Mark 7: 31 – 37
You Talking To Me?
31 Again, departing from the region of Tyre and Sidon, He came through the midst of the region of Decapolis to the Sea of Galilee. 32 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. 33 And He took him aside from the multitude, and put His fingers in his ears, and He spat and touched his tongue. 34 Then, looking up to heaven, He sighed, and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” 35 Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly. 36 Then He commanded them that they should tell no one; but the more He commanded them, the more widely they proclaimed it. 37 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.”
As a reminder to some who are just joining us in our study of the Gospel of Mark, let me give you a little historical background. The disciple Mark was probably the young man who ran away naked on the night the soldiers came to arrest the Lord Jesus Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane. He was later somewhat adopted by the apostle Peter as his spiritual son. Peter translated all the information to Mark to write down all that he remembered as the Holy Ghost inspired.
The first one to put down on paper all that our Lord said and did was the apostle Matthew. He also commented on this incident but not in so much detail as Peter remembered. We find Matthew’s observation in chapter 15 of his Gospel, “29 Jesus departed from there, skirted the Sea of Galilee, and went up on the mountain and sat down there. 30 Then great multitudes came to Him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others; and they laid them down at Jesus’ feet, and He healed them. 31 So the multitude marveled when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.
Let me ask you all a question, ‘Do you believe in miracles? Have you ever experienced one’?
I hereby testify that I have personally witnessed dozens of miracles. I can also tell you that when it happens, it somewhat short circuits the brain. You begin to question, ‘was that injury, sickness, or emergency really that extreme?’ Well, I can tell you that if you were ever given the Lord’s authority to perform such great deeds you would know that the majority of all the people who flocked to you with their sick, physically disabled, or dying love ones were sincere that their loved ones needed healing. I am also sure that there would be some evil people who would try to come to you with fake injuries to see what you would do, but that is another story.
I am greedy. In my prayers I ask the Lord to let me be His friend like Abraham and Moses were. I want Him to love me like He does David and Daniel. And I want Him to give me the authority to perform miracles like the gift he gave to Elijah and Elisha. Like I said, I’m greedy, but all in all I realize just the one thing. What I do here on earth doesn’t amount to a hill of beans. Everything I want to do is to give ‘Glory’ to El Shaddai – Almighty God.
Today I want to discuss a particular miracle that only Peter went into detail on. So, let’s take a look at what happened.
31 Again, departing from the region of Tyre and Sidon, He came through the midst of the region of Decapolis to the Sea of Galilee.
Most Christians just read this verse like they understand what it really says. Do you know where Tyre and Sidon are? If you do you are in a small minority of bible students. For the rest just let me say that these areas are in a different country. Have you ever heard of Lebanon? Well, back then, the people didn’t have the country boarders like we do today so people were more able to move around.
Now please notice that our Lord comes to - He came through the midst of the region of Decapolis to the Sea of Galilee.’
So, what do you think is the significance of this area? You see all this area is ‘Gentile’ area. Tyre and Sidon along with the region of Decapolis were habituated by Gentiles not Jews. The ‘Region of Decapolis’ was composed of 10 cities along the Sea of Galilee. Having this information kind of gives you some things to think about, don’t it. There were pockets of Jewish people living in these areas but I also believe our Lord was also reaching out to the Gentiles.
32 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. 33 And He took him aside from the multitude, and put His fingers in his ears, and He spat and touched his tongue. 34 Then, looking up to heaven, He sighed, and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” 35 Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly.
There are a few instances in the bible where some bizarre actions seem to happen. Here is one such unique occurrence. I believe that if you really slow down and take a look at what first seems to be yucky is really something all together different.
Before we get to what our Lord did in His healing of the man who could not hear and speak correctly, let me give you an example of misinterpretation.
