Slices
Prepare
Can you imagine the day when the glory of the Lord is finally fully revealed?
Bible passage
Jesus heals a deaf and mute man
31 Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis. 32 There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him.
33 After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spat and touched the man’s tongue. 34 He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, ‘Ephphatha!’ (which means ‘Be opened!’). 35 At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosed and he began to speak plainly.
36 Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. 37 People were overwhelmed with amazement. ‘He has done everything well,’ they said. ‘He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.’
Explore
Jesus now travels 120 miles into Gentile territory, going up the Mediterranean coast to Sidon, then down to the ten Graeco-Roman cities, east of Lake Galilee. Maybe he wants a break from his Jewish critics.
His fame has gone ahead of him. People bring a deaf-mute man for Jesus to touch (v 32). In need of privacy, Jesus leads the man away from the crowd. Once more, Jesus becomes ritually ‘unclean’, engaging with and touching a Gentile man, then placing spit upon his tongue. The man must have seen Jesus looking to heaven, the source of his power to heal, but hears nothing until… he hears Jesus’ voice and his own!
The Greek word for ‘could hardly talk’ (v 32) only appears once more in the Bible, in the Greek Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament), in Isaiah 35, a chapter that rejoices in the future day when the glory of the Lord will be revealed. In earlier chapters, God’s wrathful judgement upon Israel’s neighbours has been foretold, nations that have defied God. Is Mark presenting Jesus, the restorer of speech and hearing, as the beginning of the fulfilment of that expected day of the Lord when Jews and Gentiles alike will see God’s glory?
Respond
God still heals today. Occasionally someone’s hearing is restored. For many deaf people, deafness is part of their identity. But on the day of the Lord nothing will hinder their hearing or speech. Pray for anyone you know who’s deaf.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Nehemiah 3,4; Luke 6
Pray for Scripture Union
Please pray for Michelle Newstead (Content Administrator in the Mission Resources team) as she tracks stock, liaises with printers and ensures our resources are available across various platforms, so that the maximum number of users will benefit and be able to share Jesus effectively with the 95.
