“Ephphatha”
Day 24 – Tuesday, April 2, 2019
Healing a deaf man with a speech impediment
Mark 7:31-37
Then he returned from the region of Tyre,
and went by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee,
in the region of the Decapolis.
They brought to him a deaf man
who had an impediment in his speech;
and they begged him to lay his hand on him.
He took him aside in private, away from the crowd,
and put his fingers into his ears,
and he spat and touched his tongue.
Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him,
“Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.”
And immediately his ears were opened,
his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly.
Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one;
but the more he ordered them,
the more zealously they proclaimed it.
They were astounded beyond measure, saying,
“He has done everything well;
he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”
This act of compassion by Jesus displays his love for mankind, as many of his miracles do.
Knowing of this love, believing in the love of God and the compassion of Jesus,
should affect us deeply, and inspire our lives to show compassion and love as well.
Has God shown compassion in your life?
Do you share this with those you know, as the man in the story does?
How many can have their hearts softened by knowing of the compassion of Christ?