Be Opened!

Ephphatha!

Even if we could pronounce it correctly, it’d be a strange sound in our ears. But it’s a word recorded in the Bible – so it’s a word that will always matter. In fact, it’s a word that should always remind us of the incredible love of God.

“Ephphatha” isn’t something we hear every day. It’s the Greek form of a Syro-Chaldaic or Aramaic word that means “Be opened.” It was spoken by our Lord Jesus – as He “looked up to heaven” – as He healed a man who was suffering from deafness and its accompanying speech impediment (Mark 7:34). It’s somewhat characteristic of Mark in his Gospel to include Aramaic words spoken by Jesus.

The man was made whole. He could hear, and he spoke plainly. Such a marvelous miracle!

“Be opened!”

At this time in history, the deaf man was helpless on his own. He could see, but the first standard form of sign language was more than 1600 years away. I include that detail just to remind you that no one could explain this miracle-worker named Jesus to a disabled man who desperately needed Him. The unknowing man would have to be brought to Jesus for a personal encounter. The understanding would have to come later.

This is a fascinating account, and I urge you to read all the verses carefully (Mark 7:31-37). In the course of interaction between Christ and this deaf man, Jesus puts His fingers into the man’s ears, and Jesus touches the man’s tongue. I don’t have to tell you that this isn’t everyday behavior. Maybe your toddler kids put their little fingers in your ears on occasion … and perhaps a doctor looks in with an instrument as part of your checkup … and maybe you got a couple of “wet willy’s” in your survival of childhood … but to have another person touch us in these ways would be startling – to say the least.

Clearly, Jesus doesn’t need to touch people to heal them. There’s no rulebook that requires Him to stick fingers into ears or touch tongues. In fact, we know clearly from the Scriptures that Jesus doesn’t even need to be in the same geographical location as the person in need of a miraculous healing. Christ’s word is enough to heal. It’s always enough. Christ’s word is, after all, the same word that spoke the entire universe into being. There simply is no higher power or authority than the word of Christ.

He could just say the word, and all would be well.

So why does Jesus do it like this?

I think the answer is simple. Jesus does all of this because the man is deaf.

Of course, Jesus could just say the word. He could just say “Be opened,” and the deaf man’s ears would be opened and his tongue loosened instantaneously . The man would be set free immediately form his afflictions, from the very moment the words were spoken.

Jesus’ words can do that. But Jesus loves this man far too much to do it that way. Jesus wants to make absolutely sure that this deaf man knows the full extent of the extravagant grace of God that is aimed squarely in his direction. Bullseye! All-wise Jesus is making it crystal clear that He is bringing to this desperate man a deliverance, a salvation, a future, and a hope that could come only from the Lord God!

Jesus wants none of this glorious message to get lost in translation. So Christ – full of grace and truth – communicates in the language of this man’s lonely soul: physical touch. Friends, I’m so glad that you and I have a Savior who knows us so well – and who loves us so individually and so deeply – that He chooses to speak our language.

If you’re hurting today … or confused … or lost … or angry … or terrified … or sad … or struggling to make sense of something that makes no sense …

Christ can meet you right there. Right where you are. He speaks your language. He’s the Author of your heart.

We sing it at Christmastime, but I’m in the mood to sing it in March …

Be opened!

Pastor Charles