In the book of 2 kings chapter 4, ““8 Now it happened one day that Elisha went to Shunem, where there was a notable woman, and she persuaded him to eat some food. So it was, as often as he passed by, he would turn in there to eat some food. 9 And she said to her husband, “Look now, I know that this is a holy man of God, who passes by us regularly. 10 Please, let us make a small upper room on the wall; and let us put a bed for him there, and a table and a chair and a lampstand; so it will be, whenever he comes to us, he can turn in there.” 11 And it happened one day that he came there, and he turned in to the upper room and lay down there. 12 Then he said to Gehazi his servant, “Call this Shunammite woman.” When he had called her, she stood before him. 13 And he said to him, “Say now to her, ‘Look, you have been concerned for us with all this care. What can I do for you? Do you want me to speak on your behalf to the king or to the commander of the army?’” She answered, “I dwell among my own people.” 14 So he said, “What then is to be done for her?” And Gehazi answered, “Actually, she has no son, and her husband is old.” 15 So he said, “Call her.” When he had called her, she stood in the doorway. 16 Then he said, “About this time next year you shall embrace a son.” And she said, “No, my lord. Man of God, do not lie to your maidservant!” 17 But the woman conceived, and bore a son when the appointed time had come, of which Elisha had told her. 18 And the child grew. Now it happened one day that he went out to his father, to the reapers. 19 And he said to his father, “My head, my head!” So he said to a servant, “Carry him to his mother.” 20 When he had taken him and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died. 21 And she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, shut the door upon him, and went out. 22 Then she called to her husband, and said, “Please send me one of the young men and one of the donkeys, that I may run to the man of God and come back.” 23 So he said, “Why are you going to him today? It is neither the New Moon nor the Sabbath.” And she said, “It is well.” 24 Then she saddled a donkey, and said to her servant, “Drive, and go forward; do not slacken the pace for me unless I tell you.” 25 And so she departed, and went to the man of God at Mount Carmel. So it was, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to his servant Gehazi, “Look, the Shunammite woman! 26 Please run now to meet her, and say to her, ‘Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with the child?’” And she answered, “It is well.” 27 Now when she came to the man of God at the hill, she caught him by the feet, but Gehazi came near to push her away. But the man of God said, “Let her alone; for her soul is in deep distress, and the LORD has hidden it from me, and has not told me.” 28 So she said, “Did I ask a son of my lord? Did I not say, ‘Do not deceive me’?” 29 Then he said to Gehazi, “Get yourself ready, and take my staff in your hand, and be on your way. If you meet anyone, do not greet him; and if anyone greets you, do not answer him; but lay my staff on the face of the child.” 30 And the mother of the child said, “As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” So he arose and followed her. 31 Now Gehazi went on ahead of them, and laid the staff on the face of the child; but there was neither voice nor hearing. Therefore he went back to meet him, and told him, saying, “The child has not awakened.” 32 When Elisha came into the house, there was the child, lying dead on his bed. 33 He went in therefore, shut the door behind the two of them, and prayed to the LORD. 34 And he went up and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands; and he stretched himself out on the child, and the flesh of the child became warm. 35 He returned and walked back and forth in the house, and again went up and stretched himself out on him; then the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. 36 And he called Gehazi and said, “Call this Shunammite woman.” So he called her. And when she came in to him, he said, “Pick up your son.” 37 So she went in, fell at his feet, and bowed to the ground; then she picked up her son and went out.”
What Elisha did here with the boy sounds a little gross, doesn’t it? Now, let us take a hard look at this and I believe that you will see this incident differently. In the book of Numbers chapter 6 we read this, “Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When either a man or woman consecrates an offering to take the vow of a Nazirite, to separate himself to the LORD, 3 he shall separate himself from wine and similar drink; he shall drink neither vinegar made from wine nor vinegar made from similar drink; neither shall he drink any grape juice, nor eat fresh grapes or raisins. 4 All the days of his separation he shall eat nothing that is produced by the grapevine, from seed to skin. 5 ‘All the days of the vow of his separation no razor shall come upon his head; until the days are fulfilled for which he separated himself to the LORD, he shall be holy. Then he shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow. 6 All the days that he separates himself to the LORD he shall not go near a dead body. 7 He shall not make himself unclean even for his father or his mother, for his brother or his sister, when they die, because his separation to God is on his head. 8 All the days of his separation he shall be holy to the LORD.”
