Mark 7:31-37  Jesus and His disciples returned to the Sea of Galilee.. to the "region of Decapolis". Mark paints us a picture of one man brought to Jesus..  and those who brought him "entreated Him to lay His hand upon him."  This picture is so unique that it draws us in and brings  us many questions. 

The man was deaf and had a speech impediment.  We don't see whether this man is young or old.. if he knows who Jesus is.. or even if he had any faith of his own.  We are only told that "they" brought him to Jesus. So.. my first question is, "Why was this man treated so differently than all the others?"

Jesus takes the man "aside from the multitude by himself.. "   Then Jesus does something very unusual.. He put His fingers into the man's ears.. "and after spitting, He touched his tongue with the saliva.."  Then, Jesus looked  "up to heaven with a deep sigh.. "  When He spoke it was one word, "Ephphatha!"  which we are told  means, "Be opened".  

The man was healed immediately and completely. He could hear and he could speak "plainly".  He had a story to tell.. and even though Jesus asked him not to tell anyone, he could not keep it to himself. 

"And they were utterly astonished, saying, 'He has done all things well; He makes even the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak' " 

Jesus could have healed the man with just a word or just a touch.  The man could have touched His robe and been healed. But.. there is something different going on here. Something more that we need to see .. something more we need to know about Jesus.  I imagine most of us have never had anyone put their fingers in our ears.. nor touch our tongues with their spit covered finger.  It is strange.. yet very intimate..  It is personal and yet very powerful.  It was done in private.. but proclaimed very publicly.   Why did Jesus heal this man this way.. and why did He sigh so deeply?  

The Bible Knowledge Commentary gives us one possible answer..  "In healing this man, Jesus used sign language and symbolic acts ( which Mark did not explain) that uniquely suited the man's needs and caused him to exercise faith. Jesus took him aside privately in order to communicate one-to- one.. By touching his ears and tongue, spitting (on the ground) and looking up to heaven, Jesus conveyed what He was going to do. His deep sigh may have reflected compassion for the man but it is likely Jesus' strong emotion as He battled the satanic power that enslaved the suffering man."  The word "Ephphatha" was an Aramaic word that would "easily be lip-read by a deaf person".  

Jesus is so kind. He meets us where we are.. He sees us in our need.  He cares about us as individuals and takes us aside to touch us, to heal us, to comfort us, and to save us.. What a precious picture we have in this scene that Mark has painted for us.  Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Abba Father, hallowed be Your Name.. we are so thankful for the Savior who came to make us whole.. to bring us into Your Kingdom, to be Your children. Thank You for meeting us here.. where we are.. in our need.. in our sin.. in our fears and failures. Thank You for taking us aside and touching us with the Hand of our Precious Lord Jesus.. that we might find deliverance and healing and cleansing.  Let Your will be done in us today.. and in all of the earth.. as it is in heaven. Keep us walking with Jesus in peace today we pray. Amen.