Let The Deaf Hear, Let The Mute Speak

Today’s passage is Mark 7:31-37.  With an open mind and a humble heart, read this passage and see what sticks out to you in this passage.  Is there a verse, a phrase, or a lesson you think the Holy Spirit may be highlighting for you in this passage?  After you’ve thought about the passage yourself a bit, read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!

Mark 7:31-35 (NIV)
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 him to place his hand on the man.
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.

On verses 31-35:  At first glance, to us reading these verses today, the steps Jesus took to heal this deaf and mute man might seem strange.  But keep in mind that Jesus would often touch people as a part of healing them.  He would often look to heaven while praying.  He would sigh out of compassion and sometimes frustration.  So perhaps it’s just the spitting part that throws us off.  One theory is that using saliva was common in ancient healing stories.  Another theory is that before speaking the words “Ephphatha!”, Jesus was using actions and sign language to tell this man that Jesus was about to heal him; that way this man would know what Jesus was about to do and have the opportunity to believe that Jesus could do it.

Even when we don’t fully understand Jesus’ methods, we can be confident in both Jesus’ intentions and Jesus’ ability to bring about positive change in a person’s life.

Also, as strange as Jesus’ methods might seem to some, do you think that deaf and mute man cared?  Of course not.  He was just happy to hear and talk normally.  Let this story remind us once again that nothing is impossible with Jesus and that, like verse 37 says, Jesus does all things well.

Mark 7:36-37 (NIV)
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.”

On verses 36-37:  Jesus commanded people not to tell others about him, but they did anyway.  Nowadays we see more of the opposite: Jesus commands his followers to tell others about him, and often we don’t.  Perhaps it’s out of fear, apathy, or self-centeredness that we fail to share about Jesus sometimes.  May we not be spiritually deaf and mute.  May we live out loud for Jesus and not be afraid to point people to Him in wise, loving, courageous ways.

Jesus, I pray that I would not be deaf or mute when it comes to what You’re doing.  May I use my ears to hear You and my mouth to speak of You and to point others to You.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN!