Jesus Heals a Deaf Man With a Speech Impediment

Mark 7:31–37
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Two young boys were spending the night at their grandparents? house the week before Christmas. At bedtime, the two boys knelt beside their beds to say their prayers. The younger one began praying at the top of his lungs: “I PRAY FOR A NEW BICYCLE...” “I PRAY FOR A … More

Deaf

Jesus now moves from Tyre through Sidon to Decapolis which was largely a Gentile area (v. 31). It seems that He went north before swinging south and some think that this journey may have stretched into as much as eight months. This would have given the Lord a lot of valuable time with His disciples before the final tempest breaks.

During this time we find the healing of a man that was “deaf and with an impediment in his speech"(v. 32). We find Jesus showing tender consideration for the feelings of this man as He takes him away from the crowd where they could be alone (v. 33). Deaf people are normally embarrassed in a crowd. Jesus looked up to heaven so the man would be sure to know where the help was coming from and said,"Be opened” (v. 34) and the man was healed (v. 35). Jesus told them not to say anything when he went back to the crowd (v. 36). The people were amazed and said, “He hath done all things well.” (v. 37)

Jesus clearly is not using this healing as a method to draw a crowd — quite the opposite. Crowds have caused Jesus problems, hindering what He sees as His central ministry. So Jesus shows compassion to this man, and heals his deafness and blindness, but does so alone. I believe Jesus is comparing the eagerness with which the crowds seek physical healing to their lack of interest in more important spiritual matters. Jesus may be thinking, “If only they would seek healing of the spirit with the same eagerness that they seek healing of the body! This deaf man knows he is deaf, and longs for healing; if only all the spiritually deaf would acknowledge their deafness, and long for healing!”

Application

If I suddenly went deaf what would I miss the most? I can think of some people I know who are deaf to the Word of God and they wouldn’t miss hearing it at all. Just as Jesus took special interest in a particular man in need, I need to think of someone I can help who is presently “deaf” to the things of the Lord. I must reach out and touch others because I am Christ’s ambassador.

Mark 7:31-37 (English Standard Version)

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