Pentecost 16 B
Mark 7: 31-37
Be Opened!
09/28/03
There’s just something about seeing those words stamped on your paper. It’s great to get an “A” on a paper, a test or some assignment. It’s a confirmation that the hard work paid off, that the time you spent hitting the books wasn’t wasted. But there’s just something special about seeing the words, “Good Job!” affixed to your work as well. It’s an affirmation that goes beyond the grade. It lets you know that your work was done, not just to your satisfaction; but to that of others as well. It stood out. It was a grade above the rest. And it comes as nothing less today when we hear that Jesus had done everything well.
He certainly had. He had come from the borders of Tyre and Sidon where he had healed the daughter of the Syrophenician woman, and had now arrived back at the Sea of Galilee, passing through the midst of the coastal cities of the Decapolis, a confederation of ten cities. As in other places Jesus’ reputation precedes Him and large crowds of people flock to Him in order to catch a glimpse, perhaps even a demonstration of His power, or maybe to be the subject of one of Jesus’ incredible healings. On this one occasion a man that was deaf and who had a speech impediment was among those brought to Him. "Jesus. Master! This man has a terrible time speaking and hearing. Place your hand upon him and heal him."
It’s interesting to note how the people had their own ideas as to what Jesus would do. Jesus, on the other hand, has other concerns and intentions for this man, so He takes the man out and away from the confusion of the crowd. Then, alone, in a place where the man knows and understands that Jesus is going to do something for him, Jesus goes to work.
With the man’s eyes riveted upon Him Jesus uses sign language that is simple and plain so the deaf-mute can’t help but understand what Jesus is doing. He thrusts his fingers into the man’s ears conveying His intention to do something about his deafness. Then Jesus spits and touches the man’s tongue indicating with both actions that he is also about to do something about his ailing tongue. Then looking up into heaven and sighing in earnest before the Father in heaven, Jesus cries out "effatha", which translated means, "Be opened!" And immediately, Mark reports that "the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly." He was healed, and when the crowd saw what Jesus had done with the man they were overwhelmed with amazement.
I think it’s safe to say, though, that Jesus’ intention and desire was to open more than this man’s ears and tongue and more than the crowd’s jaws with astonishment. As always Jesus used his divine powers to open eyes, and hearts and hands as well.
John says it well at the end of his Gospel when he writes, "Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that by believing you may have life in his name." The opening of ears and mouths and other limbs was done to open peoples’ eyes, peoples’ hearts and peoples’ hands as well.
Physically there was nothing wrong with them, but His intention is to heal them spiritually. That’s why he looks up to heaven and sighs earnestly. He wants to open the eyes to see and understand that this healing is from heaven. It is divine, almighty help, far different from anything merely human. He wants to open hearts to believe that He is God’s chosen Savior; the one whom Isaiah has said would unstop the ears of the deaf and bring the mute tongue to shout for joy as we hear in the OT lesson today. He wants to open the man’s hands to the service of others and the sharing of this good news. And it’s not service out of a sense of obligation either, but out of joy for the new life and living that’s been given. He wants to spiritually open eyes and hearts and hands. Not just the one man’s, but those of all who were gathered there that day and ours as well; so that the affirmation that goes out from the crowd that day is right. He does do all things well.
They were right in saying so. He does do all things well. But evidently not too well in the eyes of many who were there that day because they wouldn’t follow his directions.
It’s a curious thing – that is, Jesus’ request for them to keep this miracle to themselves. There’s no question, it must have been a mystery to them too, so much so that they wanted to improve upon Jesus’ plans. But Jesus had his reasons for wanting them to keep this matter quiet. Chief among them was the fact that a vast majority of the people had their ears plugged by various misconceptions about whom and what Jesus was. For many he was a spectacle to behold. Others saw in him the promised Messiah that he was; but they had misconceptions of what kind of Messiah he would be.
And I wish I could say today that we don’t, but at times we do. People visit Christ’s church for all kinds of reasons today too. Some, like spectators, come only when something unique, something special is about to happen there that they don’t want to miss. Some approach there Lord as if he were a lifeguard at the beach, largely unnoticed and not wanted, unless of course they begins to drown in life’s troubles. Still more look to Jesus as a kind of guarantor that all will go well. The trouble comes when He doesn’t live up to what they’ve made him out to be. That’s when they reject Him.
