Mark 7:31-37
Jesus Heals a Deaf Man
31 Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. 32 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. 33 And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. 34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha," that is, “Be opened.” 35 And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. 36 And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. 37 And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
Reflection Questions
1. Jesus heals the deaf and mute man with a single word but does a number of things beforehand. Why might he have touched the man's ears and tongue if it wasn’t necessary to heal him?
2. Why might Jesus have sighed before healing the man?
3. In Mark 5 Jesus casts out a demon in this same area and tells the man to tell everyone what has been done for him. In our passage this week, Jesus tells the healed man not to tell anyone. Why might he have done this?