Sermon Notes

THE GOSPEL OF MARK
Mark 7:31-37 // Jesus Heals a Deaf Man

Jesus is still the same God.
Jesus saved then and He saves now.
Jesus had compassion here and has compassion now.
Jesus sees the outcast in these pages, and he sees the outcast now.
Jesus loves the broken then and loves the broken now.
Jesus healed then and Jesus heals NOW.

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. 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. And Jesus charged him to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

Jesus has been ministering to Gentiles.
For all of human history, Gentiles have been on the outside looking in.


SERMON IN A SENTENCE:
The care and passion of people and the compassion and power of Jesus can change lives!

1. The Care and Passion of the People (v.31-32)

“Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis.” -Mark 7:31

“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.” -Mark 7:32

“They” is mentioned twice, and we have no idea who “they” are.

If it wasn’t for “they” in this story, this man wouldn’t have received healing from Jesus.

If we don’t, with care and passion, bring people the good news of Jesus, they will remain deaf to the life changing power of God.

“For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’” -Romans 10:13-15


2. The Compassion and Power of Jesus (v.33-35)

Jesus shows compassion by taking the man aside.

“And taking him aside from the crowd privately…” -Mark 7:33a

Time spent daily “alone” with Jesus is a way that Jesus is compassionate with us still today.


Jesus shows compassion by showing him His power.

“…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.’” -Mark 7:33b-34

Jesus reaching out and touching the man was a picture of his love and his knowledge of this man’s suffering.

Sometimes we need to know Jesus sees us.


“And looking up to heaven…” -Mark 7:34

Jesus looking up to heaven was a visible sign for this man of Jesus’ dependence on God the Father.

“The glance up to heaven meant, ‘It is God alone who is able to do this for you.’ Jesus wanted the man to understand that it was not magic but God’s grace that healed him.” -Sinclair Ferguson


“he sighed…” -Mark 7:34

Jesus groaned at a difficult circumstance.
Jesus groaned for the brokenness of the world.

“I believe this display of emotion, something we do not often see in Mark, is an expression of our Lord’s love and compassion for this man and also His great grief over the fall of man and the terrible consequences of sin. It is the sigh of God over a broken creation.” -Daniel Akin


Ephphatha – Be opened.
Jesus was speaking to his ears.

When Jesus speaks… in creation, in this man’s life and in our lives, there is no arguing or counteroffer.

“And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly.” -Mark 7:35


3. The Response to the Miracle (v.36-37)

“And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. And they were astonished beyond measure, saying ‘He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.’” -Mark 7:36-37

Jesus is not in the business of people just coming to him for healing. He wanted hearts.

“He has done all things well.”

If it’s not good maybe he’s not done. Trust him. Ask him. Believe he is good and does good. He does all things well!


Jesus took the punishment of sin and became:
Mute, so we might speak words of life.
Blind, that we might see God.
Deaf, that we might hear the words of salvation.


Who are you bringing to Jesus?

He sees you. What have you stopped asking him for?

He is compassionate and powerful today to do for you whatever ails your life. Lay those things before him.