Monday, January 18, 2016
OPENING EARS AND MOUTHS
The Gospel writers show us that Jesus of Nazareth did things that normal human beings can't do. These miracles prove that Jesus is the Son of God. They show us His power, His mercy and His love. Miracles aren't meant to teach us that Jesus always heals the sick, but that He has the power. He deals with each person based on their individual needs and in the way that is best for them.
"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" (Mark 7:32).
The Gospel writer tells us that the man had two physical handicaps, one likely the result of the other. First, he was deaf, unable to hear. Second, he had a speech impediment, literally "he spoke scarcely and with great difficulty." It wasn't that he couldn't speak, it was that being unable to hear, he was very difficult to understand.
We also know that the man had another problem, a spiritual one. He, like we ourselves, was sinful by nature. The physical handicap didn't stop him from sinning, nor did it make him innocent in the sight of God.
Now we don't all share the man's physical handicap, but in a sense that makes what we do worse. Our problem isn't that we can't hear, but that we choose not to listen. I'm not just talking about the selective hearing that happens at school and at home with teachers, parents, and spouse. How often doesn't it happen during the worship service that we are distracted so that we don't listen?
Then, looking up to heaven, He sighed, and said to him, "Ephphatha," that is, "Be opened" (Mark 7:34).
Jesus spoke a single word to a deaf man ... and he heard. He spoke a single word and his speech impediment was gone and he spoke clearly, with no therapy!
It is the Spirit of God who opens our ears and grants the comprehension and understanding of the Word.
It's the Holy Spirit who leads us to answer the question correctly: "Who is this Jesus?"
He is the Son of God who opens ears and mouths ... physically and spiritually.
