Mark 7:31-37
Introduction
In today’s passage we have an event that is unique to Mark’s Gospel.
We see Jesus setting a man free from bondage. We are all born into bondage or slavery but through faith in Him we can be set free too.
Bear this in mind as we examine today’s passage.
Verse 31
In this verse we are told that Jesus returns to the Sea of Galilee from the region of Tyre. This is thought to have been a journey of about 120 miles in total. He goes to the region of Decapolis. The Decapolis is a Gentile region
Bear this in mind as we look at what happened there.
Verse 32
In this verse we are told that they brought to Jesus a man who was deaf and who had a speech impediment. The man was not dumb in the sense that he could not speak at all. He just couldn’t speak in a way that people could understand. The Greek word translated as speech impediment is ‘mogilalos’ and it means to have a severe difficulty in speaking clearly. This Greek word only occurs twice in the Bible. The other place where it can be found is in the Septuagint.
The Septuagint is a translation of the Hebrew Old Testament into the Greek language. The translation was carried out by 70 Jewish scholars in the third and second century BC.
The Greek word ‘mogilalos’ can be found in Isaiah 35:6, ‘Then the lame will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will shout for joy. For waters will break forth in the wilderness and streams in the Arabah.’ This verse is part of a prophecy about the coming Messiah, describing what He will do. So, when Jesus heals the man in today’s passage it is a sign that He is the Messiah.
Verses 33 to 35
Bear in mind that the man brought to Jesus is an unclean Gentile. By touching this man Jesus was breaking the Jewish purification laws. Under those laws, spittle was considered to be an unclean emission.
The fact that Jesus put His fingers in the man’s ears and touched his tongue with spittle shows us that there is no set pattern for healing someone.
After touching the man, Jesus looks up to heaven with a deep sigh. This was a passionate expression of His appeal to the Father for healing. It was also an expression of compassion for the man’s suffering.
Then Jesus issues a command, “Be opened”. Ephphatha is Aramaic for ‘be opened’. When Jesus said, “Be opened”, the man was immediately able to hear and speak clearly. Notice that the man did not need any speech therapy or training.
The man was set free from being unable to hear and speak properly. The same thing happens to every Christian spiritually. Before the Holy Spirit opens us to the things of God, we are spiritually deaf. We are deaf to the word of God. But afterwards we can hear every word that comes from God. And, until the Holy Spirit cleanses our hearts and regenerates our soul, we cannot speak properly. Instead, filth, poison and blasphemy come from our tongue because of sin. But afterwards we are able to speak the truth clearly in love.
Verses 36 to 37
As usual, Jesus tells them not to tell anyone about what has happened and once again they ignore Him.
Notice how the crowd were utterly astonished. In their astonishment, the first thing that they say is, “He has done all things well.” Let’s just reflect on these simple but profound words. Jesus never does anything poorly. He never fails. There is no blemish to His work.
Remember what the Father said about Jesus at His baptism. “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” And remember what God said about His creation. He said it was good. What God does in His creation He does well. Think about that.
In His work of redemption, Christ did it well. How does it make you feel knowing that Jesus does all things well? It should give you peace. No matter what happens in our lives we should be able to say, “It is well with my soul.”