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15. Jesus’ Return to Galilee, His Going to Jordan, and His healing of a Deaf and Dumb Person (Mark 7:31-37)
MARK 7:31-37
31 Again he departed from the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and came to the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the region of Decapolis. 32 They brought to him one who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech. They begged him to lay his hand on him. 33 He took him aside from the multitude, privately, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat, and touched his tongue. 34 Looking up to heaven, he sighed, and said to him, “Ephphatha!” that is, “Be opened!35 Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was released, and he spoke clearly. 36 He commanded them that they should tell no one, but the more he commanded them, so much the more widely they proclaimed it. 37 They were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He makes even the deaf hear, and the mute speak!”
Most men do not listen to the word of God. Only a few of them confess the name of Jesus. Men are like deaf and dumb people because they do not hear the Lord’s calling with open ears, nor do they understand the message of the gospel with retentive hearts, nor do their tongues speak to glorify the Lord, but only unclean words and empty, hypocritical praises come out of their mouths. The name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is not acknowledged by them, for Jesus has not yet untied the bonds of their hearts. Are you as a mute before the true faith? Come to Jesus, for he has the ability and power to free you from your evil, and he is prepared to receive you. Christ wants to open your mind, and save you from becoming hardened against the true faith and love that you may become a witness of his great power.
When he returned from the region of Tyre and Sidon, Christ went to the east of Jordan, fleeing from the Jews. His own nation is like a deaf and dumb person. They believe they have the word of God as their own and that they hear it and pray without ceasing. In fact, they are blind, deaf, and lame, for the Holy Spirit has not yet dwelt in them.
There, Jesus met a sick man from across the Jordan who was brought to him by some believers that he might cure him. Christ treated him with love and much kindness, putting his finger into his deaf ears that he might feel the hand of God touching his head. Jesus spat upon his own finger, and touched the tongue of the deaf-mute, that the power of God might flow into him. Then Jesus looked up to heaven, that the sick man might understand that salvation and forgiveness come only from God. When Christ had created in the deaf-mute man faith in his person through his clear signs and the sense of his love, he moved his lips saying the creative word: “Be opened!” At once, the man was able to hear, his speech impediment was removed, and he began to talk plainly. And the word of God was the first word he had ever heard.
Today, the Son of God touches the ears of many. He puts his finger on their tongues saying: “Be opened!” His design is to make millions of people in the world hearers and witnesses, rejoicing in the name of the Father. Will you come and bring your friends to Christ’s clinic? He is the Intercessor and Helper. No one is turned away, for he is a loving and interceding God.
PRAYER: O mighty Lord, we worship your love and glorify you for curing the deaf man in Jordan. Save us from muteness and impediment, that we may be freed from the bonds of our hearts, see you in your glory before us, hear your creative word, and praise your name openly before God and men. Open the ears of millions in our days, and loosen their tongues that they may praise you forever. Amen.
QUESTION:
- How did Jesus cure the deaf-mute man?