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Divine Humiliation
“It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to
the dogs.” She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the
scraps that fall from the table of their masters.” Then Jesus said
to her in reply, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for
you as you wish.” Matthew 15:26–28
Imagine the Son of God referring to you as a dog. For most people,
that would be deeply offensive. So why would Jesus do such a thing?
He did so, in part, to draw forth from this woman an act of
profound humility and faith. Through this moment of divine
humiliation, Jesus invited her to rise to a heroic response,
prompting Him to exclaim, “O woman, great is your faith!” He
desires to do the same with each one of us.
When Jesus first encountered this woman, He saw into her soul and
perceived the depth of her faith. As God, He knew everything about
her—her suffering, her love for her daughter, her perseverance. He
also knew He would heal the girl, yet He did not do so immediately.
Instead, He engaged in what theology refers to as divine pedagogy—a
method of instruction by which God teaches slowly, carefully, and
with purpose. In this case, Jesus used the moment to teach His
disciples, and us, a profound lesson about humility and unwavering
faith. He tested her, and she passed the test marvelously.
The location of this encounter is also significant. It took place
in the region of Tyre and Sidon, in modern-day Lebanon—a Gentile
territory known for its Greek-speaking population and pagan
customs. The woman is specifically identified as a Canaanite,
evoking the memory of Israel’s ancient enemies. And yet, it is
precisely this outsider—this woman of seemingly little spiritual
privilege—who becomes a model of the faith the chosen people were
meant to embody.
She first approaches Jesus, crying out, “Have pity on me, Lord, Son
of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.” By calling Him,
“Son of David,” she reveals her belief in His messianic identity.
But what does Jesus do? Nothing. He appears to ignore her—not
because He is displeased or uncaring, but because He is testing her
faith, knowing full well she will persevere and shine.
God often allows similar experiences in the lives of the faithful.
It’s easy to assume that if we follow Christ, we will be shielded
from difficulty. On the contrary, one of the most powerful ways God
forms His saints is by allowing them to undergo trials. These
trials, far from being signs of abandonment, are invitations to
heroic virtue. They are divine tests. And God never permits more
than we can endure by His grace.
If that seems confusing or difficult to accept, we need only look
to the Son of God Himself. Though Jesus was perfect, it was the
Father’s will that He endure the deepest depths of humiliation:
rejection, persecution, suffering, and death. Through this ultimate
“divine pedagogy,” the Son not only conquered sin and death but
also taught us how to follow Him—by transforming our humiliation
into humility, our weakness into strength, and our suffering into
sanctification. In this way, God’s power is made perfect in our
weakness (cf. 2 Corinthians 12:9).
As the conversation with the woman unfolds, Jesus continues to
appear distant, yet He knows she will not give up. Her faith and
her love for her daughter drive her to persevere. She humbly
persists through every trial, and in doing so, she wins grace—not
only for herself and her daughter, but also for the disciples who
witnessed the exchange and for all who read her story today.
Reflect today on the ways God may be inviting you to a deeper faith
through silence, delay, or trial. Could He be calling you, like
this woman, to heroic humility and steadfast trust? Embrace those
moments of divine testing, for they are often the very means by
which His greatest works of grace are accomplished—in you and
through you.
Divine Teacher and Guide, You teach us through Your Word, Your
actions, and even through Your silence. When You are silent in the
midst of trials and tribulations, grant me the grace to persevere
in faith, trusting that You will never abandon me. Help me to
understand that every trial You permit is an invitation to deeper
trust, so that Your grace and glory may be revealed in me, and
through me, shine forth to others. Jesus, I trust in You.
Image: Woman of Canaan, by Harold Copping
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