David Bahn – Reflections

Mark 7:31-37

And looking up to heaven, [Jesus] sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,”that is, “Be opened.”

You might be surprised to learn that I have ever been at a loss for words – especially if you know me and my vocation. As a preacher, I am seldom accused of being short of words to speak. I have a friend and fellow pastor who as a young man suffered from a terrible speech impediment: he stuttered. At one point in time he was told that he would not be able to be a pastor if he stuttered. So he prayed and God answered. He even went on to host a radio program where clear speech – no stuttering please! – is essential!

But my trouble was more like that of the deaf man who was unable to speak. In the case of that man, Jesus’ miraculous intervention is remarkable in more ways than one. Jesus takes the man aside from the crowd – a concern for his being as well as his healing. He spits and touches his tong and puts his fingers in his ears: curious to say the least. Commentators opine about this and offer interesting insights (see below).

I am intrigued by the word: “Ephphatha.” Mark tells us that the word means, “be opened.” But to whom was he speaking? And why does Mark tell us the Aramaic? There must be something about this moment that deeply touched Mark. There certainly is something that touches me. For if your mouth is stopped your impact is limited. And if you want to shape others’ lives for good or evil, you must speak.

Speech is so vitally part of the human experience. Actions speak louder than words they say. But in fact we need words to help put our actions into their proper context. And when I was at a loss for words it was distressing to me because I felt the need to speak. I wanted to say something to the person who had shown complete disregard for God, truth, godliness and decency. But I had nothing. And in that moment I can only pray that my silence said something. Perhaps part of the problem was my inability to hear what was actually being said.

Maybe next time I am faced with such confusion I will pray not only for words to say, but ears to hear. It’s clear that Jesus can give both!

Mark 7:31-37

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.”

Matthew Henry’s Commentary:

Christ took him aside from the multitude, Mark 7:33. Ordinarily, he wrought his miracles publicly before all the people, to show that they would bear the strictest scrutiny and inspection; but this he did privately, to show that he did not seek his own glory, and to teach us to avoid every thing that savours of ostentation. Let us learn of Christ to be humble, and to do good where no eye sees, but his that is all eye.

2. He used more significant actions, in the doing of this cure, than usual. (1.) He put his fingers into his ears, as if he would syringe them, and fetch out that which stopped them up. (2.) He spit upon his own finger, and then touched his tongue, as if he would moisten his mouth, and so loosen that with which his tongue was tied; these were no causes that could in the least contribute to his cure, but only signs of the exerting of that power which Christ had in himself to cure him, for the encouraging of his faith, and theirs that brought him. The application was all from himself, it was his own fingers that he put into his ears, and his own spittle that he put upon his tongue; for he alone heals.

3. He looked up to heaven, to give his Father the praise of what he did; for he sought his praise, and did his will, and, as Mediator, acted in dependence on him, and with an eye to him. Thus he signified that it was by a divine power, a power her had as the Lord from heaven, and brought with him thence, that he did this; for the hearing ear and theseeing eye the Lord has made, and can remake even both of them. He also hereby directed his patient who could see, though he could not hear, to look up to heaven for relief. Moses with his stammering tongue is directed to look that way (Exod. 4:11); Who hath made man’s mouth? Or who maketh the dumb or deaf, or the seeing or the blind? Have not I the Lord?

4. He sighed; not as if he found any difficulty in working this miracle, or obtaining power to do it from his father; but thus he expressed his pity for the miseries of human life, and his sympathy with the afflicted in their afflictions, as one that was himself touched with the feeling of their infirmities. And as to this man, he sighed, not because he was loth to do him this kindness, or did it with reluctancy; but because of the many temptations which he would be exposed to, and the sins he would be in danger of, the tongue-sins, after the restoring of his speech to him, which before he was free from. He had better be tongue-tied still, unless he have grace to keep his mouth as with a bridle,Ps. 39:1.

5. He said, Ephphatha; that is, Be opened. This was nothing that looked like spell or charm, such as they used, who had familiar spirits, who peeped and muttered, Isa. 8:19. Christ speaks as one having authority, and power went along with the word. Be opened, served both parts of the cure; “Let theears be opened, let the lips be opened, let him hear and speak freely, and let the restraint be taken off;” and the effect was answerable (Mark 7:35);Straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and all was well: and happy he who, as soon as he had his hearing and speech, had the blessed Jesus so near him to converse with.