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Text: Mark 7:31-37
Liturgical Date: Pentecost 16, Proper 18 B
Calendar Date: September 8, 2024
Location: Saint Peter’s Lutheran Church in Door County, Forestville, WI
Preacher: Rev. Dr. Christopher D. Jackson
THE FOLLOWING IS AN AI GENERATED TRANSCRIPT OF THE SERMON THAT WAS PREACHED. IT DOES NOT MATCH 1:1 WITH THE SERMON AS IT WAS PREACHED.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
You may be seated.
God speaks, and so we believe. We believe, and so we speak. El tema del sermón de hoy es que la palabra de Dios nos da fe (The theme of today’s sermon is that God’s Word gives us faith).
I remember this moment very clearly, one of my clearest memories from when I was a young father. I think Thomas was about three years old, and we were driving down the street in Lexington, KY. He had a phrase that he wanted to tell me, and he said it, but all the words were in the wrong order. After saying it, he realized it didn’t sound quite right—something was off. So, he tried again and again, repeating it over and over until, finally, the words were in the right order. It sounded just like something Mom or Dad would say.
What was he doing there? He was trying to reflect the way we talked to him. Our mouths, our tongues, reflect what our parents say to us. That’s such a strong reality that if you grow up speaking one particular language, even if you study another language for years, you’ll never sound exactly like a native speaker. In the same way, God speaks His Word to us, and by that Word, He makes us His children. He opens our tongues so that we can speak to Him in prayer and so we can speak to others about Him.
This brings us to what we’re going to talk about today: our Gospel lesson from Mark chapter 7, where we see Jesus healing a man who is both deaf and has a speech impediment. Let’s take a closer look at these verses.
Verse 31: “Then Jesus returned from the region of Tyre, and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis.”
Now, some of these names—Tyre, Sidon, the Sea of Galilee, Decapolis—might be unfamiliar or confusing. Today, let’s focus on one of them: Decapolis. The word “Decapolis” literally means “ten cities.” These cities were located in the northeastern region of where Jesus ministered, mostly in what we would now call Syria. They were established a few hundred years earlier by Alexander the Great, the famous Greek emperor and general who spread Greek civilization from Greece all the way to India. He set up cities along his route, and ten of these were in what we now call Syria.
By the time of the Romans, these cities had become thoroughly Roman, though the Greek culture still prevailed. At the center of that culture was the worship of false gods and goddesses. In fact, the temples in the Decapolis were a little unusual. While most temples in the Greek and Roman world were enclosed—essentially houses for idols—the temples in the Decapolis were often open-air. The idols and statues representing their gods were on display out in the open.
Verse 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.”
Now, I imagine this wasn’t the only person brought to Jesus for healing, but Mark chooses to tell us about this particular man. Why? Because his physical condition reflects a spiritual problem. He lived among people who worshiped idols—false gods who could not hear their prayers and who could not speak to them. His deafness and inability to speak mirrored the idolatry of those around him.
Psalm 115 explains this well: “Why should the nations say, ‘Where is their God?’ Our God is in the heavens; He does all that He pleases. Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see. They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell. They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; and they do not make a sound in their throat. Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them.”
This is why Mark focuses on this one man—his deafness and muteness symbolized the spiritual deafness and muteness of those who worshiped false gods. They were unable to hear the truth or speak it.
Verses 33-34: “And taking him aside from the crowd privately, Jesus 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.’”
These verses might strike us as odd. Why did Jesus, who had the power to heal with just a word, go through these seemingly strange actions—putting His fingers in the man’s ears, spitting, touching his tongue, sighing, and then speaking the word, “Ephphatha”? Why not just heal the man with a simple command?
To understand this, think about how Psalm 115 described the idols of false gods. They have mouths but cannot speak, ears but cannot hear, hands but cannot feel. In other words, they cannot lift a finger to help anyone. But Jesus? He does lift a finger. He uses His hands, His breath, and His words to heal this man. Where the idols are powerless, Jesus is active and compassionate. He sighs—a deep, meaningful prayer for this man. He touches his ears and tongue, breaking the bonds of deafness and muteness that have plagued him.
Unlike the lifeless idols, Jesus is full of life and power. And by His Word, this man’s ears are opened, his tongue is released, and he is able to speak clearly.
Verse 35: “And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly.”
This man, who had been silent and cut off from the world, is now given the gift of speech. And what does he do with it? He speaks! The miracle here is not just physical but spiritual. This man has been given the ability to hear and speak the Word of God, and his life is forever changed.
Verses 36-37: “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.’”
Though Jesus tells them not to speak of this miracle, they cannot keep quiet. They are astonished and full of joy. Jesus has done what no one else could do. He has made the deaf hear and the mute speak.
This passage shows us the power of God’s Word. Just as Jesus spoke to this man and opened his ears and mouth, God speaks to us today through His Word, opening our hearts and minds to believe and proclaim His message. Through Christian education, we pass on this Word to others, especially to the next generation, so that they too may hear, believe, and speak of the wonders of God.
In many ways, the man healed by Jesus represents all of us. In our sinfulness, we are spiritually deaf and mute. We may not worship golden idols, but we can easily fall into worshiping other things—money, status, or even our own self-interest. And just like the idols of old, these things cannot hear our prayers or help us in our need. But Jesus can. He speaks His Word to us, and by His grace, He opens our ears to hear and our mouths to proclaim His truth.
This is why Christian education is so important. God speaks to us through His Word, and we in turn speak that Word to others. We teach our children, our friends, and our neighbors about the God who loves them and has acted for their salvation. We are called to pass on the faith, just as Jesus opened the ears and mouth of the man in the Decapolis.
This is why we at St. Peter’s engage in the work of Christian education. Whether it’s Sunday School for the youngest members of our congregation, catechism classes for our middle schoolers, or adult Bible studies, we are passing on the Word of God. We are speaking so that others may hear, believe, and speak as well.
There are many ways to get involved in this vital work. You can volunteer as a Sunday School teacher or assist with Bible studies. You can even help by providing meals for our English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, ensuring that we have a welcoming environment for those who want to learn. If you’re unsure of how to contribute, talk to our teachers or leaders—they will gladly find a way for you to help.
The greatest need, though, is for students. We need people to show up, to be present and willing to learn and grow in their faith. Whether it’s encouraging your children, grandchildren, or yourself to engage with the Word of God, this is how we help hearts be shaped by God’s truth.
And remember, Christian education doesn’t just happen in the church. It happens at home, too. If you’ve been blessed with children, grandchildren, nieces, or nephews, take time to teach them the basics of the faith. Even from a very young age, children can begin learning the Lord’s Prayer, the Creed, and Bible stories. When my children were infants, I would say the Apostles’ Creed and the Lord’s Prayer to them, and by the time they were two, they could already fill in the blanks when I would pause while saying these prayers. It’s amazing how God’s Word takes root in young hearts.
Even if you don’t have children, God has still blessed you with your own soul. Make the Word of God a regular part of your life through personal devotions and study. God continues to speak to us through His Word, and it is through that Word that He turns our hearts to faith and trust in Him.
Our God is the God who speaks, and He has spoken to us through His Son, Jesus Christ. By His Word, we have been given faith, forgiveness, and the promise of eternal life. Let us imitate Him by speaking His Word to others, so that they too may come to know the blessings of God in Christ Jesus.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.