Communion Meditation-Crumbs of Life

Matt 15:25-28 25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. 26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. 27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. 28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

We have already noticed one important aspect of these verses in the Exhortation, earlier in the service. That is, that this woman compares herself to the dogs which eat from the Master’s table. She was a Gentile dog and therefore not part of the Covenant people of God. But we have also realized that Jesus was expounding the teaching that those who are true covenant members are those who believe like Abraham. Covenant connection to Jesus is by grace through faith.

This is Paul’s great driving point in Romans. It is a correction of the false assumptions of the Jews and a comfort to the fearful expectations of the Gentiles. God is righteous to Gentile and Jew alike, through His Son, Jesus Christ. So, all those who approach God honestly, looking for mercy in Jesus Christ, will find it. It does not matter where they were born or who their fleshly parents were. But they must all be children of Abraham, people who look to God in faith.

Another key point in these verses is the great faith of this woman. She was willing to eat the crumbs from the table of Jesus. Even His disciples were not willing to do that. They wanted to sit at His right hand and at His left at the banqueting hall of the great High King. But not she. She would rather be a dog beneath His feet than a great Gentile outside of His courts. She realized that anything He had touched was sure to bring life. Even a bit of crumb, a scrap from His table.

A bit of crumb, a scrap. That is what we eat here. A piece of bread. Hardly even a piece of bread. More like a piece of a piece, almost like leftovers or throw aways. But nothing that comes from Jesus is throw away. What comes from His table is life.

We have no right to be here. Not in our own name. Not with our family background. Not with our deeds. Not with our thoughts. But we are here and we would rather be here, at His table, than anywhere else. For He is here. And He bids us welcome and eat. Take hold of life. Take hold of hope. Take hold of healing. Take hold of Jesus.