An Impossible Situation
She had no idea what would happen. She was desperate and had run out of options. She had tried not stop. For twelve long years, she had been to dozens of her money and make vague promises, but no discovered in the worst way that in the Jewish community, if you were bleeding, you were an outcast. Her family had shunned her. Her friends had abandoned her. Her rabbi had turned his back on the streets to beg for scraps alone.
A Whole New World
Jesus smiled and took the deaf man into a separate private room. He understood his shame. In fact, he seemed to understand everything about the deaf man. Rather than speaking to him, Jesus first pantomimed what he was going to do. First, he touched his ears. Then he touched his tongue tenderly.
Then he looked up and prayed something. Instantly, the deaf man heard sounds. He heard himself breathing. He heard voices in the other room echoing in his ears. Then, he grunted a noise and heard himself for the first time. Then, through his tears, he began to speak.
He ran into the outer room and hugged his brothers. Within minutes, he was talking nonstop in perfect Aramaic. They all jumped around, celebrating like madmen, as Jesus stood in the doorway and smiled. Instant healing. Instant amazement. Instant joy. Then the men turned to Jesus and fell to their knees in praise.
A Complete Healing
Most of us read this brief account in Mark 7:31-37 and see it as just another healing by Jesus. But when we dig a little deeper, we find some important lessons.
Compassion - First, notice how Jesus healed this man – privately and tenderly. Knowing the man could not hear and may not have understood what was happening, Jesus acted out what he was going to do first. He showed him true compassion and a great “bedside” manner.
That should give us great peace to know that Jesus sees us as we truly are. We do not need to become “worthy” of approaching him. He doesn’t lump us into a group. He accepts us in our uniqueness and brokenness. And as we give ourselves over to him, he transforms us into who he knows we can be.
Completeness - Next, note how quickly and completely he was healed. The text says, “At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened, and he began to speak clearly.” (Mark 7:35) Most of our ability to speak is based on our ability to hear ourselves and others speak, like my two-year-old great-grandson is learning to do.
However, people who are born deaf cannot speak clearly because they have never heard language. But our deaf friend spoke clearly and immediately in his native language. No language lessons or speech therapy were required. No wonder the people were astonished.
Inclusion - Finally, notice where this takes place – the Decapolis area. This is a Gentile region – a pagan territory avoided by the Jews. But when Jesus visited there, he healed many people and miraculously fed four thousand who came to hear him preach and teach.
The Jews believed these pagan Gentiles were unworthy. But by ministering in this way, Jesus broke down the cultural and racial walls that had stood for centuries. He let the Gentile world know that he was not only the promised Jewish Messiah but also the Son of God and Lord of all.
Our Healing
Are you still trying to clean up your own act before approaching Jesus? News Flash!!! You will never be “good enough.” Just as the deaf man could never heal himself, we cannot heal ourselves without God’s healing power. But Jesus always takes us as we are right now and asks us to give our broken selves to him. Only when we turn ourselves over to him do the miracles and healing start to happen.
Enjoy Your Journey,
Andy