WITNESS BY YOUR DEEDS (MARK 7:31-37)
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There was once a merchant who had been a very worldly, godless man. He was finally gloriously converted. On being asked what had been especially the means of his conversion, he replied, “The example of one of my clerks.” He went on to say, “This young man was one whose religion was in his life rather than in his tongue. He did not bless God and speak evil of his fellowmen.
When I uttered an oath, he never reproved me; but I could see it deeply pained him. When I fell into a fit of anger and behaved in a violent manner, though he spoke no word to that effect, I could see how painful the scene was to him.
My respect for him led me to restrain myself in his presence and gradually to break off both these habits. In fact, this man, though he never spoke a word to me on the subject of religion, exercised an influence for good over me wielded by no other human being. To him, under God, I am indebted more than to any other for the hope of eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ in which I now rejoice.” (Illustrations of Bible Truths # 908)
Jesus spent most of his ministry time in Galilee, in the area between the biblical cities of Capernaum, Korazin and Bethsaida, but He chose Capernaum, on the northwest shores of the Sea of Galilee as his home to minister to the Gentiles in Galilee in fulfillment of Scripture (Isaiah 9:1). His boyhood was spent in Zebulun but much of his ministry was in Naphtali, otherwise known as Galilee of the Gentiles (Matt 4:15). The Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary estimates that 18 of the 33 recorded miracles of Jesus were performed in the small area around the Sea. It also estimates that 25 of 33 were performed in the general Galilee area. http://www.wordofgodtoday.com/evangelical-triangle/
What ministry do we have to the aliens, foreigners and immigrants? How do we reach out to people unlike or indifferent to our culture? Why is the gospel available to Jews and Gentles, rich or poor, and the well and the unwell?
Be Caring and Candid
31 Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis. 32 There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged him to place his hand on the man.
Unlucky and unhappy Charlie Brown tells the wannabe psychiatrist Lucy, “And so I can't help it. I feel lonely, depressed.”
Lucy gets on his case with quick remedy: “This is ridiculous! You should be ashamed of yourself, Charlie Brown! You've got the whole world to live in! There's beauty all around you! There are things to do. Great things to be accomplished! No man treads the earth alone! We are all together- one generation taking up where the other generation has left off!”
Charlie Brown brightens up and cheers up: “You're right, Lucy! You're right! You've made me see things differently, I realize now that I am part of the world. I am not alone. I have friends!”
Lucy quickly replies, “Name one!”
Jesus had made two trips deep into Gentile territory - formerly to the Gadarenes and way further south to Decapolis (Mark 5:1-20) and presently to the Decapolis again (Mark 7:24-8:10). This is a travel more than a trip because it is a stupendous, strange and senseless account of Jesus first traveling an estimated 50 miles from Capernaum to Sidon in the northwest coast of Phoenicia, north of Palestine, back to the sea of Galilee, another 50 miles from the Sea of Galilee to far away Decapolis, east of the Jordan, with the return trip yet to come. It was definitely the furthest incursion into Gentile regions and possibly the longest road trip Jesus made – 200 miles total back and forth, stopping midway at Sea of Galilee (v 31). It was an account that made the critics of the Bible cry foul and cry impossible, challenging and invalidating the accuracy of the Bible.
Tyre and Sidon were Gentile regions, so naturally they did not roll out a welcome mat for Jesus even though the daughter of a pleading Greek-Syrophoenician local woman was healed of demon-possession. Decapolis, while a Gentile region as well, was a favorable and fruitful mission to Jesus. How did they know Jesus was in town? First, just as Jesus could not be hid previously in Tyre and Sidon (Mark 7:24). Second, he traveled as a group. Finally, two chapters ago in Decapolis, all the men marveled at the great things Jesus had done for the demon-possessed man in Gadarenes who lived among the tombs (Mark 5:20).
The people were more than delighted; they were delirious at Jesus’ coming. They, however, did not think of themselves, or ask for financial, political or personal remedies and redress. Quick as a flash they brought a deaf man with a speech impediment to Jesus. They had no time to waste or tension to resolve. They did not know why Jesus was back the second time, but they sure did not marvel their time away like last time (Mark 5:20). They count their blessings, coordinated their efforts and chose their approach. The citizens of the country were unanimous, unified and uplifting in their request to Jesus. In faith, the people from the infamous ten cities (Deca-polis) asked in a most caring, chummy and cordial fashion, asking (parakaleo) Jesus to “touch” – the hina subjunctive “purpose clause” - the deaf man.
Be Calm and Committed
33 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. 34 He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, "Ephphatha!" (which means, "Be opened!").
John Kevin Orr relates the story of a grateful old woman in extended care hospital. She had some kind of wasting disease, they called it. Her different powers were fading away over the march of the months. A student of mine happened upon her. In the visit the student kept going back, drawn by the strange force of the woman’s joy. Though she could no longer move her arms and her legs, she would say, “I’m just so happy I could move my neck.” When she could no longer move her neck, she would say, “I’m just so glad I could hear and see.” When the young student finally asked the older woman said, “What would happen if she lost sound and sight, the gentle old lady said, “I’ll just be grateful you come and visit me. (Charles Swindoll, “An Attitude of Gratitude,” DTS Chapel)
Jesus took the deaf man aside for all the right reasons. He was in hostile Gentile land. The Pharisees were hot on his heels (v 1). He was never a faith healer - to begin and end with, and he did not want His mission or miracles to be misconstrued, escpeially when He previously healed the demon-possessed neighbour from the Gerasenes.
