Jesus Befriends a Strange Woman from Syria
On leaving that place, Jesus went to the district of Tyre and Sidon.
And he went into a house, and did not wish any one to know it, but could not escape notice. For a woman, whose little daughter had a foul spirit in her, heard of him immediately, and came and threw herself at his feet—the woman was a foreigner, a native of Syrian Phoenicia—and she begged him to drive the demon out of her daughter.
“Let the children be satisfied first,” answered Jesus. “For it is not fair to take the children’s food, and throw it to dogs.”
“Yes, Master,” she replied; “even the dogs under the table do feed on the children’s crumbs.”
“For saying that,” he answered, “you may go. The demon has gone out of your daughter.”
The woman went home, and found the child lying on her bed, and the demon gone.
Cure of a Deaf Mute
On returning from the district of Tyre, Jesus went, by way of Sidon, to the Sea of Galilee, across the district of the Ten Towns. Some people brought to him a man who was deaf and almost dumb, and they begged Jesus to place bis hand on him. Jesus took him aside from the crowd quietly, put his fingers into the man’s ears, and touched his tongue with saliva. Then, looking up to Heaven, he sighed, and said to the man:
“Ephphatha!” which means “Be opened.”
The man’s ears were opened, the string of his tongue was freed, and he began to talk plainly. Jesus insisted upon their not telling any one; but the more he insisted, the more perseveringly they made it known, and a profound impression was made upon the people.
“He has done everything well!” they exclaimed. “He makes even the deaf hear and the dumb speak!”
—Mark.