God has His hand all over His children in everyday events. As we grow in the faith and in grace, we realize that we do have divine moments scheduled by God. We don’t always understand them or recognize them but they are there.
Today, we look at a passage of scripture that by all appearances doesn’t have a lot to explore. Ah, but it does. Let’s look at what God has to say in Mark 7:31-37.
“Again, departing from the region of Tyre and Sidon, He came through the midst of the region of Decapolis to the Sea of Galilee. Then they brought to Him one who was deaf and had an impediment 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 impediment 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
Living for Those Divine Moments
Introduction - Moments that would only happen to a dad and only a dad would appreciate…
PRECIOUS DAD MOMENT #1
One night a wife found her husband standing over their newborn baby’s crib. Silently she watched him. As he stood looking down at the sleeping infant, she saw on his face a mixture of emotions: disbelief, doubt, delight, amazement, enchantment, skepticism. He would stand back, shake his head and say, "Amazing," while smiling from ear to ear. Touched by his unusual display and the deep emotions it aroused, her eyes glistened as she slipped her arms around him. "A penny for your thoughts," she whispered in his ear. "Isn’t it amazing!" he replied. "When you take the time and really look close, how can anyone make a crib like that for only $45.99!"
PRECIOUS DAD MOMENT #2
As ham sandwiches go, it was perfection. A thick slab of ham, a fresh bun, crisp lettuce and plenty of expensive, light brown, gourmet mustard. The corners of my jaw were aching in anticipation, I carried it to the picnic table in our backyard, picked it up with both hands but was stopped by my wife suddenly at my side. "Hold Johnny, (our six-week-old son), while I get my sandwich," she said. I had him balanced between my left elbow and shoulder and was reaching again for the ham sandwich when I noticed a streak of mustard on my fingers. I love mustard. And I had no napkin. So I licked it off. It was NOT mustard. No man ever put a baby down faster. It was the first and only time I have sprinted with my tongue protruding. With a washcloth in each hand I did the sort of routine shoeshine guys do, only I did it on my tongue. Later my wife said, "Now you know why they call that mustard ’Poupon.’"
These dads will remember these “divine” moments. We usually don’t appreciate them until our children are “grown and gone.”
Jesus was teaching His disciples of His impending death. As we conclude the seventh chapter of Mark, Jesus is turning the corner and headed toward the cross. He has much to tell the disciples before that great event. He takes them into Phoenicia, gentile territory, away from the religious rulers of Israel who want Him killed. Let’s explore the scene.
First we find that Jesus makes…
…a CALCULATED journey in verse 31.
He leads them to regions where they may not be found. He is able to invest in them for some six to eight months His words of wisdom.
Look at the PLACES they traveled.
They went into the regions of Tyre and Sidon.
Tyre was considered a rock. It was a place of solitude and privacy. It was also a city of idolatry. It sustained the world’s wealth and worldliness.
Sidon was a Phoenician city between the Mediterranean Sea and the Lebanon Mountains. It was 20 miles North of Tyre. Being in the land of Canaan, it was also known as the land of purple.
Jesus and the disciples made a circuitous route to the region of the Decapolis. The Decapolis is known as the 10 cities. They include Damascus, Philadelphia (modern day Amman), Canatha, Scythoplis, Pella, Hippos, Gadara, Dion, Raphana and Gersa. Again, Jesus took them into predominately gentile regions. His popularity was not as well known…but He was still known because of previous miracles.
Then we take note of the PEOPLE they met.
They were gentiles and pagans. The Bible does not tell us who they are but they are unknown this side of eternity. Perhaps when we arrive in heaven we will be able to meet those who’s lives were changed by Jesus during that time.
And then, we notice the PREPARATION they were given.
Jesus displayed His authority as the Messiah. He changed lives. Again, the preparation He instilled into the disciples is mostly unknown. But one day, we will know.
I find that God prepares us in our walk with Him, through unknown people we meet and in the quiet time of preparation. He prepares us through the events and happenstances of life.
Illustration – Pastor makes tough decision
In his book The Jesus Revolution, pastor and author Leith Anderson shares a story about the tension that sometimes comes between obeying God and obeying the law of the land. A number of years ago, he and three others were traveling to a Communist country where Christians were regularly being persecuted. They did not have a direct flight to their destination, so they had to stay in a neighboring country for one evening. That night, while having dinner with a few fellow Christians in that country, Anderson and his companions were approached about smuggling in some Bibles for the underground church. Anderson immediately refused to do so, pointing out that it was illegal. The Christians in that country would not take no for an answer, though. They told Anderson they would return in the morning with the Bibles and that Anderson's group should "ask God what they should do." Anderson writes about the tough decisions that would follow:
Overnight, I made a decision. A Bible or two might be risky, but not impossible. However, I wasn't prepared for the following morning's delivery. It was a small library of Bibles, books about Christianity, study tools, and videos. I truly can't explain why we did what we did. We divided up the Bibles, books, and videos among the four of us and loaded up every available space in our suitcases, carry-on bags, and purses. It was not a comfortable experience. When nearing our destination, the flight attendants distributed customs forms representing our names, passport numbers, and the answers to pointed questions. Were we bringing guns, narcotics, or literature into the country? The four of us sat paralyzed over what to write. If we said we were not bringing literature, we were lying. If we checked that we were bringing books and Bibles, we were in serious trouble. …
It was one of those moments when the Holy Spirit gave a simple solution that we would not have thought about ourselves. We didn't answer the question. We left it blank. I can't say that we were confident in our choice, but that's what we did. As we passed through immigration surrounded by armed guards and immigration officers, our forms were carefully scrutinized and all four of us were waved through.
