THE HEALING OF A DEAF MAN

Mark 7:31-37

Again he left the district of Tyre and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, into the district of the Decapolis. And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him.

He took him off by himself away from the crowd. He put his finger into the man’s ears and, spitting, touched his tongue; then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, “Ephphatha!” (that is, “Be opened!”) And [immediately] the man’s ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly.

He ordered them not to tell anyone. But the more he ordered them not to, the more they proclaimed it. They were exceedingly astonished and they said, “He has done all things well. He makes the deaf hear and [the] mute speak.”

Reflection:

Jesus was known for healing the sick during His ministry. On deeper reflection, we realize His approach was not always the same in each instance. He was recorded as using touch, clay, saliva, words, and/or presence to heal. The techniques were not arbitrarily chosen but carefully selected each time to stimulate a unique person’s faith. 

By the same token, Jesus took this man aside to touch his ears, spit and touch his tongue, and look up to Heaven. Jesus was conveying what He was doing and how He was doing it in a manner much like sign language. This is the beauty of our God. He knows each of us by name and meets us where we are at.

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