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Mark 7:31-37
The healing by Jesus of a deaf man with a speech impediment in Mark 7:31-37 is yet another recorded healing done by Jesus which further shows His healing powers and indicates His desire to be known as the ultimate Healer. Before Jesus could be trusted with the hearts of the people He needed to show them that He was the answer to their prayers – that He was the Messiah they had been waiting for.
But in this passage is another proof of Jesus being the One the people had been anxiously awaiting, and it is a possible reference to the Old Testament Scripture and prophecy found in Isaiah 35. Isaiah 35 is more than a prophecy of the coming Messiah and is mostly related to the renewing of the kingdom of God, but Isaiah 35:5 (NKJV) declares,
“Then the eyes of the blind shall be
opened,
And the ears of the deaf shall be
unstopped.”
Isaiah 35:10 is also related to this passage in Mark 7 as it declares,
“And the ransomed of the LORD shall
return,
And come to Zion with singing,
With everlasting joy on their heads.
They shall obtain joy and gladness,
And sorrow and sighing shall flee
away.”
This is a promise and example of the fulfillment of the Old Testament Scriptures in Jesus, the ultimate Healer and Savior of the world (John 3:16-17).
In the Gospel of Mark we have learned of some of the physical healings performed by Jesus. But the Gospel of Mark pauses in Mark 7:21-23 to teach us about the most important healing that Jesus left His throne in heaven to come to earth and do for us – the healing of our hearts which constitutes a healing of the whole person and the beginning of a new life in forgiveness that can be found in Christ by putting our faith in Him. There is no other person, place, or thing by which we can find true forgiveness and cleansing of our hearts. But because God does this out of His great love for us, it is a gift presented to us by God through His One and only Son Jesus.
As this Bible study is posted during the Christmas season, it is as a gift under the tree for you; it is there, but you have to open it before the gift can be truly realized and understood as to what is in the gift. It is given from God’s great love for you…open God’s gift to you of a new life of forgiveness in Christ Jesus today. It is the best gift you will ever be given!
Dear LORD,
Satan makes us hold on to the things of this world in which we may believe that we have to give up before we can be a Christian, but the truth is that Jesus died for our sins while we were still living in them (Romans 5:8) declaring, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Being set free from sin through Christ Jesus is opening the gift of life and accepting it in our hearts that causes a change – a redemption and repentance that will help us to overcome the things of this world and break the chains of Satan. You have given us a gift LORD, please prompt our hearts to open it, receive it, and live it – in Christ Jesus. In Jesus name I pray, amen.