Be Opened!

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Be Opened!

Date: Apr. 26, 2022

Passage

Mark 7:31-37 (ESV)

31 Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. 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. 33 And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. 34 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. 36 And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. 37 And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV) is adapted from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved.

For information on how the ESV can be quoted, please visit our permission site.

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 7:34

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

How great is the love and compassion of our Lord Jesus! Some people from the region of the Decapolis brought a deaf man with a severe speech impediment to Jesus for healing. The way Jesus responded is truly remarkable and it shows his gentleness and understanding for all those who come to him. He knows our burdens and he cares for each one of us individually. Jesus took the man aside from the crowds, who no doubt had ridiculed the man his whole life. The Lord touched his ears and his tongue to communicate with the man in a way that he would understand. Jesus looked up to heaven, the source of all his power, and sighed a deep sigh. At his command, “Ephphatha!”, the man’s ears were opened and his tongue was loosened.

The lesson of this passage goes beyond one man’s healing. We need Jesus to miraculously open our spiritual ears. We need his touch upon our hearts and souls so that we might hear his life-giving word and obey it. We also need our tongues loosened to proclaim the good news of salvation to the whole world. Following the example of the deaf man’s friends, we are to bring the lost and hurting to Jesus. He continues to do everything well and the hope of the whole world is in him.

Prayer: Prayer: Lord Jesus, place your fingers in our ears and touch our tongues, so that we may hear your word and proclaim it to the world.

One Word: One Word: “Ephphatha!”

Extra Grace to Hezekiah

2 Kings 20:1-11

Key Verse: 20:5

“Turn back, and say to Hezekiah the leader of my people, Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the LORD,

Today's Question

What does the seventh commandment require?

See answer and references