Healing of a Deaf Man

Jesus healed in many different ways. In this story he heals a deaf man.

Mar 7:31  Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. 

Mar 7:32  And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him. 

Who were they who brought the man to Jesus?  They were people who cared about the deaf man and who had heard that Jesus healed all who came to him.

Mar 7:33  And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. 

Taking him aside from the crowd, perhaps many  had unbelief or were just looking for a reason to accuse Jesus to the jealous religious leaders. This was a private manner. Would we want a crowd watching us when brought to a doctor? He placed his fingers in the deaf ears of the man and spit, perhaps applying spit to the stammering tongue.

Mar 7:34  And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” 

Jesus looked up to heaven. He always did his father's will. God is our healer and life giver. Jesus spoke "be opened" a command from the giver of life and health.

Mar 7:35  And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. 

A miracle of God; perfect hearing and clear speech. 

I am reminded of Moses making excuses to the LORD who was calling him to speak before the Pharaoh in Egypt. He humbly said that he was slow of speech. 

Exo 4:10  But Moses said to the LORD, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” 

Exo 4:11  Then the LORD said to him, “Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? 

God made us and he has a reason. Some he heals while others may be given a handicap.  God has a purpose and a reason for all people.  If he calls you to a task he will give you the abiliy to fulfill it.  God cares about us, he heals and encourages us. When he saw that we were lost and separated from God, he sent his son Jesus to die in our place and to give all who believe in him eternal life. We may be someone who can pray for anothers healing. Pray and let God hear your concerns. He will respond according to his will.

A Rebellious People

People look for fulfillment in the wrong places. They may blame others for their unhappiness, but really we are all somewhat rebellious, seeking our own way. We like friends who agree with us, even when we know that it is wrong. All have struggles in this life. Look to your creator, the creator of heaven and earth. Have we given him any thanks. Do we seek our way through him?

 Isa 30:8  And now, go, write it before them on a tablet and inscribe it in a book, that it may be for the time to come as a witness forever. 

Isa 30:9  For they are a rebellious people, lying children, children unwilling to hear the instruction of the LORD; 

Isa 30:10  who say to the seers, “Do not see,” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us what is right; speak to us smooth things, prophesy illusions, 

Isa 30:11  leave the way, turn aside from the path, let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel.” 

In some of the largest churches the leaders have become worldly people pleasers. They write books about being successful in the world while neglecting the things of God. All this world will be left behind. Is your soul ready for eternity?

John 3:16  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 

The Cornerstone

People are searching for meaning to life. They are searching for real truth, not your truth or my truth, but real eternal truth. If we build our lives on lies, then we have a false security. 

Isa 28:15  You have said, "We have made an agreement with death. We have a contract with death. So we will not be punished. Punishment will pass us without hurting us. We will hide behind our tricks and lies." 

Isa 28:16  Because of these things, the Lord GOD says, "I will put a rock—a cornerstone—in the ground in Zion. This will be a very precious stone. Everything will be built on this very important rock. Anyone who trusts in that rock will not be disappointed. 

Isa 28:17  "Workers use a string and weight to show their work is straight and true. I will use justice as the string and goodness as the weight when I lay that foundation. But your safe places were built on lies. So they will be destroyed and washed away when the troubles come against you like hail storms and floods.

Jesus is our rock that we build our lives upon. Learn of his justice, his goodness and his love for you. He makes all things new. We need him now and forever.

Cold Reception

Mar 6:2  And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? 

Mar 6:3  Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. 

Mar 6:4  And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” 

Mar 6:5  And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. 

Usually the first born son was given more honor and received the most encouragment.  Imagine how the family of Jesus could have misunderstood this son of Mary and son of God who had no sins.  Humans often gossip and see things wrong. There may have been jealousy and social unacceptance, especially when Jesus began his ministry at age thirty. He was thought to be a carpenter or builder.  What do people say of us when we follow God? He's got religion?  Jesus has more than religion, he is God the Son and he would be about his heavenly father's business. 

Luke 19:10  For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” 

In spite of their unbelief, Jesus healed a few people.

Rom 5:6  For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 

Rom 5:7  For one will scarcely die for a righteous person though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die 

Rom 5:8  but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Jesus deserves all honor and praise. Give him your respect. Believe in him and he will give you a new life and purpose. 

Questions

Are you all that you were made to be? Do you even care?  It is good to be content with life, but is our life useful? Asking questions is  most useful.  If we have a question then we seek the answer. Life becomes a quest. Questions begin a quest for answers. Jesus wants us to ask questions of him.

 Mat 7:7  Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 

Mat 7:8  For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 

What great promises. Ask. and it shall be given. The answer may be a simple yes or no. Seek and you will find. Some questions require us to be active in finding answers. Lastly is a door to knock on. In Revelation Jesus is knocking on a church door. Will they let him in?  We are to knock on the door of opportunity. Don't talk yourself out of opening this door.  It may change your life. In another place Jesus himself is called the door. He is the good shepherd who will lead his sheep.

John 10:7  Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 

Some questions we can find answers to, but others are beyond our natural understanding .  We are to ask, seek and knock to God who created life and who has all the answers. Jesus is the answer, in him we have eternal life and purpose.

Perfect Peace

These are uplifting verses.

