Faith in Christ Gives Her a Tremendous Argument

The Savior was satisfied. He had tested her faith. He had shown that she whom others had regarded as an outcast from Israel was no longer an alien, but a child in God’s household. As a child, it was her privilege to share in the Father’s gifts. Christ now granted her request and finished the lesson to the disciples. Turning to her with a look of pity and love, He said, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” From that hour, her daughter was healed. The woman left, acknowledging her Savior, and happy that He had granted her prayer.HH 183.4

It was for this miracle that Jesus went to the borders of Tyre and Sidon. He wanted to help the afflicted woman and at the same time leave His disciples an example of mercy for the time when He would no longer be with them. He wanted to lead them to be interested in working for others besides their own people.HH 183.5

Jesus longed to reveal the deep mysteries of the truth, that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs with the Jews and “partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel.” Ephesians 3:6. In rewarding the faith of the centurion at Capernaum and preaching to the people of Sychar, He had already given evidence that He did not share the Jewish intolerance. But now Jesus brought the disciples in contact with a heathen who they thought would have no reason to expect favor from Him. He would show that His love was not to be limited to race or nation.HH 183.6

When He said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel,” He stated the truth. This woman was one of the lost sheep that Israel should have rescued. The work they had neglected, Christ was doing.HH 183.7

This act opened the disciples’ minds more fully to the work ahead of them among the Gentiles. They saw people carrying sorrows that others, more highly favored, knew nothing about. They were longing for help from the mighty Healer, hungering for truth. Afterward, when the death of Christ had broken down the dividing wall between Jew and Gentile, this lesson had a powerful influence on Christ’s representatives.HH 184.1

The Savior’s visit to Phoenicia and the miracle He performed there had an even wider purpose. Today, the same pride and prejudice have built strong walls of separation between different classes of people. Many feel virtually shut away from the gospel. But we should not let them feel that they are shut away from Christ.HH 184.2

In faith the woman of Phoenicia flung herself against the barriers piled up between Jew and Gentile. Regardless of appearances and against discouragement that might have led her to doubt, she trusted the Savior’s love. This is how Christ wants us to trust in Him. The blessings of salvation are for every human being. Nothing but his or her own choice can prevent anyone from becoming a partaker of the promise in Christ by the gospel.HH 184.3

Caste is hateful to God. In His sight all people are of equal value. He “has made from one blood every nation of men ... that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might ... find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.” All are invited to come to Him and live. “The same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For ‘whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’” Acts 17:26, 27; Romans 10:12, 13.HH 184.4