Did Jesus really say that?
This is the sermon I preached at St. Timothy Lutheran Church on Sunday, 9/8. The text was Mark 7:24-37. Jesus is on the move. Earlier, we’re told he was in Galilee, probably Capernaum, where Peter’s house was. Jesus then goes to Tyre for some rest, about 35 miles from Capernaum. That's the location of our story. After that, he goes “by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee,” (v. 31). I don’t think so! Sidon is about 15 miles northeast of Tyre, while Galilee is southeast of Tyre. Jesus’ route was pretty circuitous. Jesus has gone away to get some rest. The problem is Jesus’ notoriety. I love the way Mark puts it, “Yet he could not escape notice,” (v. 24). Jesus is the master of demons, disease and nature, but he is unable to secure the privacy he wants. Word has gotten around that Jesus was there, and before you know it, he has company. That’s bad enough, but now a woman has found him. And she’s a Gentile besides. Additionally, women were not supposed to be seen in p...