Mark 7:31-37 (NIV)
If you’ve been listening along through Mark you might remember the man who lived among the tombs who was possessed by demons? Back in Chapter 5, Jesus restored him and sent the demons into a herd of pigs? And remember just as Jesus and the disciples were leaving this man wanted to leave with them? Jesus told him to stay, and to go and tell everyone all the the LORD had done for him. That happened where today’s passage takes place.
And what’s amazing, is that the man obviously had an impact on the people there. When Jesus left people were begging Jesus to leave, but upon his return there is a crowd who’s brought to Jesus a man who was deaf and who can healry speak.
Today’s passage gives us another example of Jesus doing stuff straight out of the book of Isaiah, where it was foretold that the Israel's servant would cause the deaf to hear and the mute to speak... And again it’s the first in a string of stories coming up in Mark that act to illustrate the disciples' hearts and their understanding of Jesus. And the first one is an echo of Jesus teaching about the soils, saying let those who have ears hear?
As you listen today, consider the condition of your soul? What areas might be deaf or mute, who can Jesus open them?
----------REFLECT----------
1. What image from this story stands out to you the most?
2. - The details of this passage are quite intimate. If you were this man how would you respond to Jesus pulling you aside in this way?
3. - One distinct feature of this healing is Jesus’ deep sigh. It’s as if he’s lamenting as he interceded in this man’s life and breathing the life of heaven onto him. When you think about your life or the life of your community or someone you know, what would Jesus sigh over, where do you need him to breathe new life?
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