Mark 7:33-35
09/10/2025
- And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue.
- And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, ‘‘Ephphatha,’’ that is, ‘‘Be opened.’’ 35
And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. (ESV)
And taking him aside from the crowd privately, [Jesus] put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, ‘‘Ephphatha,’’ that is, ‘‘Be opened.’’ And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly.
In faith, several people brought a deaf and mute man to Jesus to be healed. Hearing their prayer, and having compassion on the man, Jesus did as He was requested. He communicated to the man through gestures that He would do something to both the man’s tongue and ears.
Jesus’ gestures, including looking to heaven to give glory to the Father, showed that the healing comes from God, not some sort of magical trick. At the sound of the word of healing, the man’s ears were opened.
Were the gestures necessary? In other miracles, Jesus simply spoke the word and the deed was done. However, in this case the man would not know, without some sort of communication, that this healing came from God.
Our Lord uses gestures and signs to convey His Word of grace and love to each person. The water of baptism is not merely a symbol, but conveys the forgiveness of our sins and life everlasting. The bread and wine of the Lord’s Supper are not symbolic but truly give us Christ’s body and blood in and under the visible elements.
May our Lord use both Word and Sacraments to open our hearts and minds to His proclamation of love, grace, and mercy. Amen.