Healed

Blog Series #6: How Jesus Treats Women, Part 3b He Learns from Her - Matthew 15:21-28

I am continuing my study of Matthew 15: 21-28 where Jesus learns something new from an Indigenous woman. If you haven’t already, please check out the first part of this study titled Heard.

As with the presence of the Canaanite woman in Jesus’ day, we are surrounded in North America by conquered, silenced Indigenous Native Americans. A stark reminder of this reality took place in 1973. A famous actor named Marlon Brando decided not to accept an Oscar, but sent Shacheen Littlefeather, then President of the National Native American Affirmative Action Committee, to speak at the Academy Awards in his place if he won. Here is a link to a YouTube video on how that went down.

Many years later in an interview with the press, (you can read about it here and here) Littlefeather said that another famous actor, John Wayne, was standing just off-stage while she gave her 1-minute speech. By her account, other men had to hold Wayne back as he lunged toward her while she spoke. In addition to the loud cries of “Boooh!” from the audience, Wayne allegedly came close to committing physical violence against this Indigenous woman because she dared to use her voice to speak up for her oppressed, and silenced culture. Marlon Brando gave Littlefeather the opportunity to say out loud that Hollywood (at that time) consistently depicted her culture inaccurately. The Native American people were mis-represented in unrealistic and twisted depictions, if depicted at all. John Wayne’s behavior off-stage as Littlefeather spoke was an example of (or symptom of) the majority of white people in America’s privileged class who will fight to silence a female Indigenous voice. They would never -ever- listen to her, and they certainly refuse to LEARN anything from her.

(I will say that the audience applause over the booing of a few, and the kindness the two Academy hosts show Littlefeather throughout her moment on stage is commendable)

For a thoughtful piece on whether Sacheen Littlefeather was ‘native enough’ you can click on this article in Variety magazine.

In sharp contrast with the John Waynes of our modern North America, Jesus didn’t try to silence the Canaanite mother or send her away as His disciples encouraged Him to do.

Instead, Jesus listened.

He turned TOWARD her, remained curious, and made a clarifying (if rather insulting) statement to check His understanding.

THEN …

(*whew … *)

He listened to her response.

He heard her.

When an Indigenous woman said something that made Him feel uncomfortable, Jesus listened to her anyway. He did not yell “Boooh!” He did not lunge at her with a gesture implying a threat of physical violence if she didn’t shut-up.

He even allowed this woman to (*gasp!*) change His mind.

Jesus learned something new from her.

The Gospel accounts of the New Testament record how Jesus became God incarnate (in human form, or ‘in the flesh’) to live on this earth, die, resurrect and ascend to Heaven. Our Creator did all of this in order to implement a NEW Covenant, one that would be a loving relationship between God and ALL of Creation, not just one nation of people (Luke 22:20, Romans 8-11, and Hebrews chapter 8 especially verse 13). Jesus being fully human as much as He was fully God continued developing in His own thinking and identity until the moment His earthly body died. We can see by Jesus’ words in this story that before He met this Indigenous Canaanite mama, He thought His purpose as the Messiah was to set only the Israelites free from their sins. Jesus discovered with her gentle answer that His incarnation, death, resurrection, and ascension would set EVERY human being free to have a spiritual relationship with their Creator

if they so choose

-- even the marginalized, oppressed, the ‘booohed,’ impoverished, hated, and silenced humans who live on our planet.

Even the ‘dogs’ under the table scrambling for scraps of food.

Especially them.

And that

my dear ones

is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

If you think you caught a vague reference to Kristin Kobes DuMez’ ground-breaking work Jesus and John Wayne in this piece … you were right! I highly recommend following Dr. Kristin DuMez on social media as she continues to study various aspects of our history, developing valuable insights along the way.