 Isa 26:3  Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. 

Pro 3:5  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 

Pro 3:6  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 

Joh 14:27  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 

1Jn 4:15  Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. 

1Jn 4:16  And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 

1Jn 4:17  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 

1Jn 4:18  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 

Be at peace.

A Lamp

During our trip to the ocean I read a book, "Bonhoeffer", by Eric Metaxes. Bonhoeffer lived in the time of the rise to power of the Nazi's in Germany. Hitler used cruelty and force, but the people believed in him. The church supported him, changing their messages to favor the new movement. Bonhoeffer was not going along with this. He spoke and taught the light and truth of God's word. It would cost him his life. Are we willing to die for the truth? Will we live for it?

John 12:46  I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. 

John 12:47  And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. 

John 12:48  He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. 

What is the light spoken of here? Is it not the word of God, his truth? How do we live in the light, in the truth of God? We are to believe Jesus who has died for our sins. To remain in darkness is to not believe in God and the forgiveness offered through his son. Jesus saves us from our sins. It is the work of God as we respond by faith. What are we to do with this good news of the light of God, and His saving us from our sins? We are his lamps, his light to those in darkness. Don't hide this lamp.

Mark 4:21  And he said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand? 

If the light is going out in America it is because people have not heard or have rejected the simple truth that we cannot go to heaven by our own efforts. Faith in the work of Jesus who died in our place is the way. May the lamps grow brighter in America.  

Prayer: Father in heaven, I believe that Jesus is the light of the world, my savior. I ask that many will believe in him and receive eternal life. He is our victory, amen.

Messiah Jesus

The prophet Isaiah spoke a description of the coming Jewish Messiah who would save his people from their sins. He would come forth from Jesse who was the father of king David. 

Isa 11:1  There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. 

A branch from the root of Jesse shall bear fruit. The Messiah, from the lineage of David who is also the Son of God born from the virgin Mary. He shall have spiritual fruit. In Revelation 3:1, 4:5 and 5:6, it speaks of the seven spirits.  Seven in the Bible speaks of the fulness of something. In Isaiah 11:2 there are seven spirits listed. All are of the Holy Spirit of the LORD God. 

Isa 11:2  And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. 

Jesus has the fulness of the Spirit.

John 3:34  For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.

 

Isa 11:3  And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, 

Isa 11:4  but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. 

God the Father gave all judgment to his Son and at the end of this world he shall separate the sheep from the goats. The wicked shall be killed leaving only those who believe in Jesus. Is that fair? Yes indeed, for Jesus is righteousness and he is faithful to do the will of God the Father.

Isa 11:5  Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins. 

In God We Trust

Our nation that began with a dependance on God with freedom of worship has slipped to dependance in ourselves. There is a natural world and a spiritual world. There is a good God and a bad devil. Our faith is to be trusting in God. The devil tempts us to follow him and some do without realizing it. Just as in the days of the prophet Isaiah and Judah, we have good leaders and often they are followed by evil ones.

 The nation of Israel had divided. To the north, Ephraim was the largest tribe of Israel. To the south was the tribe of  Judah where the temple of God stood high on a mountain. Josiah was a good king in Judah, but his son Ahaz was wicked. When Ahaz  became king he did not have faith in God. When the king of Isreal joined together with the king of Syria they came up to Jerusalem with the intent to conquer them. The prophet Isaiah was sent to Ahaz with a message from God. Your enemies will not attack you. God would help Judah as he did when Josiah was king. Ahaz followed evil and was indifferent to the word of the prophet.

Isa 7:10  Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz: 

Isa 7:11  “Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” 

Isa 7:12  But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test.” 

Isa 7:13  And he said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? 

Ahaz pretended to be wise by refusing to ask for a sign from the LORD. Did not Jesus say " An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign...Mat 16:4"  Isaiah spoke words from God offering Ahaz proof of what God had said. Ahaz refused to hear from God.  Do we refuse to hear from God? Who do we trust?  The hope of our nation is with our God. Our coins say "In God We Trust".  Many years have passed where we have not wanted God in our nation.  Many have become separated from God.   Those seeking power desire to put us in bondage and to remove our freedoms.

Isaiah then spoke a prophesy.  

Isa 7:14  Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 

This would happen 700 years later. Jesus was born of a virgin and his name was to be Immanuel (God is with us) The name "Jesus" means Savior. God is with us and he is our savior. In him we trust.

Mat 11:28  Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 

Mat 11:29  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 

Mat 11:30  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Unity for Good or Evil?

 People who are in unity are a powerful force. Unity in itself is not good. The liberal newscasters all say the same  thing. When they censor and remove opposing viewpoints, they may strengthen their power of unity, but they may be evil and wrong. 

When Jesus healed people and cast out demons on the Sabboth, the religious leaders accused him of doing this by the power of satan. 

Mark 3:22  And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.” 

Mark 3:23  And he called them to him and said to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? 

Mark 3:24  If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 

Mark3:25  And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 

Mark 3:26  And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end. 

Our nation is divided and it has become a question of truth against lies; spiritual darkness against the light of God's truth. The light shall ovecome the darkness. Jesus is the truth and the light. Lift up the name of Jesus and join with those who have his light. The word of God, the Bible will help you discern good from evil. Unity in truth is a greater power.