“And looking up to heaven, He [=Jesus] sighed and said to him, ‘Ephphatha,’ that is, ‘Be opened.’ And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly.” (Mark 7:34-35)
The gospel of Mark contains many more stories about miracles Jesus did. In this series of devotionals we’ll study one more before shifting our focus towards seven “I am”-statements of Jesus.
This story is about a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment. Jesus healed him completely, so that the man could hear and speak properly.
I think the reason Mark mentions this particular healing in so much detail, may have to do with a prophecy of Isaiah, centuries prior. Isaiah described the coming of the Messiah, the Savior anointed by God who was at the same time God Himself. Among other glorious prospects, Isaiah told the people,
“Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
then shall the lame man leap like a deer,
and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.” (Isaiah 35:5-6)
Jesus did all these things and more. No one else has ever been able to do so before or after. No wonder the people were “astonished beyond measure”!
Being astonished is a natural response to Jesus’ miracles. The important question is: what do we do with this information? Do we conclude that Jesus was a special person, do we accept Him as the Messiah, do we worship Him as Savior and Lord… ? How about you?