the strongest person I have ever known. 00:14:19 Speaker 1: Josephine's teary eyes moved from her child to the healer. It was as though his mere presence was enough to bring her absolute peace, beyond her own understanding. All the long days and nights of watching her child struggle with the demon melted away, now feeling like nothing more than a distant memory. 00:14:44 Speaker 2: Thank you, blessed be your name, O Lord. 00:14:48 Speaker 1: The words were broken but genuine. Josephine had believed in Jesus power, and it was her faith that made her daughter well. Staring into the eyes Jesus, the grateful mother was sure that the God of Israel had indeed looked down upon her and had poured out his boundless love. You're welcome, daughter, daughter. The word rang in Josephine's mind, working its way down to her heart. It had been a long time since she had felt the comfort of a father. She wrapped her hand around her own daughter's cheek. The little girl had fallen asleep, and for the first time in weeks, she seemed tranquil, like an innocent lamb lying down by still waters. She pressed her lips to her forehead and gave her a gentle kiss. Eliah's eye slowly opened as she greeted her mother with a delicate smile. The disciples happily watched the scene in silence. They too knew what it was like to be accepted by God despite feelings of inadequacy. Watching Jesus break down the walls of division between nations and peoples was a true miracle. They knew they were in the presence of someone far greater than they could ever have imagined. And perhaps this wasn't the anonymity Jesus had hoped for, but it was the very work he had expected. He had come to set the captives free, both jew and gentile. Andrew stood to his feet and walked the mother and daughter to the door. As Jesus made his way back to the table and landed softly in his chair once more, he raised his cup to his lips, taking a small sip of wine as the door slowly creaked close behind the mother and daughter. The group could hear a faint giggle outside has two small feet landed on the ground. Tiny footsteps raced up the street with a light hearted daughter and the relieved mother following. 00:17:15 Speaker 3: After, Jesus ventures into the region of tire and sidon, the place you'd probably avoid if you were a devout Jew of the time, think of it as the wrong side of the tracks. He's met by a Canaanite woman, a gentile who cries out, have mercy on me, o, Lord son of David, My daughter is severely demon possessed. Now let's pause here. This woman crosses cultural and religious boundaries to seek Jesus. She's a mother on a mission, and nothing is going to stop her, not even centuries of animosity between Jews and Canaanites. But how does Jesus respond? He answered her not a word ouch ever, sent a text and got left unread. Multiplied that feeling by a thousand. Even the disciples urge Jesus to send her away. They're annoyed by her persistence. When Jesus finally speaks, he says, I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. Translation, you're not on my current agenda. It seems harsh, doesn't it. But hold on, there's more beneath the surface. Undeterred, the woman worships him, saying, Lord, help me. She drops the formalities and gets stray to the point Jesus replies, it is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs. Did Jesus just call her a dog before you clutch your pearls? Understand that the term little dogs softens the blow. It's more like saying puppies. He's testing her faith, drawing something deeper out of her. As she retorts, yes, Lord, Yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their master's table to shay, she's essentially saying, even a crumb of your power can heal my daughter. Humility and faith are on full display. Now, let's focus on the demon aspect. Her daughter is severely demon possessed. In those days, demon possession was a way to describe severe physical or mental afflictions. Whether you interpret this literally or metaphorically, the point is that her daughter is in desperate need of deliverance. Demons in this context represent anything that torments us addictions, fears, doubts, prejudices, or even literal demons. This mother's battle is not just against a spiritual entity, but against barriers that society has placed between her and Jesus. What makes this story remarkable is that a gentile woman recognizes Jesus as Lord and son of David, titles packed with Jewish Messianic expectation. Meanwhile, the religious insiders are often clueless or skeptical. Jesus commends, saying, O woman, great is your faith, Let it be to you as you desire. Her daughter is healed that very hour, Her persistence pays off, and a generational curse is broken. How can we apply this story to ourselves today? First, let's have persistent faith that transcends boundaries. Are we willing to cross societal lines for the sake of those we love? This woman didn't let cultural norms prevent her from seeking Jesus. Second, embrace humility and wit. This woman doesn't argue or get offended at Jesus. Instead, she cleverly engages him. Sometimes a humble heart speaks louder than a loud mouth. Next, identifying our demons, what are the modern day demons tormenting us or our loved ones? Mental health struggles, substance abuse, deep seated anger. Recognize these things and bring them to Jesus, and remember God's purpose is bigger than our plan. Jesus's initial reluctance wasn't rejection, but a set up for a greater revelation that his mission includes all of us. This story teaches us that even the crumbs of Jesus's power are sufficient to overcome our greatest challenges. The woman's daughter was healed not because of entitlement, but because of faith. So whether you feel like an outsider or some one battling inner demons, remember that Jesus's table has room for you. And sometimes it's the persistent, humble faith that moves mountains or in this case, expels demons. Let's not be afraid to approach God with boldness, wit and unwavering faith. Who knows you might just find that He's been waiting for you to take that step all along.