Deaf Man in the Bible

Regarding to a deaf man sitting by the road, not hearing what Jesus have preached AND not hearing what people are saying about Jesus. I would not know a thing about Jesus. This was BEFORE sign language and BEFORE technology. In Mark 7:31-32 "Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis. There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged him to place his hand on the man." This tells us clearly that the man is just sitting there, not hearing what is going on and could hardly talk. People have asked Jesus to HEAL the man. Then read verses 33-35 "After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man's ears. Then he spit and touched the man's tongue. He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, "Ephphatha!" (which means, "Be opened!" ). At this, the man's ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly."

Now.. did any of the verses say that this deaf man had faith to be healed? I didn't see the word "faith" in those verses. In verses 36 and 37, Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. People were overwhelmed with amazement. "He has done everything well," they said. "He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak." Noticed that Jesus didn't tell the formerly deaf man to keep quiet about being healed. Jesus told witnesses to keep quiet about the healing. But of course, they could not.

During Easter, we are to think of what Christ did during His life on earth and what He has and currently been doing over the years. God says to Moses at the burning bush, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?” (Exodus 4:11; see also 2 Corinthians 12:7-9). No one lives and dies but by God’s sovereign authority. In Genesis, Joseph said to his family "As far as I am concerned, God turned into good what you meant for evil. He brought me to the high position I have today so I could save the lives of many people." The ministry's objective is to meet the emotional and spiritual needs of the afflicted people in practical ways. God is causing all things to work together for our good, which means our eternal glory because we love God because He first loved us and purposed to bring us to His Great Glory. Romans 8:28-29 "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

You know what is interesting? That people with disabilities make up one of the largest minority group in the country, especially withing Christian Churches. Healing is wonderful and I believe in divine healing. No different what I am going through, or my daughters going through. I was born with deafness and later in life I was diagnosed with MS. My step-daughter was born with celebral palsy as well as mild retardation due to seizures when she was a child. My blood daughter have bipolar and personality disorder disabilities. The Bible also teaches us to bear the burdens of someone with a disability fulfills a command of scripture (Galatians 6:2). 2 Samuel 9:3-4 tells the story of David’s kindness to Mephibosheth, the lame son of Jonathan, modeling the way the church should minister. Accountability involves "one anothers" that every members are encouraged to be actively serving and ministering their gifts. A local Church understands that people are not just looking for a Church to Worship, but a place where they can make real friendship, meaningful fellowship, and truly serving God. The writer of Hebrews 10:24-25 commands every believer to be a part of such a local body and reveals why this is necessary. NIV: "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

Happy Easter, everyone.

Jim