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Mark 7:31-37

Gospel according to Mark 7:31-37

Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, through the region of the Decapolis. They brought to him a man who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand upon him. Jesus took him aside in private, away from the crowd, he put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. Then looking up to heaven, he sighed, and said to him, "Ephphatha," that is, "Be opened." And immediately the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. They were astonished beyond measure, saying, "He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf hear and the mute to speak."

Healing of the blind man of Jericho - Basilica of Sant Apollinaire Nuovo, Ravenna, Italy - Public Domain

Reflections

Compassion: Jesus’ willingness to heal the man shows that He is willing to respond to the needs of those who are marginalized and suffering.
Physical Actions: Unlike other miracles, Jesus uses physical actions to perform the miracle of healing. These actions symbolize the tangible nature of His power and the personal attention He gives to each individual.
Faith and Intercession: The people who brought the man to Jesus believed in His power to heal. This demonstrates the importance of faith and intercession on behalf of others.
Fulfillment of Prophecy: The miracle fulfills Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah, which speaks of the deaf hearing and the mute speaking.
Public Reaction: The crowd’s reaction, “He has done everything well,” underscores Jesus’ divine authority and the perfection of His works. It also reflects the awe and reverence people felt towards His miracles.

This passage vividly displays Jesus’ compassion through His act of healing a man who was deaf and unable to speak, which underscores Jesus’ deep concern for those who are marginalized and suffering. By responding to the needs of this man, Jesus demonstrates that His love and mercy are for everyone, regardless of their health or social status. We are reminded that Jesus is always ready to reach out toward those in need, offering hope and healing.

Unlike many other miracles, this event is characterized by Jesus using physical actions to perform healing. He touches the man’s ears, spits, and touches the man’s tongue. These tangible actions symbolize the personal care that Jesus gives to each individual. These actions give an example of Divine power being manifested through human touch, highlighting the incarnational nature of Jesus’ ministry. This physical interaction emphasizes the nature of Jesus’ miracles as being deeply personal and relational, rather than spectacular and abstract displays of power.

A crucial role in this miracle was performed by the people who brought the man to Jesus, who demonstrated faith and intercession. Their belief in Jesus’ ability to heal and their willingness to bring the man to Him demonstrates the importance of faith and intercession on behalf of others. The act of bringing the man to Jesus serves as a powerful reminder of the impact that our faith and prayers can have on the lives of those around us. We are encouraged to be persistent in all of our intercessions and to trust that Jesus hears and responds to our calls for help.

By healing the man, Jesus also affirms His identity as the promised Messiah, as prophesied in the Old Testament. While Jesus demonstrates His compassion and power, He also fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah 35:5, which states: “The blind will be able to see, and the deaf will hear.” This fulfillment of prophecy reinforces the continuity between the Old and the New Testament, and highlights Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s plan for the redemption of humanity. Through the actions of Jesus, we are reminded of the faithfulness and reliability of God’s promises.

The reaction of the crowd to this miracle is one of awe and reverence. The crowd exclaims: “He has done everything well,” underscoring Jesus’ divine authority and the perfection of His works. Jesus’ miracles clearly had a profound impact on those who witnessed them, inspiring faith and admiration in the crowd. We are reminded of the excellence and goodness of Jesus’ ministry, and encouraged to trust in His divine will and timing in our lives.