BE OPENED!

Passage: Mark 7:31-37

Key verse: 34

NIV

Jesus Heals a Deaf and Mute Man(A)

31 Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre(B) and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee(C) and into the region of the Decapolis.[a](D) 32 There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk,(E) and they begged Jesus to place his hand on(F) him.

33 After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit(G) and touched the man’s tongue. 34 He looked up to heaven(H) and with a deep sigh(I) 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.(J)

36 Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone.(K) 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.”

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Footnotes
  1. Mark 7:31 That is, the Ten Cities
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Jesus Heals a Deaf Man

31 (A)Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to (B)the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the (C)Decapolis. 32 And they brought to him (D)a man who was deaf and (E)had a speech impediment, and they begged him to (F)lay his hand on him. 33 And (G)taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and (H)after spitting touched his tongue. 34 And (I)looking up to heaven, (J)he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” 35 (K)And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. 36 And (L)Jesus[a] charged them to tell no one. But (M)the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. 37 And they were (N)astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

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Footnotes
  1. Mark 7:36 Greek he
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

How great is the love and compassion of our Lord Jesus! Some people from the region of the Decapolis brought a deaf man with a severe speech impediment to Jesus for healing. The way Jesus responded is truly remarkable and it shows his gentleness and understanding for all those who come to him. He knows our burdens and he cares for each one of us individually. Jesus took the man aside from the crowds, who no doubt had ridiculed the man his whole life. The Lord touched his ears and his tongue to communicate with the man in a way that he would understand. Jesus looked up to heaven, the source of all his power, and sighed a deep sigh. At his command, “Ephphatha!”, the man’s ears were opened and his tongue was loosened.

The lesson of this passage goes beyond one man’s healing. We need Jesus to miraculously open our spiritual ears. We need his touch upon our hearts and souls so that we might hear his life-giving word and obey it. We also need our tongues loosened to proclaim the good news of salvation to the whole world. Following the example of the deaf man’s friends, we are to bring the lost and hurting to Jesus. He continues to do everything well and the hope of the whole world is in him.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, place your fingers in our ears and touch our tongues, so that we may hear your word and proclaim it to the world.

One Word: “Ephphatha!”