The Man who could not hear

The Man who could not hear

Text: Mark 7:32-37.

“Then they brought to Him one who was deaf and had a disorder in his speech, and they begged Him to put His hand on him.
And He took him aside from the multitude, and put His fingers in 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.”
Immediately his ears were opened, and the disorder of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly.
Then He commanded them that they should tell no one; but the more He commanded them, the more widely they proclaimed it.
And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”
Mark 7:31-37

In ancient Greece it was normal for street sellers who walked the streets with their wares to cry out, “What do you lack?” The idea was to let people know they were in the area, and also to awaken the curiosity of the people. Coming out of their houses they would want to know what the trader was selling. It might be something they lacked and needed, or simply something they desired.

May I ask the question? What do you lack? We may have sight and hearing, but what do we lack? Take an honest stock of yourself today. Have you found contentment? Have you secured a peace in your heart and a peace in your mind? Invaluable blessings in life?

For deciding what we lack is the first step in securing it. Christ Jesus can fulfil our needs, the deepest needs of our heart, mind, and soul. Are you close enough to God to receive His guidance today? Have I awaken your need by asking the question. “What do you lack?”

The man in Mark 7 lacked the physical ability to hear. But many of us lack the spiritual ability to hear. We suffer a kind of a spiritual deafness. I wonder if we can learn from this miracle.

     A deaf-mute healed. Verses 7:32–37.

Eleven times the word “and” is used in verses 32-37 each adding to the need and actions of Jesus.

“Then they brought to Him one who was deaf and had a disorder in his speech.”

          This man was both deaf and mute. He is deaf to the voice of God and unable to share with others the message of salvation. Here is the greatest need of any man or woman, he not only had the misfortune of not “hearing” the Gospel message of salvation, but also he had the misfortune of not able to “response” to the message.

For the Bible says “If you will confess with your mouth and believe in your heart, you shall be saved.” Are you deaf and dumb to the message of the cross and salvation today? Or are you unwilling to listen and response to the love of God, and the message of `John 3:16?

“And they begged Him to put His hand on him.”

          The multitude requested that Jesus would bless the man (by the laying on of hands), but Jesus did more than that, for He laid His hands on the man and healed him.

“And He took him aside from the multitude.”

          Today so many do things among the crowds to be seen of men. But, here Jesus took the man aside. It was going to be a man and God meeting together experience. We need a personal experience from a personal Saviour!

“And put His fingers in his ears.”

Why did Jesus resort to this healing method of “touching the man,” when “a word” could do all that was necessary? It seems that Jesus responded to people’s request. Here they asked Him “to touch the deaf-mute,” so Jesus did.

Some have no faith in a spoken word only, but in the touch of the Saviour. Thomas wanted to touch the master’s hands and side. The woman with the issue of blood saw her healing if she could but touch the helm of Jesus’s garment. Today, will you be saved by the touch of God in your life?

“And He spat and touched his tongue.”

          The touch of the ears and now the touch on his tongue.

“Then, looking up to heaven.”

Next Jesus “looked up to heaven,” indicating that His power was from God the Father, that God be glorified.

“He sighed.”

Isaiah 53 uses these words “Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.” His sigh expressed His grief over the suffering of this one man, and what sin has brought on all mankind. Latter Jesus would sigh over Jerusalem. “O Jerusalem, O Jerusalem.”

“And said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.”

Finally He said “Ephphatha,” the Aramaic word for “Be opened.”

“Immediately his ears were opened.”

The man obtained normal hearing and speech “immediately.”

“And the disorder of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly.”

The string (Gr desmos) of his tongue, the noun is translated “bond” when describing the instrument which restrains a prisoner; this binds the tongue, preventing clear speech.

“Then He commanded them that they should tell no one; but the more He commanded them, the more widely they proclaimed it.”

“And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”

The spectators were astonished by His wonderful works. Had they lived on this side of Cross, they would have said it with deeper conviction and feeling.

CONCLUSION:

          “What do you lack?” For Jesus is passing this way today,

Is there a heart that is waiting,
Longing for pardon today?
Hear the glad message proclaiming,
Jesus is passing this way.

Refrain

Jesus is passing this way,
This way, today;
Jesus is passing this way,
Is passing this way today.

Is there a heart that has wandered?
Come with thy burden today;
Mercy is tenderly pleading,
Jesus is passing this way.

Refrain

Is there a heart that is broken?
Weary and sighing for rest?
Come to the arms of the Saviour,
Pillow thy head on His breast.

Refrain

Come to thy only Redeemer,
Come to His infinite love;
Come to the gate that is leading
Homeward to mansions above.

Refrain