He does everything well
| Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis. 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. 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. He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, "Ephphatha!" (which means, "Be opened!"). At this, the man's ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly. Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more He did so, the more they kept talking about it. People were overwhelmed with amazement. "He has done everything well," they said. "He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak." (Mark7:31-36) |
Jesus went through Tyre and Sidon. In the OT Tyre and Sidon represented the heartland of Gentile idolatry and foreign influence. Jezebel the foreign wife who corrupted Ahab was from Sidon. Isaiah, Ezekiel, Amos and Joel all predict the destruction of Tyre and Sidon because of their evil. Jesus goes even to these places to proclaim the Good News.
Ironically, Jesus finds more faith in Tyre and Sidon than He does in Israel. Note His words in Mt.11:21 "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago..." Sadly, we sometimes find more real faith in the world than in the church.
It's amazing how quickly people create formulas. They crowd brought the man to Jesus for Him to "place His hand" upon the deaf and mute man. We quickly develop fixed ideas about how God works and what He does and doesn't do. I once heard a very dogmatic person say "My Jesus would never do X,Y or Z..." to which I answered "And there's your problem - He's not your Jesus."
Jesus heals the man personally and uniquely. He takes Him away and uses very intimate measures. He touches the ears and tongue. He spits, He sighs, He speaks a breathy word ("Ephphatha" just sounds like breath doesn't it? The man couldn't hear it but he probably felt it.) We don't like the spit idea, but spit was often used in healing rituals. Modern science tells us that saliva has some disinfecting qualities and parents have licked their fingers to wipe smears off kiddies faces for centuries. Imagine being deaf and mute and being given the gift of privacy and being attended to so intimately.
The healing is profound. Not only does the man here, but speech arrives/returns. Vocal chords and lips that could hardly talk are now able to articulate and speak plainly. A brain that hasn't heard at all or formed words well can now do all of that. It's a hugely significant healing.
The crowd are deeply impacted. He does everything well. He cares for the whole person. In His teaching, healing and handling of people, Jesus does everything well.
Which of these thoughts stood out to you?
Take a moment to thank God for what you saw/learned today.
