For August 29, 2026
A Wider Task by Greg Holmes, D.MIN – Director of Missions serving 17 churches
THE STORY of the “Canaanite Woman” (cf. Matt. 15:21-28, Mark 7:24-30) is early in Jesus’ ministry, and the later tensions are not present to any marked degree—but neither are they absent. In both recountings of this story, Jesus has been on a journey north from Jerusalem to the Sea of Galilee, then onward to the region of Tyre and Sidon in modern day Lebanon. It has been a journey replete with tales of miracles; A woman sick twelve years is healed of a flow of blood (cf. Matt. 9:22), a dead girl is returned to life (Matt. 9:25), two blind men are given sight (cf. Matt. 9:29), a mute man can speak (cf. Matt. 9:33), and many other similar: “Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.” (Matt. 9:35)