Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.” Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!”

(Matthew 15:21-28)

It is good to know that Jesus, the Son of David, and the God of Mercy, is not dead.  Upon his death, burial and resurrection, He went “into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.(1 Peter 3:22).”  Given this mother-daughter experience in the Book of Matthew, all that belongs to Jesus makes heavenly and earthly sense to withstand good and evil.

As He sits up high and looks down low, Jesus is still watching over the cares of mothers and fathers, sons and daughters.  The gospels, if educators care to read them, give administrators,  teachers and staff support workers a peek into His resume, illuminating the drastic need for His electrifying power and endless hope for the revolving situations educators encounter on any given school day.

In the gospel of Matthew, the parent is in extreme distress. Her struggle is beyond real.  It is demonic. If education was well established in her day, she would be seen bypassing the school board, district office, and the principal to get to Jesus. 

Preparing to educate His disciples, Jesus creates a full teaching moment in the midst of a mothers cry. His hesitation allows time for the disciples to voice their frustrations, reveal their lack of spiritual knowledge and their low degree of compassion. Within minutes they come to realize the heart of God and His willingness to help all people on the earth, not just the children of Israel.

The mother cries out for Jesus twice.  The second time she comes on bended knees and cries out “Lord, help me!” Jesus sees her faith in Him, and He heals her daughter in that very moment. Why would her cry center on “her” needs versus her daughter who is demon possessed?  This scene is indicative of what transpires in the homes of students. One child, or more, shakes the foundation of the household and the parent is thrown into his or her own valley of the shadow of death with no way out.  The parent doesn’t know where to turn or who to turn to for help until he or she hears about the God of Hope.

Desperate parents understand that the school can only do so much despite the countless programs recycled and recreated year after year. There aren’t enough resources in any district, public or private, to heal the broken hearted and/or the broken homes. The good news is that whatever ails students and parents, nothing is out of reach for Jesus: the inability to read, write or comprehend, laziness or sloughfulness, health issues, anger, or suicidal thoughts. None of these compare to demon possession yet they are still the cry of many parents and teachers.  

As a disciple in education, do you desire for Jesus to send students and parents away or are you willing to exercise your knees and posture yourself to pray and ask Jesus to help you, your students and their parents? No, this is not another duty as assigned.  This is the command of God, “pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

- Mr. Jenkins
Social Studies Teacher