In our Scripture reading today from Mark, we read the account of Jesus healing a deaf-mute man, bringing him out of a silent and isolated world. Let’s open up this passage of God’s Word and see what we can learn, and also apply to our lives today.
Immediately prior to when our passage takes place Jesus had been in the area of the cities of Tyre and Sidon, which were northwest of Israel, along the Mediterranean coast, and also a predominantly Gentile area. It was here that Jesus cast a demon out of the daughter of a Gentile woman, hearkening to her desperate prayers (Mark 7:24-30). From Tyre and Sidon, Jesus and His disciples traveled to the east, to the area east of the Sea of Galilee, the area of Decapolis (vs 31). Decapolis was a group of ten cities east of the Sea of Galilee and the Jordan River, and were also predominantly Gentile. Though Jesus was with His disciples, teaching them throughout this time, He was there for the Gentiles, as well. Throughout His three years of ministry on earth, Jesus ministered to the Gentiles as well as the Jewish people. In this way He was preparing the disciples to their job of bringing the Gospel message of salvation to all people.
While in the Decapolis, a man was brought to Jesus who was both deaf and mute (vs 32). The Bible does not say whether this man was Jewish or Gentile, though Gentiles were in the majority in this area. We also do not know for how long this man was deaf. The fact that he had great difficulty in talking might indicate he was either born deaf or became deaf at a very early age. We learn to speak by imitating the speech of our parents, siblings, and other adults. Therefore if we can’t hear them speak, it is very difficult, often impossible, to learn to speak understandably. In Jesus’s day the deaf had very little means of communicating with the hearing world. They would have had limited way to receive an education or training, and unless they came from a wealthy family, were doomed to a life of struggle.
Jesus had mercy on this man. He took the deaf man aside, and touching both his ears and mouth, healed him (vs 33-35). As Jesus touched him, He spoke the word “Ephphatha”, which is Aramaic for “be opened”. Jesus opened this poor man’s ears so he could hear, and opened his mouth, so he could speak. Now this man could hear the sound of his family and friends voices. He could hear the sound of the birds, music, and laughter. He could speak now, and effectively communicate for the first time.
Jesus is saying the same word to us today. He is saying to us, “Ephphatha”. We may not be physically deaf, but do we hear what God is saying to us? Are our ears opened to His Words? God speaks to us through His Word, the Bible, and through the words of His servants. Frequently we can be as hard of hearing as someone who is deaf, and we do not listen to God. Jesus says to us, “Ephphatha, be opened”. He wants us to open our ears, hear His Word, and respond to it.
Jesus is also telling us to allow our mouth to be opened. Opened for what? Scripture is very explicit in warning us to watch out what we say, so what is our mouth to be opened for? Jesus wants us to “be opened” to spread the Word of God and His message of salvation. Again, like with our ears, often our mouth is shut. It’s a common problem that our mouth is open, speaking when we shouldn’t, and closed when we should speak out.
The man that Jesus healed, bringing him out of a world of silence, would have been open to hearing what Jesus had to say. I am sure that he would have been eager to tell others about Him, as well. We need to open our ears to listen to all God is telling us. We need to be open in telling others the message of Jesus and what He says in the Bible. Jesus says to us today, “Ephphatha”. Be opened!
Excellent, thanks
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