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. He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means “Be opened!”). At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.
Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. People were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
Mark 7:33-37
I love this story. Not just because it’s a bit humorous in nature, I mean c’mon, Jesus didn’t HAVE to spit and touch the man’s tongue to heal him or shout to the heavens to cure his deafness. He could have healed the man with no words and no actions, with just one look. But Jesus’ actions show that He truly knew the hearts of the people. He had seen over and over again just how feeble the people were in their faith. He knew they needed clear evidence that He was who He said He was.
Even more amazing than Jesus concealing his immediate power to tend to the hearts of the people is the immediate authority he has over disease. The verses claim that at the sound of His voice, deafness falls and lameness disappears. In the face of Jesus, darkness cowers in fear.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1:5
Just as this verse reminds us of Jesus’ power over the dominion of darkness, let it also be a reminder that what He speaks will be done. Even more amazing, everything on earth and in heaven bows to His authority, because he is the one who created it all (Gen. 1:1).
Jesus told the man’s ears to open and they opened. Jesus told Peter that there would come a day when he would deny him three times – and that day came. What the Lord spoke in prophesies in the Old Testament came to pass through His Son on the cross.
We see over and over again that God is a faithful God, who fulfills his promises to His people. Are you trusting in that truth today? Be amazed today that God will keep all of the below promises to you, for He is a man of His Word.
- Amidst your worry, anxiety and fear, I will give you rest…. (Matt. 11:28)
- Through my Son’s wounds on the cross, your brokenness has been redeemed (1 Peter 2:24)
- I promise that your trials will produce joy (James 1:2)
- I give strength to the weary (Isaiah 40:29)
- I give wisdom to all those who ask of it. I will provide you everything you need for the situations you are in. (James 1:5)
- I promise, that if you resist the devil HE WILL FLEE. (James 4:7)
Rest in these truths today. I encourage you to find more on your own. Take time to remember all of the things that have come to pass, the promises that have been fulfilled and ask God today for the strength and faith to believe that what He says, will be done, today, tomorrow and the next.
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