Surprised by Grace (12): No qualification needed

It’s comforting to know that doing right will ultimately count for something.
It is reassuring especially at low points in life.
“Eventually justice is on my side,” righteous people tell themselves.

At least the Bible says so much:
“For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” (1 Peter 3:12, NIV)

The plain sense of “righteous” points to the opposite of “those who do evil.”
So, only those who live rightly qualify.

The route passes through a key point: qualification.
Without it, there is no guarantee of justice, grace and mercy.
No guarantee that God will hear your plea.
His eyes and ears are only reserved for “the righteous.”
The end of the road.
If you do not qualify.

That would have settled all things.
Would have.

But there is always surprise when grace is around.
Where Jesus is.

Once Jesus was in the gentile area of Tyre and Sidon, and accosted by a gentile woman. (Mt 15:21-28)
She was asking for mercy from Jesus to heal her daughter.

It would be easy to miss how unqualified the woman was.
First, it was her daughter, not a son, that was needing healing.
Second, the request came also from a woman.
Third, she wasn’t a Jew.
Finally, Jesus was on his way to do something and was being held up by the woman’s request.
How unqualified!

No wonder Jesus wasn’t playing along. Initially He just ignored her.
But she kept badgering Jesus to a point that He was asked by the disciples to send her away.

So Jesus did.
“I was sent only to help God’s lost sheep—the people of Israel.”
Without success He added, “It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.”

Couldn’t have imagined Jesus drew the line of qualification with such so bold lettering.
Based on all biblical knowledge and common sense, that should be it for the woman.
She had no standing to ask for mercy.
No qualification.
Not righteous person.
Not chosen people.

Her reply turned such theology on its head.
“That’s true, Lord, but even dogs are allowed to eat the scraps that fall beneath their masters’ table.”

What understanding of God’s heart this woman possessed and uttered.
What grasp and definition of grace and mercy.
What revolutionary erasure of the need of qualification to God hearing prayer requests.
Used to be God would hear the righteous.
Used to be God would hear His people.

“Dear woman,” Jesus said to her, “your faith is great. Your request is granted.” And her daughter was instantly healed.

The woman was not the righteous person in 1 Peter 3:12.
She couldn’t qualify.
She could only fantasise of Jesus hearing her prayer.
But what happened?

No qualification needed.
No track record needed.
No connection needed.

Just an acknowledgment of an unworthy state, even to self-attest as “dog”, as opposed to those with the status of “children.”
The bar is so low.
No need for DNA.
Nor degree.
Nor distinguished morality.

Just honest humility plus a simple faith.
Believe in Him who cares and hears from all, regardless of any qualification.

Easy.
Free.
Unbelievable.
Accessible.

Surprise.