Many did. Many still do. As we heard just a couple of weeks ago, a large portion of the crowd that followed Jesus eventually deserted him when it became clear that their expectations of Him were not Jesus’ own. And many still do today. Unless Christ and his church find some way to entertain their wishes and desires every Sunday they’re out of here. If the word gets a bit too close to home, pointing out the immorality of something they like to do or calling for a greater commitment than what they’re willing to give, they flee. If Jesus doesn’t deliver in the way they expect they conclude that He doesn’t care.
And at times that’s all of us. When He’s pushed for us to gather for more instruction in His word at Bible Study and family devotional time, we’ve pushed back. When we’ve asked for healing of ourselves or our loved ones and He’s said, “No, that’s not the good I have in store for you right now. I’ve got a better time or I’ve got a more complete healing waiting in heaven,” we’ve doubted Him rather than trusted. And that makes this a very uncomfortable place to be this morning. I imagine it was for the man who couldn’t hear or speak that day too. But then we must remember. This is Jesus who does all things well. This is Jesus who had nothing but the man’s well being in mind. This is Jesus who doesn’t wish to drive us away nor lead us astray; but now having our attention desires nothing less than to open our ears to the truth of His word, our eyes to who He truly is, our hearts to receive Him by faith, our hands for greater service, our mouths to sing His praises before others; and out of an undying, always “open for service” devotion for us He has set out to do just that again today.
As Jesus was quoted to say in the 12th chapter of this same Gospel, "I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." Jesus took not only this man aside to set his attention on Him. He’s taken the eyes of you and me and the whole world and fixed them upon Him on the cross so as to speak to us in a way we couldn’t help but understand.
In His suffering and death and in His being forsaken of God we see the seriousness of our sin. We see just how far we have drifted from the will and way of our God. Yet we see more. In His silence and complete willingness to go to the cross without a fight, we see the merciful intention of God to remove our sin from us Himself because He knew we could not. In His words He would have us know that we have a God who forgives the greatest of offenses. "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing." With the care he showed for His mother, we’re assured that He cares for us. "Mother behold your son. Son, behold your mother." Our well-being is important to him, but our salvation is essential. It’s the top priority, and He’s done everything that needed to be completed. "It is finished." It’s something we ought not forget when things don’t go according to our way, when God’s will is something different. In His wisdom He doesn’t always give us exactly what we ask, not because He doesn’t care, but because He has something better, always with our eternal life in mind and that of others. We see that loving care in His blood, sweat and tears, in the giving of His all so as to open for us the way to eternal life. And with His hands opened wide He would communicate that He intends to give these things and more to you and me and to all. None are to be excluded. None are to be kept away. It’s His desire. It’s His aim. And He has spoken the Word to have it done.
Even as He spoke “effatha" over the deaf-mutes head so He has done the same over ours in the water and word of Holy Baptism. There in those Holy waters He gave you and me the eyes to see His great love. He gave us the heart to receive in faith; all that He has done in His life, death and resurrection. He opened our hands to joyful service, little as they were then. And He continues to speak “effatha" over us today as He brings us His Word.
That’s the good news today. While we have at times tended to close the door to Him, He hasn’t given up on us. He speaks those words again today. "effatha. Be opened." My friends, it’s His intention today that your eyes be open to see your Lord as one who has always been open to you and your needs. It’s His desire that your hearts cling to Him in faith, that they be open to the fire of His Spirit of faith and new living. It’s His design to open wide Your hands in service to others, even as He has opened His wide unto you, that others may know this good news as well.
And He hasn’t given up on us yet. Instead He speaks “effatha" every time He brings us His Word of Life, every time we gather in this house, every time we receive the sacrament, every time we open His Word. He speaks it with the real and fervent aim of speaking “effatha" one last time over us all; when He and all His angels return to open our graves and take us bodily into heaven. "effatha!" The one who does all things well is speaking it to you, He’s speaking it to me. And He’s speaking it with all the grace and might of His Word which still can open ears and mouths; eyes, hearts and hands. Amen!
