Mar 7:34 | KingComments | STEP | The Lord goes further north from Tyre and passes through Sidon, and then goes south again to the Sea of Galilee. Before that, He passes through the area of Decapolis, the area where the demon-possessed who was delivered by Him testified of Him ( ). When He comes there, a deaf man is brought to Him. Bringing people in need to the Lord is a work any believer can do. The man has no ears to hear, he cannot receive the fruit of the Word of God. As a result, he cannot communicate his need to Him and praise Him even less. This is the situation of God’s people, who are deaf to the voice of the good Shepherd and incapable of praising God. The Lord performs a total of seven acts to heal the man. In proportion He performs many more acts than He speaks words. This is characteristic of the Servant. 1. He separates him from the crowd. Every need a man has can only be taken away by Him when He is alone with someone. 2. He puts His fingers in the ears of the deaf man. He points to the ailment as it were, but it is with fingers of healing power and not with a raised finger. The finger of God is a finger that makes God’s power visible and can be recognized both by believers and unbelievers ( ; ; ; ). 3. He spits. Saliva is a symbol of His inner strength that comes out through His mouth. He will have spit on His hand and wet His finger with it. 4. With the finger with saliva on it He touches the tongue of the man, as to put His inner strength from His mouth into the mouth of the man. 5. He brings the need He is working on into connection with heaven. It emphasizes His actions in dependence on His Father ( ). 6. He sighs, which speaks of the burden He experiences in His mind as He heals the man. 7. He speaks the redeeming word. It is a truly redemptive word, for it is an opening and loosening word. After all these acts the deafness of the man and what has prevented him from speaking properly are removed. Now he is able to speak properly. To speak well means to speak well of someone. The first good words he speaks will be about Christ. Good words can only be spoken if the ear is opened. Christ makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak. Thus He will do as the Messiah does with the remnant of Israel in the future ( ). As the perfect Servant, He has no choice but to say that this wonder must not be passed on. The true Servant seeks no honor from men, no honor for Himself. But the wonder has made such an impression that no one can remain silent about it. It is an understandable reaction, yet disobedience to the Lord. People come to recognize that He has done all things well. There is only perfection in His actions. He is truly the perfect Servant Whose work is perfect.

‏ Mark 7:34

A Deaf and Difficult Speaking Man Healed

The Lord goes further north from Tyre and passes through Sidon, and then goes south again to the Sea of Galilee. Before that, He passes through the area of Decapolis, the area where the demon-possessed who was delivered by Him testified of Him (Mk 5:20).

When He comes there, a deaf man is brought to Him. Bringing people in need to the Lord is a work any believer can do. The man has no ears to hear, he cannot receive the fruit of the Word of God. As a result, he cannot communicate his need to Him and praise Him even less. This is the situation of God’s people, who are deaf to the voice of the good Shepherd and incapable of praising God.

The Lord performs a total of seven acts to heal the man. In proportion He performs many more acts than He speaks words. This is characteristic of the Servant.

1. He separates him from the crowd. Every need a man has can only be taken away by Him when He is alone with someone.

2. He puts His fingers in the ears of the deaf man. He points to the ailment as it were, but it is with fingers of healing power and not with a raised finger. The finger of God is a finger that makes God’s power visible and can be recognized both by believers and unbelievers (Exo 8:19 ; Exo 31:18; Psa 8:3; Dan 5:5-28; Lk 11:20-22).

3. He spits. Saliva is a symbol of His inner strength that comes out through His mouth. He will have spit on His hand and wet His finger with it.

4. With the finger with saliva on it He touches the tongue of the man, as to put His inner strength from His mouth into the mouth of the man.

5. He brings the need He is working on into connection with heaven. It emphasizes His actions in dependence on His Father (Mk 6:41).

6. He sighs, which speaks of the burden He experiences in His mind as He heals the man.

7. He speaks the redeeming word. It is a truly redemptive word, for it is an opening and loosening word.

After all these acts the deafness of the man and what has prevented him from speaking properly are removed. Now he is able to speak properly. To speak well means to speak well of someone. The first good words he speaks will be about Christ. Good words can only be spoken if the ear is opened. Christ makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak. Thus He will do as the Messiah does with the remnant of Israel in the future (Isa 35:5-6).

As the perfect Servant, He has no choice but to say that this wonder must not be passed on. The true Servant seeks no honor from men, no honor for Himself. But the wonder has made such an impression that no one can remain silent about it. It is an understandable reaction, yet disobedience to the Lord.

People come to recognize that He has done all things well. There is only perfection in His actions. He is truly the perfect Servant Whose work is perfect.