Jesus Changes His Mind … a sermon on Mark 7:24-27 (Year B, Proper 18)
Aim: To see Jesus as real – real God and a real human.
Scripture
In Chapter 6, Jesus had a tough time. He’s been rejected at Nazareth, by those who should have known him best. His friend and Cousin John the Baptist has been killed. He’s sent out his disciples and performed miracles to feed the relentless crowds. In Chapter 7 he’s argued with the Pharisees about what’s right and wrong after they found a way to criticise his disciples. Now he’s trying to get some peace and quiet by staying incognito in a house over the border in a foreign town. At last, he can get some time to deal with everything that has happened to him.
Somehow, a foreigner has recognised him. Even though she’s a woman, she has the nerve to approach a Rabbi and ask for his help! Jesus gives her a short answer, referring to non-Jews as ‘dogs’: at best this is a patronising comment, at worst it is a racist insult! Jesus is not being very nice, but she won’t give up, uses a term of respect to this rude Jew. Then Jesus gives in and answers her.
Analysis
Mark tells it like it was, perhaps for comedy value, even though it might embarrass Jesus. There are two difficult issues for us here. First, we see Jesus portrayed as human; he is not the perfect gentleman and can be harsh when irritated. Second, he changes his mind and grants a request, even when the person who asks has no business asking him for anything.
Our Christian doctrine, our traditional theology tells us that God is perfectly knowing, all seeing and unchanging, so Jesus can’t have changed his mind! Sometimes this is explained away as Jesus ‘testing’ people’s faith. A well-known Christian hymn is titled ‘gentle Jesus, meek and mild’; here, he is not!
Conclusion
However, I feel encouraged by these verses just as they are. The Bible does not shy away from the facts, even when it might not always look good or be interpreted the in ‘right’ way. This gives me confidence that it is true. I am excited that mere humans if they have faith, can change the mind of God. In the OT, Abraham persuaded God to spare his cousins’ family. In the NT, Jesus is persuaded by the persistent faith of a foreigner, a woman – when foreign women counted for nothing in Judea.
Sometimes we are told things about God, which we are not supposed to question. Does faith mean that we’re not meant to reason about them? Thank God Jesus does not conform to such dogma! Thank God that Mark tells us the truth about Jesus and does not give us a sterile piece of propaganda! Jesus (who is God, Holy Spirit, creator of the universe and all) has compassion, and is prepared to change our world in response to a mere human!
Preacher & Veteran 
You talk about your Christian doctrine which is based on the false teachings accepted in the 4th century. It is your traditional theology that tells you that God is perfectly knowing, all seeing and unchanging, which is true, but then you have to face the son of man who could be tempted (whilst God can not be tempted) was bullied, tortured and even killed (whilst man can do God nothing and God can not die) and more than once changed mind.
Jesus was very well aware of his position, being lower than angels (at first, later being made higher than them) always lower than God Who is the Greatest of all. Jesus was also prepared to put his own will aside to do the Will of God. You by making Jesus into your god, not only nullify Jesus his ransom offering, but make also of him and his heavenly Father two liars,. Plus by making him the same one as God you take the hope away that man could be resurrected from the death because than we still have no proof that man can leave the dead to rise again to live in a new world.
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Thank you for your comment, and please accept my apologies for not replying sooner. We must agree to differ. JESUS IS LORD! Best Regards, V+P
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