DAY TWENTY-FIVE – Wednesday, March 17, 2021
Mark 7:31-37
Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha”, that is, “Be opened.” And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. They were astounded beyond measure, saying, “He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”
I am still left with a number of questions after reading, re-reading and reflecting on this passage. I wonder why Mark is specific in naming the route Jesus took from Tyre to Lake Galilee, other than to note that he had been well beyond the area in which he usually travelled. I wonder why Jesus looked up to Heaven and “gave a deep groan” before saying, “Ephphatha” to the man who was deaf. Was Jesus reluctant to perform this miracle? Was he asking God if he had to do so? Was he feeling that people were getting too caught up with the miracles and paying less attention to his message of salvation? Was he feeling worn out? I wonder why nothing was written of what the deaf man said or of how he acted after Jesus opened him up. I wonder why Jesus ordered the crowd not to speak of it to anyone, and why he repeated the order a number of times. (“…the more he ordered not to, the more they told it.”) Is that to show the crowd is not really listening to Jesus? Does Jesus feel deep foreboding about what his notoriety, because of what the miracles will lead to?
The image I have of this scene is two-fold. Jesus and the deaf man are alone and off to the side but the crowd is close by, excited in the anticipation of what they expect to happen. It is as if they are watching a performance. This thought of mine is re-enforced by the line, “How well he does everything!” I have the feeling that the crowd is judging Jesus and this time he has met their high expectations. It leaves me with a feeling of unease, however, because of what happens later when Jesus no longer meets their expectations.
Finally, I wonder why Jesus spoke the word “Ephphatha” only to the deaf man because I would have thought it was exactly what he wanted to say to everyone: Open up to God’s message. Do not be impeded by, or distracted by, other things. Be open to love God fully and one another as you love yourself.
Carolyn Humphrey
Mark 7:31-37
Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha”, that is, “Be opened.” And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. They were astounded beyond measure, saying, “He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”
I am still left with a number of questions after reading, re-reading and reflecting on this passage. I wonder why Mark is specific in naming the route Jesus took from Tyre to Lake Galilee, other than to note that he had been well beyond the area in which he usually travelled. I wonder why Jesus looked up to Heaven and “gave a deep groan” before saying, “Ephphatha” to the man who was deaf. Was Jesus reluctant to perform this miracle? Was he asking God if he had to do so? Was he feeling that people were getting too caught up with the miracles and paying less attention to his message of salvation? Was he feeling worn out? I wonder why nothing was written of what the deaf man said or of how he acted after Jesus opened him up. I wonder why Jesus ordered the crowd not to speak of it to anyone, and why he repeated the order a number of times. (“…the more he ordered not to, the more they told it.”) Is that to show the crowd is not really listening to Jesus? Does Jesus feel deep foreboding about what his notoriety, because of what the miracles will lead to?
The image I have of this scene is two-fold. Jesus and the deaf man are alone and off to the side but the crowd is close by, excited in the anticipation of what they expect to happen. It is as if they are watching a performance. This thought of mine is re-enforced by the line, “How well he does everything!” I have the feeling that the crowd is judging Jesus and this time he has met their high expectations. It leaves me with a feeling of unease, however, because of what happens later when Jesus no longer meets their expectations.
Finally, I wonder why Jesus spoke the word “Ephphatha” only to the deaf man because I would have thought it was exactly what he wanted to say to everyone: Open up to God’s message. Do not be impeded by, or distracted by, other things. Be open to love God fully and one another as you love yourself.
Carolyn Humphrey
