Willing, open to receive, eager to be healed–these words and phrases describe the deaf and mute man who was led to Jesus by others. He agreed to come; he was willing to go alone with Jesus, to experience Jesus’ gentle and intimate touch, his compassion and love, to look into Jesus’ eyes as he waited, willing and open, hopeful.
Hearing and speaking clearly were miracles for this man. No doubt he reentered his life in a new way having had this intimate and amazing experience with Jesus. His life had been dramatically changed and transformed.
Are you willing to go alone with Jesus, with openness and eagerness to experience God’s power and presence? It is life-changing.
Mark 7:31-37 (NIV)
Jesus Heals a Deaf and Mute Man
Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis.[a] There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him.
After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means “Be opened!”). At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.
Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. People were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
Footnotes:
a. Mark 7:31 That is, the Ten Cities
• What did you hear as you listened/read? A word, a phrase? What stood out for you?
• What might need to “be opened” in you?
• What is it that God might you to want to hear and speak more clearly?
• What do you need?
• What happens when you get alone with Jesus?