OUR LORD JESUS DOES EVERYTHING WELL (Outline)
August 31, 2008 --
PENTECOST 16 --
Mark 7:31-37
INTRO: The crowd saw the effect of Jesus’ miraculous healing of a man who could not hear and could hardly speak. Their conclusion concerning Jesus: “He has done everything well”. This is quite an understatement. Still we would all readily agree with such a general statement. As Christians we believe even more about our Lord Jesus. We know and confess that Jesus does everything perfectly. Jesus always does everything for the good of all his people. Therefore we can always rejoice. "I will proclaim the name of the LORD. Oh, praise the greatness of our God! He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he"(DEUTERONOMY 32:3,4). Moses writes this about God. Jesus is the Son of God and God himself. Jesus is our faithful God, upright, just, who does no wrong. The conclusion of the crowd will serve as our theme:
OUR LORD JESUS DOES EVERYTHING WELL.
I. He opens our ears to hear.
II. He opens mouths that speak.
I. JESUS OPENS OUR EARS TO HEAR
A. Verse 31. Jesus travels to the region of Decapolis in a very round about way.
1. Jesus goes 25 miles north (Tyre to Sidon) before going south. There is a reason.
2. Jesus plans his trips to be in just the right places at just the right time.
B. Verse 32a. Friends bring a man who needs help to Jesus. The man cannot hear and hardly talk.
1. Verse 33a. Jesus takes the man aside to do this miracle in private.
2. Jesus walks and works in humility as a Man of the cross not a man seeking glory.
C. Verse 33a. Jesus puts his fingers in the man’s ears. There is physical contact and a spiritual touch.
1. Verse 34. Jesus looks to heaven. He is filled with compassion just as he was at Lazarus’ tomb.
2. Jesus speaks to a man who cannot hear, “Ephphatha!” The man’s ears are opened, verse 35a.
D. Truly our Lord Jesus does everything well. Psalm 51 reminds us that we are sinners at the moment of our conception. We are sinners even before we take our first breath of air outside our mother’s womb. Do you think being born we are going to be instantly changed into friends of God? Scripture reminds us that we are all born as enemies of God. It is almost impossible for an enemy to become a friend. This is our natural condition as sinful human beings. "For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them"(MATTHEW 13:15). Note that the Lord would have the sinner turn, repent and be forgiven (cf. Ezekiel 33:7-11, first lesson for today).
E. We are tempted to think that only the unbelievers do not listen. Only the unbelievers have closed their eyes to the glories of God. The Lord chose prophets to go to his chosen people so that they too might re-pent. We close our eyes and shut our eyes against God whenever we sin. "Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people"(EZEKIEL 12:2). We daily sin much and also rebel against God and his word.
F. Thankfully our Lord Jesus does do everything well. We are not left on our own to try and save ourselves. That is simply impossible. Mankind will always pick the path that leads away from God. For by nature we are sinful and selfish, concerned only about ourselves. God in his infinite mercy and grace does everything well to overcome our rebellious, sinful nature. Our Lord Jesus opens our ears to hear. "In that day the deaf will hear the words of the scroll, and out of gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see. Once more the humble will rejoice in the LORD; the needy will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel" (ISAIAH 29:18,19). With the still, small voice of his powerful Gospel our Lord Jesus opens our ears and speaks directly to our hearts. Jesus commands, “Ephphatha! Be opened”. Jesus opens our ears to hear.
OUR LORD JESUS DOES EVERYTHING WELL.
Jesus opens our ears to hear the saving Gospel.
II. JESUS OPENS MOUTHS THAT SPEAK
A. Verse 32. The man’s friends spoke first. They begged Jesus to place his hand on the man.
1. These were people who knew of this man, Jesus. They knew his power, his miracles.
2. Jesus takes the man aside, privately. Verse 33b. Jesus physically connects with this man.
B. Verse 35b. One who could not hear now speaks correctly. This is a great miracle.
1. One who had not heard words now knows how to speak words plainly or correctly.
2. The Lord Jesus did everything well simply because someone asked for help.
C. Verse 36. It was not yet Jesus’ time to be put to death. Their silence “would keep the peace”.
1. They could not help themselves but they kept talking. Why? Verse 37. They were amazed.
2. Jesus helped this man not only to hear but also speak. He did everything well.
D. God calls his prophets and his people into his service. We know some of the early prophets: Isaiah, Ezekiel, Jonah, and Jeremiah. At first they were not eager to serve the Lord. God told them they would face a difficult, wicked, and rebellious people. But they learned that as God had opened their ears so he also would open their mouths to speak. In the end they would not nor could not keep quiet. "But if I say, ‘I will not mention him or speak any more in his name,’ his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot"(JEREMIAH 20:9). Prayerfully this attitude also describes us. Maybe we wait until we finally get fed up with others taking advantage of Christianity and speak up. Hopefully we speak up because the Lord Jesus does everything well – always has and will.
E. It is not always easy to speak up for the cause of Christ. Our sinful nature creates all kinds of excuses for us to keep quiet. If that describes you then remember that your life also speaks volumes about what is in your heart. When Christ is at the center of your life people notice. "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect"(1 PETER 3:15). May every week someone ask you for the reason for the hope that you have. This happens when they notice in your daily living you are honest, truthful, calm, joyful, or at peace. Our world lives often without these blessings. When they see such things in you and your life they just might ask about the hope that you have. With gentleness and respect we can respond: “God loves me”, and, “you too”. “God cares for me” and “you”.
F. After all, Christian friends, this is our high calling in this life and in this wicked world. We are the messengers of salvation and the bearers of God’s good news. Some will look at the sermon our lives pro-claim. This may inspire other to ask more about the Savior who loves them and us. "How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?"(ROMANS 10:14). Our lives preach to others so that our words may speak how the Lord Jesus has opened our ears to hear.
CONC.: Our Lord Jesus does everything well. How very, very true! We are blessed and privileged beyond all comparison that our Lord Jesus has opened our ears to hear. Without hearing ears we would not have believing hearts. Without believing hearts we would not have mouths that speak of the wonders and of the glories of God. We are freely given God’s gracious blessings because of what Christ has done for us. "Jesus Christ…gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good"(TITUS 2:14). There we have it. Christ died for us and for the sins of the world. As believers we are “eager to do what is good”. The world notices. People ask. Our mouths speak because our ears hear and our hearts believe. We know, we believe, and we can freely proclaim OUR LORD JESUS DOES EVERYTHING WELL. Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
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BIBLE STUDIES: TUES. -- 6:00pm (Min) + 7:30pm (Med) @ NCF /
10:55am @ Redeemer (Sun)
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PENT. 16 readings:
EZEKIEL 33:7-11;
ROMANS 13:1-10;
MATTHEW 18:15-20;
(PSALM 51)
