Healing is the children’s bread (The Lord, Our Healer)
Hi friends!
I hope you are prospering in Jesus!
If you are like me, you grew up saying and believing that “healing is the children’s bread” was a verse in the Bible. Or maybe you’ve never heard of this beautiful expression used to refer to our heritage as children of God.
This expression comes from an account in Matthew 15:22-28:
And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.” But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.
Matthew 15:22-28
A Canaanite woman came to Jesus crying out for help. Her daughter was severely possessed and was suffering greatly. She knew Jesus could help her. So, in faith, she cried out to Him. She believed that Jesus was the Son of God, as evidenced by how she addressed Him.
Jesus, however, seemed to ignore her! He didn’t answer her or address her needs. She was very persistent. The disciples were so annoyed they asked Jesus to send her away! To them, this woman was a nuisance.
But instead of sending her away, Jesus talked to her. He told her that, at this moment, His ministry was only to the lost sheep of Israel. He was commissioned by God and sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. NOT to her.
But she would not give up! She came again. She bowed down before Jesus and worshiped. She pleaded, “Lord, help me!”
What happens next has always perplexed me. Our Savior is full of love and compassion. He condemned every form of prejudice and bias. But Jesus says, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” Whoa! It appears that Jesus calls this woman a dog!
This is what gentiles were called at that time. It was a derogatory term referring to their disdain for them.
To properly understand this, however, we must know that our English language is sometimes limited. The word translated dog in this verse is not the same derogatory term used to describe gentiles. Instead, the word refers to a house pet. Our dear sweet Savior did not degrade this woman. He was, however, testing her faith and teaching a great lesson.
The woman, undeterred by Jesus’ response, said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” She knew that she was not of the house of Israel. She knew she was not entitled to a heritage that belonged to God’s Chosen people. But she also knew that even a little crumb was enough to satisfy her greatest desire. A little crumb would bring healing to her daughter. A little crumb from a Mighty Savior was all that she needed!
Jesus was moved by her great faith! And, her daughter was healed that very hour.
This powerful story speaks of great faith in the Savior, Who is mighty to save, heal, and deliver. Just a crumb of His great power is enough! Oh, but wait!
We have been grafted in (In Romans 11:11–24) to God’s family! No, we did not replace Israel; God still has specific promises just for them. But we have been adopted into God’s family. No longer are we little dogs grasping for crumbs, but now we are children! And as children, we have a right to the children’s bread!
As children, we have a heritage and an inheritance. Jesus’ blood was shed for us too!
As children, we have a Father who has always loved us.
As children, we have the promise of a Messiah who came, died, rose and is coming back again.
As children, healing is part of our heritage!
That is what the woman wanted for her daughter, healing! That is what Jesus was referring to as the children’s bread in this account. Because of Jesus, we have a right to ask for healing. We have a right to confess scriptures written long ago and embrace those truths as our own.
Healing IS the children’s bread, and we are His children. So if you need healing, cry out to the Lord. Embrace and believe what He has said in His Word. Believe that healing is for you.
Love you all!
Your friend in the journey,
Erica