The Unhygienic Healing

~~~ 1 Kings 11:29-32; 12:19 ~~~ Psalm 81 ~~ Mark 7:31-37 ~~~

I am the Lord, your God: hear my voice.

Jesus traveled on foot throughout this predominantly Gentile region.

Was Jesus just wanting to get away from the crowds?

Was he making a statement that his words 

and healing was also given to the Gentiles?

Had the woman he had just encountered caused him 

to broaden his intended audience?

We can only speculate since we are not told.

...people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment
and begged him to lay his hand on him.

The people were seeking out Jesus.

Word was spreading about the others he had healed.

I cannot imagine being both deaf and dumb.

In Mark's Gospel this is the only deaf person to be healed by Jesus.

Jesus takes this man off by himself.

Jesus had such a compassionate heart

 that he wanted to cure everyone who came to him, 

but at the same time he had to avoid being killed.

It was not yet time for his passion and death.

Today using spittle to heal would never even be considered.

It would be viewed as unsanitary and very crude.

Today conventional healing takes place in a very sterile space.

But Jesus is never conventional.

He makes physical contact with the ears and tongue of this man.

When you are deaf and dumb you appear to be a normal person.

You cannot see deafness or dumbness.

Perhaps Jesus used his own spit as a sign of his personal healing.

The power which came forth from Jesus even extended to his clothing.

After touching this man Jesus looked up to heaven; in prayer to his Father.

He speaks the words...“Ephphatha!” (that is, “Be opened!”)

Jesus acknowledges his obedience to the will of the one who sent him.

He is also fulfilling a prophecy of Isaiah 35: 5-6

...the ears of the deaf be cleared...the tongue of the dumb will sing...

Jesus makes the request that this healing be kept quiet, 

but it has just the opposite effect.

The people could not contain their words of what they had witnessed.

He has done all things well...

The people seem to be shocked by his abilities...

but then again Jesus is perfect.

But on the other hand here he is in the region of the Gentiles not the Jews.

This specific healing 

How has God Blessed you with better hearing?

Would you allow Jesus to touch your tongue with his spittle?

Peace.