Mark 7:31-37

1. Position yourself to hear God

2. Pore over the passage and paraphrase the main points

3. Pull out the spiritual principles

4. Pose the question

5. Plan obedience and pin down a date

Mark 7:31-37 New International Version (NIV)

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.^{[a] 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 spit 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 loosened 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.”

Paraphrase 

·         Jesus left the area of Tyre and moved to the region of Decapolis where some people brought a man to him who was deaf and had difficulty talking for healing

·         Jesus took the man aside and put his fingers in his ears and spat and touched the man’s tongue

·         Jesus looked to heaven, sighed and asked for this man’s ears and tongue to be healed (opened)

·         This man experienced healing right away as he could now hear and speak

·         Jesus told the people not to say anything but they were overwhelmed at Jesus’s miracle that they spoke about it

Principles

·         This man had people who interceded on his behalf to find healing for him through Jesus.

·         Jesus was specific in how he ministered healing to this man.  Jesus is personal in how He deals with us also.

·         Jesus sigh and prayer to his Father showed His compassion for this man who had suffered.  Jesus knew He would suffer also in His lifetime.  Jesus understands our suffering.

·         The man experienced a new life immediately thanks to Jesus personal dealings with him and so do we.

·         It is difficult not to share what Jesus has done in our lives

Questions

·         Do we have people that come alongside us and intercede on our behalf?

·         Do we believe that Jesus deals with us in our personal needs?  Have we experienced that?

·         In our times of suffering do we trust that Jesus knows what He is doing and that He understands our suffering?

·         Are we overwhelmed by what Jesus has done in our life?