Now, what we just read is in regards to a person referred to as a ‘Nazarite’, one who is separated unto God. Would yuou say that a ‘Prophet’ is also one who has been separated unto God for His service? I would.
So, a person separated unto God for His special service cannot even come near to a dead body. Perhaps this is why Elisha instructed Gehazi to go and place his staff on the boy. But as we have read, nothing happened. The boy was dead. This is where Elisha goes in and places himself on top of the dead boy ‘totally’. Remember, Elisha should not even come into the presence of a dead body. So, why did he do this?
Now, I want you to see if you can see where I am going with this interpretation. In the book of Revelation chapter 12 that we have someone who is always accusing us before our Holy Supreme Ruler, “9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”
Now does anyone understand what Elisha did? As a man dedicated to our Holy Majestic Sovereign Master he was not allowed to even come near a dead body. Elisha was so committed to helping this lady’s son, that he was willing to give up all his ministry and service. You know Satan was observing what Elisha was doing. Elisha in a way responded, ‘Hey, Satan, I know that you are waiting to accuse me before my Holy God that I am unclean because I came near the dead body of the boy. So, here you go, I want to give you more than just coming near this dead boy. I am touching him completely.’ In actuality Elisha had just relinquished his ministry. Satan was pleased. Now His servant was disqualified. You could think somewhat that God was in a pickle. But of course our Holy Wise King had the solution. He brought the boy back to life.
I can just picture Satan running in unannounced to accuse Elisha. After hearing the enemy of our souls throw the accusations against Elisha, our Magnificent El Roi – The Strong One Who Sees All – asks, ‘What dead boy?’ Satan turns and points and says, ‘That one, uh, well, You know he was dead’.
Now, how we are ready to take a look at what our Wonderful Holy Lord did to this man in need.
Many teacher’s of these passages teach that our Lord put His fingers in this guys ears, spat, then touched his tongue. Is that exactly what is written? Let’s look at the verses again - 32 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. 33 And He took him aside from the multitude, and put His fingers in his ears, and He spat and touched his tongue. 34 Then, looking up to heaven, He sighed, and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” 35 Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly”.
This is what I believed this passage is telling us. Because of all the commotion, our Holy Jehavah Rapha – The Lord our Healer, took the man aside in order to calm him down. Don’t forget the crowd threw him toward the Lord. This poor guy couldn’t hear so he did not know what was going on.
Now away from the swarming group, our Lord look at the man. Then He put His hands in His own ears. This act informed the man that He knew that the man could not hear. Then our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ spit and touched His own tongue, which indicated that the man had trouble talking since he could not hear.
You can almost see the man shaking his head at the Lord acknowledging his impediment. Our Lord smiled at him and gave the command for the man’s ears to be opened and look at the additional miracle. The guy could speak correctly. He didn’t have to wait any time to take speech lessons to be able to talk correctly.
36 Then He commanded them that they should tell no one; but the more He commanded them, the more widely they proclaimed it. 37 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.”
Now, let me ask you to tell me why our Lord didn’t want anyone to say anything about this miracle? I mean after all, it has already spread throughout Israel and to the surrounding countries, so why would He say this?
Let me add this opinion to whatever you may be considering. You see it is not the miracles that matter. It is the message that our Lord was giving the people. He did not want the people just coming to him for the temporal answers. He wanted them to understand that even though His miracles would bring about the desired results they were still destined to die in the long run.
Our Precious Holy Lamb of God’s message was that He had come to shed His Holy Blood and give His life for the people so that their sins would be forgiven. The eternal is more important. Now, if you are a believer reading this who has been given the opportunity of sharing our Lord’s great truth to others, I encourage you at all times to challenge people to confess their sins and receive the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. May our Lord Richly Bless you.
