Growing Confidence in Jesus
Mark 7:31-37
"Astonished." "Utterly astonished." Their impression of Jesus was growing by leaps and bounds. Every encounter with Jesus was like entering and exploring another specially prepared room. The disciples saw everything going on. They were not just learning some catechism, principles or points of technique. They were learning to trust Jesus with every problem that they could face.
An encounter with Jesus was a life-changing experience. This wasn't just for the disciples. It is apparent that no matter how much Jesus told the crowd to be quiet about what He had done, they had to tell someone. Jesus' instructions were incompatible with their soul's joy. Jesus was being practical and humble. But they were astonished, liberated and exhilarated. They just couldn't stay quiet. So what was the big commotion over this time? Let's take a look at what happened.
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31 And again He went out from the region of Tyre, and came through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, within the region of Decapolis. 32 And they brought to Him one who was deaf and spoke with difficulty, and they entreated Him to lay His hand upon him. 33 And He took him aside from the multitude by himself, and put His fingers into his ears, and after spitting, He touched his tongue with the saliva; 34 and looking up to heaven with a deep sigh, He said to him, "Ephphatha!" that is, "Be opened!" 35 And his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was removed, and he began speaking plainly. 36 And He gave them orders not to tell anyone; but the more He ordered them, the more widely they continued to proclaim it. 37 And they were utterly astonished, saying, "He has done all things well; He makes even the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak." (Mark 7:31-37, NASB). |
Wherever Jesus went and not matter what situation confronted Him, everything he touched became like new. Jesus had just traveled over 60 miles from another city-country of Tyre. He went away to get a break and spend time just with His intimate disciples. But His miracles followed Him there too. It didn't seem to matter who came to Him for help. Those that came were sad, broken, and despondent. Many of them had to be 'brought.' Perhaps they didn't know about Jesus' ability to help them, or perhaps they just couldn't come. This is the case with this man in the story. "They brought to Him one who was deaf and spoke with difficulty." Could there be a more difficult case? After all, his problems were such that everyone would know if he got well or not.
I wonder if the crowd saw this man laying by the roadside and wondered whether he could be helped by Jesus or that they were just testing out Jesus to see what He really could do. They, more than likely the crowd, brought him to Jesus. Jesus evidently knew several things about this man.
- Firstly, this case was difficult. We can see Jesus' elaborate healing measures.
- Secondly, we find that Jesus resisted 'impressing' the crowd. He healed privately.
- Thirdly, Jesus cared about the person and not His reputation. He told the crowd not to say anything.
Jesus refused to take the regular healing measures. Perhaps they began to think it was the special technique. Jesus shattered the simple 'lay the hands on' means of healing this time. He stuck His fingers in the person's actual ears and with His spit touched the tongue of the man. Lastly, He called to God and commanded, "Be opened." This might seem a bit repulsive, but we are with the crowd surprised at Jesus' immediate success of healing that man.
Here was another broken man made whole. The crowd said it well, "He has done all things well; He makes even the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak." Confidence in Jesus began to grow and grow. With this miracle, one could see the crowd thinking who they could bring to Jesus to be healed.
I can't help but think what do I believe about Jesus? The best test of this is to see who I have brought to Jesus lately. This might seem a play on words because Jesus is not physically present, but is not Jesus alive today? Do we not acknowledge that anything He could do then, He can now do? Do we not acknowledge as Christ's disciples that He desires to do those things He has done?
I find the problem is that we, including myself, have little faith. We are not sure whether Jesus can do those things. And perhaps to a lesser degree we wonder whether He wants to do those things. If we were sure on His purpose, then our faith would be terribly exposed. We don't want that!
If our faith in His ability to do such things is so meager, perhaps we are not seeing many great things happen. Since we do not see these things happen, our impression of Jesus is rather stuffy and rigid. We think of Him only as a good teacher. But certainly this is not the impression the disciples or crowd received nor is it the impression we should have of Jesus! Jesus was the Son of God. He is to be believed and followed. I wonder what Jesus I am following? Is it the real One or is it one that I can easily fit into my life experience?
Each meeting with Jesus should be an eye-opening encounter. Each time we as His people are in His presence as His body, we should be humbled and amazed at the glory of Christ. Isn't this the purpose of church? Would God want us to have secular views of Jesus Christ or realistic ones?!
I need to pray. I am so humbled at my little faith. Feel free to join me.
"Dear Lord, your person and work is simply amazing. Why are my eyes so blind to your great person? Speak "Be opened!" to my eyes of faith that I might see you for who you are. Forgive me. I am so little excited about you that I don't tell many people about you. If I dare say anything, I am focused on how nice church is. God, let's change this starting now. Let's start seeing Jesus as He is and building our faith so that we would bring anyone to Him for help and healing. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen."
Next
Walking with Jesus: Abiding in Christ Series |
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Impossible Love |
Jesus responded to their needs. The disciples responded to their resources. |
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Genuine Friendship |
I don't want my Heavenly Father to treat me the way I treated my son! |
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A Vial of Love |
Our relationship with God is to take priority over our works. |
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Following is Not Easy |
I wanted Jesus to be with me, but I didn't really want to be with Him. |
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The Lord wants me to sit down and listen to Him. |
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I was not sure how many prayers I have absolutely wasted. | |
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Staying Focused |
Jesus found these planned retreats can be rudely interrupted. |
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Discovering Treasures |
What were they amazed and later astonished at? |
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Worth it all! |
His disciples would often if not always be required to make a sacrifice of one kind or another. |
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The Capsizing of Religion |
Many churches just wouldn't want Jesus attend! |
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Family of Jesus |
If you or I were part of this crowd, wouldn't we do the same thing as they? |
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Growing Confidence in Jesus |
What Jesus I am following? |
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A Word on Christian Suffering |
We didn't do anything wrong to deserve such pruning! John 15:1-2 |
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Genuine Worship |
Anything not built on this one command is best left in the periphery of life. |
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Dreams to Dust 911 |
Jesus felt compelled to take their dreams to the dust. |
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A Faith of Action |
The world starts getting concerned when the church starts practicing its faith. |
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The Felling of Fame |
Stopped in my tracks. Time to deal with my desire for fame. |
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Perspective on Worry |
We are really surprised at Jesus' comments about our worry. |
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Overcome Fear of Man |
Outnumbered. Outflanked. Out-educated. Compromise was begging Jesus to conform for acceptance. |
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Paul J. Bucknell
Biblical Foundations for Freedom