Jesus could stand such pleadings no longer, and he answered and said, “O, woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt.” She had come for crumbs, but the Lord handed to her the key of the storehouse, and said, “Have your way, go in and help yourself to all its stores.” She would have been content with the crumbs that fell beneath the table on the floor, but she finds herself seated at the table itself, and feasting like a daughter of the king on its rich and bountiful provision. No longer a dog, she proves herself to be one of those other sheep which shamed the lost sheep of the house of Israel by docility and purity and grace. This woman had many graces. She had wisdom, humility, meekness, patience, perseverance in prayer; but all these were the fruits of her faith; therefore, of all graces, Christ honors faith most. The perseverance of this woman may well be considered as every way calculated to teach us the power and efficacy of faith, and the greatness of her faith consisted in this, that in spite of all discouragements she continued her plea. Many a blessing has been lost out of our lives just because we lacked these graces of the soul. CHAPTER IX. Womanhood During Our Lord’s Judean Ministry. THE SISTERS OF BETHANY--THEIR CHARACTERISTICS--NOT GOOD, BUT BEST GIFTS--THE EXTRAVAGANCE OF LOVE--SALOME’S STRANGE REQUEST--HER FIDELITY--JOANNA--THE POOR WIDOW’S GIFT--HOW ESTIMATED--THE SAVIOUR’S WORDS OF PEACE. The sisters of Bethany, Martha and Mary, come to our view three times during our Lord’s Judean ministry. The first view we have of them is recorded in Luke x, 38-42, where these sisters entertain our Lord after a long, weary day’s teaching. The second is recorded in John xi, 1-46, and relates to the sickness and raising from the dead their brother Lazarus. The third is the anointing of Jesus by Mary, the account of which is found in Matt. xxvi, 6-13; also in Mark xiv, 3-9, and John xii, 1-8. Though these three events are each distinct, yet a careful study will discover a close connection between the deep, underlying truths in each, the attitude taken by Jesus, and the results in the circumstances of everyday life.