“And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him. And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, ‘Ephphatha,’ that is, ‘Be opened.’ And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly.” – Mark 7:32-35
What do you do when you see your family members or friends struggling? There are many, many wonderful worldly resources to which we can turn for the healing of illness and injury. There are many gifted counselors to lead to emotional understanding and healing. There are also many promises offered through the media and other outlets today. These can be God-given resources. However, the greatest healer, the greatest counselor, the greatest physician is still our Lord Jesus Christ.
In our text today, Mark tells of family members or friends who brought a man to Jesus begging Jesus to heal his ears and to restore his ability to speak. Who knows what else they had done prior to coming to Jesus. It doesn’t really matter because nothing worked. The man was still deaf and still had a speech impediment—until that day when Jesus put his fingers in his ears and touched his tongue. With the touch of Jesus and the simple command, “Be opened,” the man could hear and speak. He was fully healed by Jesus Christ.
Sometimes we rush to the doctor or the counselor, and we forget the call to pray in all circumstances. One of the greatest blessings in my life are the friends who have brought me to Jesus time and time again. They have prayed with me and for me. Jesus has healed me of some things instantaneously as he did this man, and Jesus has also healed me gradually through many prayers and the continual seeking of him. Again, I will never discount God’s gifts to us in our physicians and counselors, but we must ask ourselves if we are looking too much to the world’s healing instead of the Great Physician’s healing touch.
In Isaiah 35:5, we read of the works that that Messiah will do: “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped.” The Lord fulfilled his promise to the nation of Israel in sending his Son to teach, heal, and proclaim the kingdom of God. His covenantal promises continue for us today. He is still the God who heals and works miracles among his people. May we come to him with our needs and the needs of those we love.
Reflection:
Do you believe that God still heals today? Are you entrusting your needs and the needs of those you love to him? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
Related Resource:
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