Jesus Heals a Deaf/Mute Man

“Then He returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. 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. 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.’ And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, ‘He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.’” – Mark 7:31-37 (ESV).

Jesus healed the deaf/mute man in the region of the Decapolis, which was in a Hellenistic (Greek) area south of the Sea of Galilee. They had already been in the area of Tyre and Sidon along the Mediterranean Sea. Now they are inland, and in the area known as “ten cities,” or Decapolis. The crowd presses upon Jesus. His reputation had followed him. They had heard that wherever He went, He healed all manner of diseases, performed miracles. They brought a man to him who was deaf, and probably because of his deafness he had a speech impediment. This particular miracle is recorded only by Mark. Scholars believe Mark may have selected it in particular to show its unusual character.

Why did Jesus take him aside from the crowd? Can’t you imagine, being deaf, and unable to speak for himself, the poor man was confused? Jesus could have healed him instantaneously, without the two physical administrations of the healing process. But with the condition of the sufferer, private time with the man brought opportunity for Jesus to minister not only to his physical needs but his emotional and spiritual needs. There may be a message here for us: Jesus meets each one of us, privately, at the point of our need. Jesus could have spoken and the man would have been healed. But he made use of signs because the deaf man could not hear. Jesus first put his fingers into the ears that had not heard anything all the years of the man’s life. This showed the man by touch Jesus would break through the obstruction. (Remember the gospel song and its powerful message: “He touched me and made me whole!”) Jesus spat, and rubbed his saliva-covered finger on the man’s mute tongue. With this action, Jesus was employing a known medical practice used in his day by both Jews and Gentiles. This method of healing was recognized by the rabbis.

What does the term ‘Ephphatha’ mean, and what significance did it have in the condition the deaf/mute man suffered? It is an Aramaic word meaning “be opened; be released.” It was a command both to the deaf ears and the mute tongue: ears were opened to hear, tongue was released to speak plainly. But before Jesus uttered this command of healing, He looked to heaven and sighed. Scholars see this sigh from Jesus, as an inward groan, filled with compassion for the plight of the people who had so many needs: physical, emotional and spiritual. He could see beyond the deaf ears and the mute tongue to the deeper needs brought on by the pain, sorrow and sin of the world.

Although Jesus charged the disciples and the crowd not to tell abroad the miracle of healing, they told everyone that He could perform great miracles. The news spread of the Healer’s power. He could make the deaf to hear, the mute to speak! This miracle is a physical representation of what He is able to do spiritually: to open our ears to truth and understanding, our tongues to speak His truth.