What I next remember is the secret night meeting when we turned over the Bibles and literature to Christians from the underground church. Their faces still remain with me all my life.
You may want to criticize my lack of courage or condemn my actions as dishonest. For me, I was suddenly in the sandals of Peter and John who said, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."
Leith Anderson, The Jesus Revolution (Abingdon Press, 2009), pp. 33–34
We don’t always understand why God leads us in uncomfortable and unknown destinations. But He always provides for us as we learn to trust Him.
Then in verses 32-35, we discover the…
…many COMPLICATED issues before them.
Jesus reputation as a miracle-worker preceded Him. Although He desired to remain obscure during these days of teaching His disciples, He still had a heart for the “least of these.”
Notice the people’s CONCERN was revealed.
They brought before Jesus and the disciples a man who had serious problems. He had to rely upon others.
The man’s CONDITION was exposed.
Here was a man who was desperate. Others had to take him to Jesus. His lifestyle was debilitating. He could not communicate or provide for his family. His problems may have been the result of an injury when he was young. But regardless, it was demeaning. Someone had to help him communicate. He lived in a world of silence and hopelessness.
But the Lord’s COMPASSION was granted.
First, we see that Jesus took him away from the public’s prying eyes to a private place. He would not make a spectacle of this man. How unlike our modern day “evangelists” who heal for all to see and then fill their coffers with the world’s wealth! Second, He revealed practical signs that he would cure this man. He thrust His fingers into his ears and spat upon His fingers to touch his tongue. Jesus simply met the man’s second greatest needs (physical) before He met his greatest need (spiritual). Jesus then sighed or groaned and then looked heavenward. He revealed His perceptiveness by revealing where the healing would originate. Here this man was being touched by God! and finally, we see the all powerful nature of Jesus as He cured this man’s disabilities.
Isaiah prophesied the Messiah’s healing, “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing.” Isaiah 35:5-6.
This compassion revealed the very nature of a compassionate Savior Who took time to minister to the “least of these.”
Illustration – New shoes pave way for Bible study
Because Vance is an African American living in a predominately Hispanic neighborhood, he stands out. But what really sets Vance apart is that he is a servant-hearted father who cares not only for his own kids, but also for the many other kids who play in the streets by his building.
One night at 9 p.m., there was a knock at Vance's door. The 16-year-old boy who lives a few doors down needed help tying his tie. He had a big presentation at school the next day, and he had no father to help him get ready. After Vance had finished tying the tie, the boy sheepishly asked, "Do you have a pair of black dress shoes I could borrow?"
Immediately, the Spirit brought to Vance's mind the $60 pair of shoes in his closet that he hadn't even taken out of the box yet. He was certain God was telling him to give the boy those shoes.
Vance cringed inside. He told the boy to wait at the door as he headed into the apartment to look for any pair of shoes but the expensive pair. Before he went to the closet, though, he told his wife what he sensed the Spirit was saying to him. She agreed that it sounded like God had given him a great idea. So Vance got out his new shoes and brought them to the boy. His last hope was that they wouldn't fit. After all, how many 16-year-olds have size-12 feet?
They fit perfectly.
Just a few weeks after Vance gave away his new shoes, he and his wife sensed God telling them to start a Bible study for the kids in their building. After much prayer, they decided to invite the kids to their apartment for a Sunday evening study. They ordered four Bibles in case any kids came. That Sunday, seven kids showed up at Vance's apartment—led by the 16-year-old owner of a new pair of shoes. The following week they ordered more Bibles, and 14 kids showed up!
Who would have thought the kingdom of God would come to the kids of that apartment complex just because one man chose to give away a new pair of shoes?
Bill White, Paramount, California
God meets us where we are and he wants His children to meet the less fortunate in their needs.
Finally we discover…
…one CONCERNED directive in verses 36-37.
He wanted silence regarding these miracles. But why?
His REASONS for silence.
It was Jesus method to request silence. He was avoiding any confrontation until the Father’s time was accomplished. His mission was not fulfilled until He was rejected, suffered, crucified and resurrected. And we also notice that His ministry was to prepare His disciples for what lie ahead.
But the people had their RESPONSE of joy!
They were in total awe! They were those who truly understood the phrase “Loud and Proud!” They couldn’t help but tell the world! I find it interesting that those commanded NOT to tell would tell anyway. But today, we have been told TO tell and we don’t (Matthew 28:19-20).
Illustration – Brothers living in a cave
Flat broke and homeless, brothers Geza and Zslot Peladi literally lived in a cave near Budapest for years. They left their dank home only to scrape together whatever money they could through selling scrap metal and candy. Theirs was a hopeless situation.
But then everything changed.
One day, out of the blue, charity workers informed the brothers that they had inherited a substantial portion of their late maternal grandmother’s $6.6 billion fortune. And just like that, two destitute brothers, should they want to, could call a castle their home when all they had ever known was a cave.
Brian Lowery, managing editor, PreachingToday.com; source: Mike Krumboltz, “From Cave to Castle,” www.buzz.yahoo.com (12-3-09)
There are POTENTIAL believers in the world. Our responsibility is to share Jesus NOW. “We catch the fish and God does the cleaning!”
So what does this mean to ME?
First, life is no accident! There are only God-cidents. Every trip to Wal-Mart, walk in the mall and milk buying in the grocery stores are opportunities of learning, living and sharing Jesus.
Second, we are to be concerned about others. In all their physical, material and spiritual needs. It was this man’s friends who brought him to Jesus. Perhaps it was a family member of the saved Gadarenes demoniac who brought Him to Jesus.
And finally, the Great Commandment and Great Commission are still to be obeyed.
So, how are you doing in obedience?