The verb “take him aisde” is a participle and not the main verb, as reflected in the RSV and the ESV. NIV was careful to add “after” to reduce the first verb “take aside” to a subordinate clause and then emphasize the next verb “put” (his finger). The verb “put” (ballo) is literally throw, cast or thrust. Why the alarm or affront, to some? At another seaside that Jesus said twice, and on other occasions:
“He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” (Mark 4:9)
“If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.” (Mark 4:23)
“For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed” (Matt 13:15)
Horrified and healthy readers, please calm down. Jesus’ spitting is not as bad as you think. He jammed His hand into the man’s ear, but we do not know what He did with His saliva! He spit, but the text did not say he emptied the saliva into the man’s tongue, although that was likely possible. The action “spit” is a participle, not the focus; the main verb “touch” is. The ear part was because the man was deaf, and the tongue part was because he had an impediment. Besides, Jesus more than fulfilled the town folks’ request. Few locals expected the request for Jesus to “put his hand” on him in Greek to include “touch him,” progressing from finger to ear and tongue in the text, especially in ministry a stranger, a Gentile and a disabled man. It was not fun too because the tongue occurs for the first time in the Bible. The sigh is inward dismay, discontent and disfavor at the reach and ravages of sin.
Mark, being the younger guy he was, loved the verb “touch.” In 28 chapters of the gospel of Matthew, he used “touch” 9 times - in contrast to 10 times for 24 chapters in Luke, but 11 times for 16 chapters in Mark, using it passionately for the untouchable leper (Mark 1:41) and four times for the woman who had an issue of blood (Mark 5:27, 28, 30, 31). Behind his touch is always indicative of his compassion (Matt 20:34, Mark 1:41). Behind the outside touch is the inside heart. Besides the tongue, Jesus’ “sigh”
(v 34) appears for the first time in the Bible. A sign is the gloom, grievance and glumness at the cause and consequences of sin.
Be Changed and Challenged Complete Commissioned
35 At this, the man's ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly. 36 Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. 37 People were overwhelmed with amazement. "He has done everything well," they said. "He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak."
Warren Wiersbe told of attending a prayer meeting with a number of Youth for Christ leaders, among them Jacob Stam, brother of John Stam who, with his wife Betty, was martyred in China in 1934. They had been asking God to bless this ministry and that project, with the word "bless" used scores of times as they prayed. Then Jacob Stam prayed, "Lord, we've asked you to bless all these things; but, please, Lord, make us blessable." (The Bible Exposition Commentary, Ruth 1:1-5, by Warren W. Wiersbe. All rights reserved.)
Mark was an excitable, energetic and enthusiastic younger author, even so this is the only verified instance the word “immediately” (v 35, second word in Greek after the conjunction “and” – not found in NIV) is used in his gospel even though historically there were much more. Previously in other manuscripts the adverb “immediately” occurs as many as 41 times in Mark, but much older manuscripts found only one bona fide instance. Mark also did his best medical imitation of Luke the physician because they are the two gospel writers who used the word “string.” Mark’s gospel insisted the deaf man’s tongue was not loosed, but the “string” (singular) of his tongue, which is translated as band (Luke 8:29) or bond (Luke 13:16) in Luke. It was a scientific, specific and startling disclosure, because it describes the man’s suffering and servitude of his tongue.
This verb “opened” (v 34) also is used a few times of the two men walking to Emmaus who realization, revival and rejoicing (Luke 24:31-32, 45). Plainly (v 35) is orthox in Greek, for orthodox, ordinary and obvious. Jesus’ command or charge not to tell anyone was the most astonishing, awkward and even absurd because it meant Jesus came miles and miles away, bypassing strangers with their shock and stare, to heal this deaf man!
The climax in verse 37 is what the author wanted to get to or arrive at. The people in Decapolis previously just marvelled at what the demon-possessed man told them after Jesus healed him (Mark 5:20). Now they got into the act. They were excited to share the Jewish Messiah but his people did not accept him. People were more astonished in Mark (Mark 1:22, 6:2, 7:37, 10:26, 11:18) than any in the Bible, with the word “overwhelmingly” added. Overwhelmingly means (huperperissos) hyper + around. More or “a great deal” (v 36, perissoteron) and overwhelmed or “beyond measure” (v 37, huperperissos) are comparisons with “peri” preposition. They could not contain their reverence, respect and regard for the man who did not dread, deride or despise them, but approached them, accepted and amazed them.
Conclusion: Do you feel abandoned, afraid and angry at your lot and loss in life? Jesus is the hope of all humanity and the healing of the nations. In Christ, those who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier (Eph 2:13-14). Won’t you accept Him as Savior and acknowledge Him as Lord and be fellowheirs of the same body and partakers of His promise (Eph 3:).
