Jesus Heals a Deaf and Mute Man Mark 7:31-37
Jesus Heals a Deaf and Mute Man
31 Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis. 32 There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him. 33 After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. 34 He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” which means “Be opened!” 35 At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly. 36 Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. 37 People were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
Reflection:
As Jesus left the area where he healed the Syro-Phoenician woman, he returned to the vicinity he did most of his ministry in, the Sea of Galilee. But this time he returned by another route through Sidon, perhaps to avoid the crowds, who were increasingly following him. Then a man was brought to him who couldn't hear him and couldn't talk. He was deaf and mute. He was deprived of two of the most essential things we have as human beings, hearing and talking.
This miracle/healing is recorded only in Mark's gospel. We call Mark the power gospel, as it focuses a lot on Jesus' power and authority. And today this power is manifested by Jesus laying on of his hands, which they begged him to do. Jesus took him a way from the crowds, perhaps because of the unique way he would heal this man. In this case, he literally touched the two areas the man needed healing. He put his hands in his ears and unplugged them and loosened his tongue by touching it, or untying it. Right away he began to speak plainly.
Like in other cases, Jesus commanded the man to keep the miracle to himself. But the man overwhelmed with his new ability to talk, can't stop talking about what happened to him. This was not as much in disobedience to Jesus, as it was his excitement about what Jesus had done for him. When we are healed by Jesus it is hard to keep it inside. In fact evangelism, or telling the Good News, is something that flows from Jesus healing of us in the soul. The word salvation comes from the root for "healing". If Evangelism it will always come off as superficial at best, and manipulative at its worst. It can make people feel like a number rather than a child of God.
Jesus not opens eyes and ears, but the hearts of those who look to him for ultimate healing. Amen.
31 Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis. 32 There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him. 33 After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. 34 He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” which means “Be opened!” 35 At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly. 36 Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. 37 People were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
Reflection:
As Jesus left the area where he healed the Syro-Phoenician woman, he returned to the vicinity he did most of his ministry in, the Sea of Galilee. But this time he returned by another route through Sidon, perhaps to avoid the crowds, who were increasingly following him. Then a man was brought to him who couldn't hear him and couldn't talk. He was deaf and mute. He was deprived of two of the most essential things we have as human beings, hearing and talking.
This miracle/healing is recorded only in Mark's gospel. We call Mark the power gospel, as it focuses a lot on Jesus' power and authority. And today this power is manifested by Jesus laying on of his hands, which they begged him to do. Jesus took him a way from the crowds, perhaps because of the unique way he would heal this man. In this case, he literally touched the two areas the man needed healing. He put his hands in his ears and unplugged them and loosened his tongue by touching it, or untying it. Right away he began to speak plainly.
Like in other cases, Jesus commanded the man to keep the miracle to himself. But the man overwhelmed with his new ability to talk, can't stop talking about what happened to him. This was not as much in disobedience to Jesus, as it was his excitement about what Jesus had done for him. When we are healed by Jesus it is hard to keep it inside. In fact evangelism, or telling the Good News, is something that flows from Jesus healing of us in the soul. The word salvation comes from the root for "healing". If Evangelism it will always come off as superficial at best, and manipulative at its worst. It can make people feel like a number rather than a child of God.
Jesus not opens eyes and ears, but the hearts of those who look to him for ultimate healing. Amen.
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