Part 18 of Jesus in Action: The Gospel Message of Mark – We as readers are almost shocked by Jesus’ almost heartless response to a needy woman who approaches him with a dire need.  How can we reconcile these harsh words of our Lord with the deep love expressed in the gospel?  Our passage points us beyond the sentimental to the deeper purposes of God, and in the process we see the promised reward of humble faith and then further evidences of the coming kingdom.